Parfum & Extrait
Parfum — also sold as Extrait de Parfum, Elixir or Le Parfum — is the most concentrated format a house produces, typically 20–40% fragrance oil. It is the closest thing to the perfumer's original composition without dilution.
What changes at this concentration
Longevity is the obvious difference, often ten hours or more. But the character changes too. Higher oil loads shift the balance toward the base notes, so a Parfum version of a fragrance you know will usually smell deeper, warmer and less sharp than its EDT counterpart. Dior Sauvage Elixir and Le Male Elixir are good examples — recognisably related to the originals, but considerably richer.
Applying it
Less is genuinely more. One or two sprays, or a dab at the pulse points. Over-applying a Parfum is the most common mistake and the easiest to avoid. These are best kept for evenings, cooler weather and occasions where you want the fragrance to be part of the impression you leave.
