A clear guide to reading Cologne, eau de parfum and extrait labels, understanding house-specific explanations and comparing the exact version without assuming universal percentages or promised performance.
A label, not a universal scale
A concentration name can orient you, but it is not a universal measuring scale. IFRA says terms such as eau de Cologne, eau de toilette and eau de parfum are not strictly defined by international standards and may vary across markets and regions. Read the category as part of a specific maker’s vocabulary, not as a fixed promise about formula or wear.1
How one house orders its terms
Maison Francis Kurkdjian offers one house-specific map: it describes its labels as different concentrations of ingredients diluted in alcohol, then places extrait, eau de parfum, eau de toilette and eau de Cologne in descending order. That is a useful example of how a maker explains its own range. It is not a global ladder that can be applied to every perfume house.2
A new label may bring a different composition
Do not assume that two versions of one fragrance differ only in how much of the same formula they contain. Concentration variants may also have different compositions or note profiles. Within CHANEL’s range, parfum, eau de parfum and eau de toilette share a fragrance identity but differ in concentration and intensity. Each statement describes its own example, not a rule for every house.3,4
Listen to the maker’s own language
Diptyque describes its eau de toilette through lightness and vivacity, while its eau de parfum is presented as more intense, with a more prolonged sillage. The contrast shows how one house frames two versions of its fragrance story. It should be read as Diptyque’s own description, not as an independently measured result or a guarantee about every wearer.5
Use a named example, then compare exact versions
Acqua di Parma presents Colonia as an Eau de Cologne: one named product, not a definition of every Cologne. When comparing bottles, start with the exact product and version, then read that maker’s category, description and notes together. If a house offers several concentrations, check each version on its own terms. The label alone cannot establish that the formulas match, or promise longer wear, greater projection or better quality.1,3,6
Three questions before comparing concentrations
Imagine two bottles with different concentration words on the shelf. The tempting shortcut is to arrange them by number and stop there. Instead, ask three distinct questions: does the category have a universal definition, how does this particular house use it, and what does the named bottle actually disclose? IFRA does not treat Cologne, toilette and parfum labels as strictly defined international standards. Maison Francis Kurkdjian then offers its own order, from extrait through eau de parfum and eau de toilette to eau de Cologne. Colonia is an exact Acqua di Parma Eau de Cologne with its own citrus, herb and wood note structure. None of these statements supplies a measured wear time for your skin.1,2,6
| Question | What this example can answer | What remains open |
|---|---|---|
| Is the label a universal percentage? | IFRA gives typical practice ranges, not a fixed international definition | Exact formula of a named bottle |
| How does one house arrange its labels? | Maison Francis Kurkdjian orders extrait, EdP, EdT and EdC within its vocabulary | Whether another house uses the same formula or order |
| What is this bottle? | Acqua di Parma calls Colonia an EdC and names citrus top notes plus heart and base notes | Its individual performance on a wearer |
This is a practical way to shop without pretending the label does more work than it can. Compare exact versions from the same house first; read their separate note lists and descriptions before considering a different maker. If a page does not give a concentration percentage or a head-to-head formula account, leave that cell blank. A careful blank is more useful than an invented certainty about strength, projection or longevity.1,2
