Follow & Share on
The latest news on Fragrance.
Buying fragrance for someone else is one of the most personal gifts you can give – but once you've found a scent you think they'll love, there's still one more decision to make: EDT or EDP?
It's a question that trips up even seasoned fragrance buyers. Here's everything you need to know to get it right.
The difference between an Eau de Toilette and an Eau de Parfum comes down to one thing: concentration. EDPs contain a higher percentage of fragrance oil (typically 12–18%) than EDTs (typically 8–12%), which means they smell stronger, project more, and last longer on the skin.
Neither is better than the other – it really depends on who you're buying for and how they like to wear their fragrance.
This is the most useful question to ask yourself when choosing. Does the person you're gifting wear fragrance every day, almost like second nature? Or do they save it for evenings out and special occasions?
Everyday wearers often gravitate towards EDTs – they're lighter, fresher, and won't overpower a room. They're also typically more affordable, making them a great option if you're building a gift set. For someone who wears fragrance more intentionally, or who loves a scent that announces itself and stays all day, an EDP is usually the better call.
It's a detail most people overlook, but skin chemistry genuinely affects how fragrance performs. Dry skin tends to absorb scent more quickly, so an EDP – with its higher concentration – will anchor better and last longer. If the person you're buying for tends to reapply their fragrance throughout the day, that's often a sign their skin runs dry and an EDP could be a gamechanger for them.
Oily skin, on the other hand, naturally holds fragrance better – meaning an EDT can perform just as well and last just as long without the extra concentration. If they already seem to get great longevity from their current scents, an EDT is likely a perfectly matched choice.
The occasion you're buying for can also steer you towards the right concentration. Different moments call for different kinds of fragrance – here's how to think about it.
A birthday gift is personal, celebratory, and meant to feel a little indulgent. This is one of the best occasions to go for an EDP – the richer concentration feels more luxurious to unwrap, and it signals that you've put real thought into the gift. If you know the person well enough to buy them fragrance at all, you probably know whether they tend to wear scent during the day or save it for evenings. Use that to guide your choice: a fresh, light EDP for the daytime wearer; something warmer and more intense for the person who saves fragrance for when it counts.
Father's Day gifting tends to skew towards the reliable and wearable – this isn't usually the occasion to take a big swing with something niche or challenging. Classic EDTs perform brilliantly here: they're versatile, familiar, and easy to wear across a range of situations. That said, if the dad in question is a genuine fragrance enthusiast who already has a collection, stepping up to an EDP version of a scent he already loves is a thoughtful and well-judged upgrade. Take a look at our Father's Day fragrance collection for inspiration across both concentrations.
Mother's Day is one of the most popular fragrance gifting occasions of the year, and for good reason — perfume is personal, thoughtful, and feels genuinely special to receive. For mums who love fragrance, an EDP is almost always the right call: the richer concentration feels like a proper treat, and the longevity means she'll get to enjoy it all day rather than reapplying by lunchtime. Florals, soft musks, and warm gourmand scents in EDP formulations tend to be perennial favourites here. If you're not sure of her taste, a gift set takes the pressure off — many include complementary products like body lotion or shower gel that make the whole thing feel curated and considered. Browse our Mother's Day fragrance collection for inspiration across a range of scents, sizes, and budgets.
Romantic occasions call for something with presence. EDPs come into their own here – the higher concentration means the scent lingers, which feels fitting for a gift tied to intimacy and memory. Oriental, woody, and gourmand fragrances in EDP formulations tend to land particularly well for these occasions. If you want the gift to feel even more considered, our Valentines Day gifts collection is worth exploring – presentation matters as much as the scent itself when you're marking something meaningful.
Christmas is the biggest fragrance gifting moment of the year, and the range of options can feel overwhelming. The good news: both EDTs and EDPs work well, depending on the person. For someone who already has a signature scent, consider gifting a larger bottle of what they know and love – size is its own kind of generosity. For someone you want to introduce to something new, a gift set is often the smartest move: many include both a full-size fragrance and complementary products, letting the recipient build a proper routine around a new scent. Our full Christmas gifts collection covers every budget, and our mini gift sets are a brilliant option if you want to give a little something without committing to a full bottle.
If you've thought it through and you're still unsure, lean towards an Eau de Parfum. The trend across men's and women's fragrance has shifted decisively in the EDP direction in recent years – most bestsellers now lead with their EDP formulation, and for good reason. The richer concentration makes for a more gifting-worthy experience, and it's the version most people reach for when they want to feel like they're wearing something special.
It also tends to photograph better, present better in the box, and feel more considered as a gift – all things that matter when you're handing something over in person.
Whatever the occasion, there's a scent for it. Browse our full fragrance gift shop to explore collections for him and her, across every concentration, budget, and occasion – and find something worth giving.