You are standing in front of a shelf, looking at a designer bottle. It costs a fortune, but if you look closely at the fine print, it often says "Eau de Toilette."
Have you ever wondered why some perfumes last for days, while others vanish before you even reach the office? The secret isn't just the brand name—it's the concentration.
Perfume is a blend of aromatic oils and alcohol. The ratio of oil to alcohol determines the longevity, intensity, and ultimately, the value you get for your money.
To help you understand what you are actually paying for, here is the ultimate breakdown of fragrance categories—and the reason why SAINT SKEI does things differently.
1. Parfum (Extrait de Parfum) – The Gold Standard
This is the elite class of fragrances. It is the purest, most intense form of perfume available.
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Concentration: 15% to 30% (sometimes up to 40%) pure fragrance oil.
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Longevity: 8 to 24 hours.
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The Benefit: You need less sprays to smell amazing all day. Because it contains less alcohol, it sticks better to the skin and develops a deeper, richer profile.
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The SAINT SKEI Standard: While most brands reserve this concentration for their most expensive lines, every single fragrance at SAINT SKEI is an Extrait de Parfum. We don't water down your experience.
2. Eau de Parfum (EdP) – The Industry Standard
This is what you find in most department stores. It’s a solid middle ground, but significantly lighter than an Extrait.
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Concentration: 10% to 15% fragrance oil.
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Longevity: 5 to 8 hours.
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The Reality: Most "luxury" perfumes are sold as EdP. They offer good projection but often lack the staying power of a true Extrait.
3. Eau de Toilette (EdT) – The Daily Splash
The "Toilette" refers to the French act of getting ready (faire sa toilette). It is designed to be a light refresher, not a long-lasting signature.
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Concentration: 5% to 10% fragrance oil.
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Longevity: 3 to 5 hours.
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The Downside: High alcohol content means it evaporates quickly. You end up spraying more often, emptying the bottle faster.
4. Eau de Cologne (EdC) – The Short-Lived
Traditionally composed of citrus notes and herbs, this is a very light concentration.
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Concentration: 2% to 5% fragrance oil.
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Longevity: Approx. 2 hours.
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Use case: A quick refreshment after a shower.
5. Eau Fraîche – Scented Water
The lightest of them all, mostly consisting of water and a tiny amount of oil.
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Concentration: 1% to 3% fragrance oil.
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Longevity: Less than 1 hour.
Why We Choose Extrait de Parfum
At SAINT SKEI, we believe that if you pay for perfume, you should get perfume—not just scented alcohol.
Many designer brands sell Eau de Toilette for high prices, relying on their logo to make the sale. We took a different path. All our fragrances are formulated as Extrait de Parfum.
What does this mean for you?
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Massive Longevity: Our scents are designed to last from morning coffee to late-night drinks.
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Better Value: One or two sprays are enough. Your bottle lasts longer because you use less.
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True Depth: You experience the full complexity of the base notes (vanilla, oud, musk) as they were meant to be smelled.
Stop paying for the brand name. Start paying for the scent.
Experience the power of Extrait de Parfum here.
Image by MART PRODUCTION