What Is Extrait de Parfum? Perfume Concentrations Explained

Extrait de parfum is the most concentrated form of fragrance you can buy. The name is French for perfume extract, and it describes how much of the bottle is aromatic material and how much is alcohol. More aromatic material means a richer scent that stays on skin for longer.

Here is how the common concentrations compare, and what the difference means when you wear them.

Perfume concentrations at a glance

Type	Typical concentration	How it wears
Eau de cologne	2% to 5%	Light and brief. A refresh rather than an all-day scent.
Eau de toilette (EDT)	5% to 15%	Bright opening, fades through the afternoon.
Eau de parfum (EDP)	15% to 20%	The standard for most designer fragrance.
Extrait de parfum	20% to 40%	Dense and slow to develop. Stays close to the skin and lasts longest.

These are typical ranges rather than fixed rules. There is no legal definition, and every house draws the lines a little differently.

What actually changes at higher concentration

• Less alcohol. The sharp first blast you get from a lighter fragrance is mostly alcohol leaving the skin. An extrait opens more quietly.
• A slower story. The heart and base notes arrive gradually and stay for hours instead of burning off in the first one.
• It sits closer. Extrait tends to stay near the skin rather than filling a room. People notice it when they are near you, not from the doorway.
• You use less. An extrait needs fewer sprays than a lighter concentration of the same scent.

Why Alemar pours at 40%

Every Alemar perfume is an extrait de parfum at 40% concentration, the top of the range above. There was no complicated formula behind the number. After a lot of testing it was simply the point where a fragrance had the richness and presence we wanted without losing what made it enjoyable to wear. You can read more of that in our story.

How to wear an extrait

1. Start with two sprays. One on the neck, one on a wrist. Add more only if you need it.
2. Apply to moisturised skin. Fragrance holds better on skin that is not dry.
3. Use the pulse points. Neck, wrists and inner elbows are warm, which helps the scent develop.
4. Do not rub it in. Let it dry on its own.
5. Give it time. An extrait opens slowly. Judge it once it has settled, not at the first spray.

Frequently asked questions

Is extrait de parfum stronger than eau de parfum?

It is more concentrated, which makes it richer and longer lasting. It is not necessarily louder. Many extraits are quieter than an eau de parfum because they contain less alcohol to carry the scent into the air.

How long does extrait de parfum last?

Longer than lighter concentrations of the same scent, though skin type, weather and the notes themselves all play a part. Woody, amber and gourmand notes tend to outlast citrus and green ones at any strength.

Is extrait de parfum the same as parfum?

In everyday use, yes. Parfum, pure perfume and extrait de parfum all describe the highest concentration tier.

Is it worth paying more for?

If you want a scent that is still there in the evening, usually yes, because you use less each time.

Ready to try one? Browse our 40% extrait perfumes, or take three for $150 with the perfume bundle.