What is extrait de parfum? Strength, price and how to wear it

Plain definition

Extrait de parfum, sometimes just called parfum, is a perfume with a high share of fragrance oil in a lot less alcohol. An eau de parfum usually holds roughly 15 to 20 percent oil, and an extrait generally 20 percent or more. These are general industry ranges, not exact numbers for any one bottle. The name matters only because it tells you what to expect: richness, closeness and staying power. For the bigger picture, including oil-based attars, read attar, eau de parfum or extrait.

Extrait versus eau de parfum on the skin

More oil usually means a scent that is denser and smoother, that changes more slowly and that stays near the skin instead of spreading in a cloud. That is why an extrait feels more intimate at the same spray count. It does not automatically mean louder. Within FAAN, the Extraits range from the soft Amjad Coral, rated 3 for projection and 3 for longevity, to the strong Amjad Honour and Amjad Kingdom, both rated 4 and 5. The notes decide the volume as much as the concentration does.

How many sprays

Two is a good start for most Extraits. Put one at the base of the throat and one on a scarf or the inside of a collar. Coral can take a third. Honour and Kingdom rarely need more than two. Skip the wrists, because friction breaks the opening. Because the scent lingers, wait an hour before you decide to add more. Our guide to wearing and storing a 200 ml perfume has the rest.

Why it can cost less than you expect here

Usually an extrait costs more than an eau de parfum. In the FAAN range it often does not. The prices are on the product pages and the maths is simple:

Honour, Coral, Bidaya and Status cost about 18 percent less than the €54.99 Eau de Parfum bottles. Mystery and Kingdom are the exceptions: at €54.99 they cost as much as those Eau de Parfum bottles. We do not break down how the prices are set, so compare the figures, not the labels.

Which FAAN bottles are Extraits

The Amjad line is Extrait throughout, and Bidaya is the one Qasida Extrait. The rest of the Qasida line is Eau de Parfum. See the Amjad collection guide for the line in detail, and all FAAN perfumes for the whole range.

When an extrait is not the right pick

• You want something light for midsummer. Coral is the exception, but resin-rich Extraits such as Honour and Kingdom get thick in heat.
• You like to reapply through the day. A scent that clings is harder to refresh without piling one layer on another.
• You want presence across a room. Read the projection rating, not the label. Qasida Dunes is an Eau de Parfum with projection 4, level with Kingdom.

Strength on the label tells you the oil share. The ratings tell you how it behaves.

FAQ

Is extrait stronger than eau de parfum?

It holds more fragrance oil, so it is usually richer and lasts longer. Loudness depends on the notes too.

How long does an extrait last?

There is no single answer. As a typical guide, an Extrait with a resinous base can last a full evening on skin, longer on clothes. Check the ratings on each page.

Is extrait just another name for parfum?

In practice the terms overlap. Extrait de parfum and parfum describe the top concentration.

Related reading

• Attar, eau de parfum or extrait: what is the difference?
• FAAN Amjad perfumes: the Amjad collection guide
• How to wear and store a 200 ml perfume