What is the difference between perfume and attar?

An Eau de Parfum is fragrance oil in perfumer’s alcohol, sprayed so the scent radiates. An attar is a concentrated perfume oil applied with the stopper, which stays closer to the skin.

Is Eau de Parfum stronger than Eau de Toilette?

Usually — an Eau de Parfum typically has around 15–20% fragrance concentration against 5–15% for an Eau de Toilette, though there is no legal standard and houses vary.

How do I apply attar?

Touch the stopper to your pulse points — wrists, behind the ears and the base of the neck — on clean skin, and don’t rub it in.

Does The Scent Theory sell the same fragrance as a perfume and an attar?

Yes, several fragrances come both as an Eau de Parfum and as an attar — each product page links to its twin.

Guide · 4 min read

Eau de Parfum vs attar: what’s the difference?

Both carry a fragrance; they just carry it differently. An Eau de Parfum is a spray that lifts scent into the air around you. An attar is a perfume oil that stays close to the skin.

Updated 4 October 2026

Eau de Parfum

An Eau de Parfum (EDP) is fragrance oil blended with perfumer’s alcohol and sprayed. It is generally more concentrated than an Eau de Toilette — around 15–20% fragrance against 5–15% — though there is no legal standard, and every house sets its own. Spraying makes it easy to apply evenly, and the scent radiates as the alcohol evaporates.

Attar

An attar (also written ittar) is a concentrated perfume oil applied with the stopper. The tradition runs deep in India and the Middle East — Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh has been known for distilling attars for centuries. Being oil, an attar sits closer to the skin and is worn in small touches.

Which one should you choose?

Choose an Eau de Parfum if you like to spray, want the fragrance to be noticed around you, or prefer fresh and citrus scents.
Choose an attar for a close, personal scent, a small bottle that travels well, or a traditional gift.
Choose both — several of our fragrances come in both forms, so you can wear the spray by day and the oil by night.

Available as both an Eau de Parfum and an attar: Millionaire (attar), Desire X (attar), Cool Wave (attar), Saffron Soul (attar), Shanaya Gold (attar), Earthy Firdaus (attar) and Afgano Smoke (attar).

How to apply each

Eau de Parfum: two or three sprays from about 15 cm onto pulse points — neck, wrists, inner elbows. Don’t rub.
Attar: touch the stopper to the wrists, behind the ears and the base of the neck. A little goes a long way.

Quick answers

What is the difference between perfume and attar?: An Eau de Parfum is fragrance oil in perfumer’s alcohol, sprayed so the scent radiates. An attar is a concentrated perfume oil applied with the stopper, which stays closer to the skin.
Is Eau de Parfum stronger than Eau de Toilette?: Usually — an Eau de Parfum typically has around 15–20% fragrance concentration against 5–15% for an Eau de Toilette, though there is no legal standard and houses vary.
How do I apply attar?: Touch the stopper to your pulse points — wrists, behind the ears and the base of the neck — on clean skin, and don’t rub it in.
Does The Scent Theory sell the same fragrance as a perfume and an attar?: Yes, several fragrances come both as an Eau de Parfum and as an attar — each product page links to its twin.

Further reading: Marie Claire — EDT vs EDP, according to perfumers · Ajmal — How to wear attar