Materials
Extrait, parfum, eau de parfum: what the concentrations really mean
September 2026 · Join CT Journal
Oil concentration is only part of the story — here is how to read the label, and why some EDPs outlast some extraits.
The numbers
Conventionally: eau de toilette around 5–15% aromatic material, eau de parfum 15–20%, extrait de parfum or parfum 20–40%. The label tells you the ceiling of the composition, not its character.
Concentration is not longevity
A well-built eau de parfum with dense base notes can outlast a thin extrait. Amouage publishes its oil concentrations openly — Interlude Man’s 29% is extraordinary for an EDP — which is why its longevity shocks people expecting EDP behaviour.
What actually changes
Higher concentrations change texture and development: extraits bloom slower, sit closer and reveal more of the base. EDPs project more and open brighter. Neither is "better"; they are different experiences of the same idea.
Reading a Join CT listing
Every product page states its exact concentration. When a house offers the same scent in several strengths, they are different compositions — sample the edition you intend to buy.
