What Does Eau de Toilette Mean? Strength and Wear Time

Eau de toilette is a lighter strength of perfume. The name is French for toilet water, an older English term for it, and it usually contains about 5 to 15% aromatic compounds, often around 10%. It is commonly said to last about 2 to 4 hours on the skin.

How it compares

• Parfum or extrait: about 15 to 30%, the strongest.
• Eau de parfum: about 15 to 20%.
• Eau de toilette: about 5 to 15%.
• Eau de cologne: about 2 to 3%.

When to choose it

An eau de toilette is a good everyday choice. It is lighter on the skin, which suits the office and warm weather, and it usually costs less than a stronger version of the same fragrance. You may need to reapply during the day.

Getting more from it

Apply to clean, moisturised skin at pulse points, where body heat releases the scent gradually. Remember that the eau de toilette and eau de parfum of the same name can smell slightly different, so test the version you intend to buy.

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