Eau de Parfum

What eau de parfum means in practice

Eau de parfum sits in the middle of the scale: richer than an eau de toilette, lighter than an extrait. It is the most common name in our collection, which is why this page is one of the widest. The name says there is a fair amount of perfume oil in the bottle, enough for a clear base, without the density of the top of the scale.

As with every concentration name, it is a trade convention rather than a legal definition, so each house sets its own limits. Two eaux de parfum can feel very different, because a dry citrus wood and a resinous amber are different things at the same dose. Use the name as a rough guide and let the notes and the base decide.

How to choose an eau de parfum

An eau de parfum is flexible. A lighter one with citrus, herbs and woods suits daytime and mild weather, while a richer one with leather, spice or tobacco suits the evening. Two or three sprays are a normal amount for most, and fewer for a dense, resinous scent. If you are unsure between concentrations, an eau de parfum is a good starting point, since it shows the base without overwhelming. Our article on concentrations explained puts all the names side by side, from cologne to extrait.

From the collection

Eaux de parfum from the houses on our brands page:

Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos opens with lemon, bergamot, lavender and incense from Oman, shows jasmine sambac, honey and cinnamon in the heart, and ends on vanilla, tobacco leaf and tonka bean.

Matière Première Falcon Leather is a leather perfume with four listed materials: birch tar oil from Finland, saffron, Cistus labdanum from Andalusia and benzoin absolute from Sumatra.

Ex Nihilo The Hedonist puts bergamot and ginger over cedarwood and Akigalawood™, with vetiver, musks and tonka bean in the base.

Stéphane Humbert Lucas Black Gemstone opens with an infusion of three cedars and Sicilian lemon, moves to myrrh tar and ends on incense, teak and tonka.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir is an ambery, woody perfume built on cinnamon tree, a vanilla amber accord, cistus labdanum and lavender.

Penhaligon's Halfeti combines grapefruit, bergamot, Levantine spice, rose and an oud accord.

BORNTOSTANDOUT Dirty Milk starts with milk, caramel and black pepper, adds condensed milk, cashmeran, iris and Akigalawood, and ends on vanilla, musk and tonka bean.