Buying a new fragrance can feel like a daunting task, especially when faced with a whole set of unfamiliar French terms. However, taking a little time to understand the differences between parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, eau fraîche, and perfume oil can make the process much easier and more enjoyable.

In this article, we’ve gathered all the key tips from expert perfumers. Consider it your practical guide to fragrance types: here you’ll learn how long each one lasts, which notes are typically included in the composition, how to choose the perfect scent for yourself, and which options are currently the most popular on the market.

If you’re looking for a fragrance with a rich scent and impressive longevity, pay attention to parfum — the most concentrated and luxurious form of perfume. Parfum usually contains the highest concentration of aromatic compounds in alcohol — from 25% to 50%. These compositions are also called perfume or parfum extract.

Parfum is a deep, long-lasting fragrance that can stay on the skin for 6–8 hours or longer. Such perfumes most often feature expressive base notes — woody, vanilla, spicy, or gourmand — which give the composition depth, sensuality, and a truly luxurious character.

The Global Fashion Eau de Parfum for Her unfolds with a rich and multi-layered fragrance. The top notes offer the freshness of green leaves and juicy grapefruit. At the heart of the scent, refined floral tones of iris and rose create a soft and elegant harmony. The base notes combine mustard greenery with a warm woody-musky trail, leaving a long-lasting and captivating impression. 

Global Fashion Eau de Parfum for Him — a harmonious blend of fresh bergamot, chamomile, and oriental rose, with a woody heart of Guaiazo Hiti Warbler and a refined base of agarwood and papyrus. A long-lasting and sophisticated fragrance for the modern man. 

Perfumed water (Eau de Parfum, EDP) is one of the most popular and versatile types of fragrances. It contains 15–20% perfume oils, which gives it richness and longevity while remaining lighter than classic parfum. This balance makes EDP an ideal choice for everyday wear — the scent typically lasts 4 to 6 hours and is equally suitable for both daytime and evening use.

Eau de Parfum is known for the harmony of its top, middle, and base notes, creating a layered and expressive fragrance. It unfolds gradually, maintaining depth and character without being overpowering.

 Eau de Parfum embodies elegance and sophistication — a scent that highlights individuality and leaves a lasting impression.

Global Fashion’s Eau de Parfum for Her is designed for a confident, romantic, and charming personality. Its exquisite, vibrant notes develop beautifully on the skin, leaving a delicate, airy trail that lingers on the wrists, neck, and pulse points, offering a unique sense of freshness and lightness.

Eau de Toilette (EDT) contains 5–15% aromatic oils, most commonly around 7–12%. It is lighter than Eau de Parfum and usually lasts on the skin for 2 to 4 hours. Unlike colognes, which often unfold in refreshing citrus notes, Eau de Toilette offers a much richer palette — from delicate floral accents to sophisticated woody and spicy tones.

However, its longevity should not be underestimated. Despite its lighter concentration, a high-quality Eau de Toilette can surprise with depth and richness, leaving behind a subtle yet memorable trail.

Eau de Toilette is an ideal choice for those who love fresh, airy scents suitable for everyday wear.

Eau de Toilette for Her by Global Fashion
[22621, 22625, 22586]
Eau de Toilette for Him by Global Fashion
[22440, 22435, 22436]

Eau de Cologne contains the lowest concentration of aromatic oils — only 2–5% — making it an ideal choice for a light and refreshing scent, especially during warm weather. Due to its low oil concentration, the fragrance lasts shorter than parfum or eau de toilette, typically 1–2 hours.

Cologne is characterized by bright freshness with prominent citrus and aromatic notes. Its high volatility gives the scent a sense of lightness and transparency, allowing it to subtly enhance your style.

It is a perfect option for daytime wear, quick fragrance touch-ups, or whenever a subtle, refreshing accent is desired.

In terms of concentration, eau fraîche is similar to cologne, and sometimes its content of aromatic oils is even lower—only 1–3%. The main difference of this type of fragrance is that it is often diluted with water rather than alcohol, making the scent especially light, refreshing, and comfortable for sensitive skin. It is also ideal for hot and humid weather.

The main advantage of eau fraîche is its lightness and freshness. At the same time, it has minimal longevity, creating a scent experience similar to classic cologne—subtle, pleasant, and lasting only for a short time.

Perfume oils are usually offered undiluted or slightly diluted, providing a high concentration of fragrance without alcohol. Unlike eau de parfum, their base is oil—most often a plant-based oil rather than alcohol. The concentration can range from very light to highly concentrated, so it’s important to check the information on the packaging before purchase.

Thanks to the oil base, the scent of perfume oils lasts especially long on the skin, unfolding gradually and softly. They are convenient to use in layered fragrance compositions: the oil creates a lasting base that enhances and prolongs the performance of other scents.

A useful rule when choosing a fragrance is to pay attention to its concentration. Cologne has the lowest concentration, which makes it light and short-lasting. Next come eau de toilette, eau de parfum, parfum, and finally perfume oil, which is often found in its pure, undiluted form. The intensity and longevity of a fragrance generally increase in this order.

When choosing, it’s important to consider how long you want the scent to last on your skin and how it will unfold throughout the day. Do you prefer a light, barely noticeable trail, or a rich fragrance that is immediately noticeable when you enter a room?

Equally important is the fragrance profile itself. Perfumes usually highlight deep base notes—woody, spicy, or resinous—while lighter waters (eau fraîche) tend to feature airy citrus or floral accents, making them perfect for warm weather. By thinking about when and how you plan to wear a fragrance, you can select one that perfectly enhances your individuality.

Fragrances for Her
[22433, 24171, 24178]
Fragrances for Him
[24195, 24184, 24197]

The main difference between parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, eau fraîche, and perfume oil lies in the concentration of aromatic components. Most fragrances are dissolved in alcohol (or in oil, as in the case of perfume oils), and it is this concentration that determines the intensity and longevity of the scent.

If you want a strong fragrance that lasts for several hours, you should consider parfum or perfume oil. Eau de cologne and eau fraîche are perfect if you prefer light, subtle scents. Eau de parfum and eau de toilette occupy a middle ground and are considered versatile: many popular fragrances last from two to six hours.