Perfume concentration converter: compare parfum, EDP, EDT and more
Pick a concentration to see its typical oil share and wear time, and how many sprays of another concentration carry the same oil as one spray of it. Free, and it shows how long a 2, 5 or 8 ml decant lasts.
Concentrations at a glance
Standard industry bands, from the most to the least concentrated.
| Concentration | Oil share | Wear time |
|---|---|---|
| Parfum (extrait) | 20–30 % | 8–12 h |
| Eau de parfum (EDP) | 15–20 % | 5–8 h |
| Eau de toilette (EDT) | 5–15 % | 3–5 h |
| Eau de cologne (EDC) | 2–5 % | 2–3 h |
| Eau fraîche | 1–3 % | 1–2 h |
| Body mist | 1–3 % | 1–2 h |
Spray match for every pair
Read across: one spray of the concentration in the row carries the oil of the number shown in sprays of the one in the column.
| Parfum | EDP | EDT | EDC | Fraîche | Mist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parfum | 1 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 7 | 13 | 13 |
| EDP | 0.5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
| EDT | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| EDC | <0.5 | <0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fraîche | <0.5 | <0.5 | <0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 |
| Mist | <0.5 | <0.5 | <0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 |
Which decant size lasts how long
Assumptions: sprays per ml: 10; sprays per wear: 3.
| Decant | Sprays | Wears |
|---|---|---|
| 2 ml | 20 | 6 |
| 5 ml | 50 | 16 |
| 8 ml | 80 | 26 |
Worn once a day, the wears are also the days.
How the converter works
The oil shares are the standard industry bands: parfum (extrait) 20 to 30 %, eau de parfum 15 to 20 %, eau de toilette 5 to 15 %, eau de cologne 2 to 5 %, and eau fraîche and body mist 1 to 3 %. They are the bands perfumery references and fragrance houses commonly quote. The references differ slightly at the edges (Wikipedia's Perfume article, for example, gives 15 to 30 % for parfum and 2 to 3 % for cologne), no law fixes the names, and a house may sit outside a band.
Wear times are typical hours on skin for the same bands: parfum 8 to 12, eau de parfum 5 to 8, eau de toilette 3 to 5, eau de cologne 2 to 3, eau fraîche and body mist 1 to 2. Skin, climate and the notes in the perfume move them a lot, and some references quote lower hours.
The spray match compares the middle of two oil bands (25, 17.5, 10, 3.5 and 2 %) and assumes every spray is the same amount of liquid. One EDP spray carries about 1.75 times the oil of one EDT spray, which is shown as 2. Results are rounded to the nearest half spray below 5 and to a whole spray from 5.
The decant figures assume about 10 sprays per ml (one spray is about 0.1 ml) and the sprays per wear you pick, 3 by default. Your atomizer may differ a little. The sizes are the 2, 5 and 8 ml decants Scento sells.
These are guide values from published ranges, not a lab measurement. How strong a perfume smells also depends on its notes and how it is made, so test on your skin.
Frequently asked questions
How many EDT sprays equal one EDP spray?
About 2. An eau de parfum typically holds 15 to 20 % oil and an eau de toilette 5 to 15 %, so one EDP spray carries about 1.75 times the oil of one EDT spray. The converter rounds that to the nearest half spray.
Is a higher concentration always better?
No. A higher concentration usually lasts longer and sits closer to the skin, but a lighter eau de toilette or cologne can suit a hot day or the office better. Choose by occasion, weather and taste.
How long does an 8 ml decant last?
At about 10 sprays per ml, 8 ml is about 80 sprays. At 3 sprays per wear that is about 26 wears, so roughly 26 days of daily wear. The converter shows the 2 and 5 ml sizes too.
What is the difference between parfum, EDP, EDT and EDC?
Only the share of fragrance oil in the liquid: parfum 20 to 30 %, eau de parfum 15 to 20 %, eau de toilette 5 to 15 % and eau de cologne 2 to 5 %. A higher share usually means a longer wear time.
Why do two perfumes of the same concentration last differently?
Concentration is only the oil share. The notes (woods and amber last longer than citrus), how the perfume is built, your skin and the weather all change how long you smell it.
