Extrait de Parfum vs Eau de Parfum.
Same words. Different worlds.

The short answer (because life is short)

Extrait de Parfum is traditionally the highest concentration within the classic alcohol-based fragrance categories. It typically contains between 20 and 40 percent fragrance oils dissolved in perfumer's alcohol.

Eau de Parfum, by comparison, generally sits between 12 and 20 percent. Eau de Toilette usually falls between 5 and 15 percent. Cologne, the runt of the litter, hovers around 2 to 5 percent.

So when a house calls something Extrait, it should be the richest and most concentrated version they make. The translation is literally "extract."

Spiteful August Extraits are 33 percent. That number isn't arbitrary. It's where we get the texture, longevity and evolution we want without the formula collapsing under its own weight. Too high and the oils do not always dissolve cleanly. Too low and you lose the richness that makes Extrait special.

Why we only make Extraits

People often assume we make Extraits because they are stronger.

We don't.

If all we wanted was projection, there are easier ways to achieve it.

We make Extraits because we love the way they move.

An Eau de Parfum often arrives quickly. It tells you most of the story in the first thirty minutes. A good Extrait takes its time.

The opening softens gradually. New details emerge hours later. Woods become creamier. Musks become warmer. Things you never noticed at the start suddenly appear.

To us, that transformation is the whole point of perfume.

We want a fragrance to feel cinematic. We want it to unfold scene by scene rather than reveal everything at once.

And we love what happens near the end.

Not the loud projection. Not the room-filling cloud.

The shadow that remains.

The trace left on a scarf the next morning. The scent caught in your hair when you turn your head. The soft impression on skin that only somebody standing close enough gets to discover.

That is where perfume becomes personal.

That is why we make Extraits.

Why the difference matters on skin

Higher concentration changes the smell, not just the strength.

More fragrance oil means deeper bass notes, fewer alcohol fumes on the opening and a slower evolution on skin.

Think of it as the difference between a stadium concert and a candlelit room. Both are music, but you experience them differently.

A good Extrait is not necessarily louder. It is more textured. More intimate. More persistent.

Extrait is not just stronger. It is slower.

How long does Extrait actually last?

On most people, a Spiteful August Extrait projects noticeably for around two to three hours before settling closer to the skin.

Most wearers experience six to eight hours of recognisable fragrance, depending on skin type, weather, activity level and application.

Fabric and hair often carry the scent even longer.

We prefer honesty over fantasy. Not every fragrance needs to last until tomorrow morning.

The cost question (asked and answered)

Yes, Extrait is more expensive.

The maths is simple. To get a 33 percent concentration into a 50ml bottle, you use significantly more raw material than a comparable Eau de Parfum.

Those raw materials, particularly naturals, are not getting cheaper. Cardamom prices doubled in 2023. Aged patchouli takes years to soften. Resins, musks, woods and specialty aroma molecules all carry their own cost.

The price reflects the formula, not a marketing premium.

Our 50ml Extraits sit between €140 and €160. That is genuinely tight margin for what is inside the bottle. We do not negotiate it.

How to apply Extrait (and why ours works differently)

Most advice about Extrait assumes a traditional spray head that delivers a relatively heavy dose of fragrance with each press.

Ours does not.

Every Spiteful August bottle uses an ultra-fine mist atomiser designed to distribute fragrance evenly across skin, hair and fabric. Each spray delivers less liquid than many people expect, creating a finer scent cloud that helps the fragrance spread more naturally and develop more evenly.

Because each spray is so fine, you can apply more generously than you might expect.

In fact, go heavier than you think.

Our atomiser is designed to create a soft, even veil of fragrance rather than a concentrated blast. Let it settle across skin, hair and clothing. Bask in it.

Neck. Wrists. Inner elbows. Chest. Clothing. Hair. Wherever you want the fragrance to live.

And when you want to make an entrance, spray again. Life is too short to wear perfume timidly.

We actively encourage spraying clothing because fabric often becomes part of the fragrance experience. A scarf, jacket or shirt can hold traces of scent long after it has softened on skin.

However, our Extraits contain a high concentration of fragrance oils alongside natural materials, resins, spices and essential oils. As with any perfume, repeated spraying onto the same area of delicate or light-coloured fabric may cause staining.

Apply broadly rather than heavily concentrating one spot.

And whatever you do, do not rub.

The Spiteful August approach

Three signature Extraits, all at 33 percent, all hand-blended in southern Spain by Scott Wolf.

Cárda. Cardamom and pear with a green-spice edge. Bohemia. Patchouli, coconut milk and vanilla cream, unapologetic. Coya. Sun-ripened tropical fruit with a shadow of leather underneath.

Each is small-batch and macerated for weeks before bottling. We bottle when the fragrance tells us it is ready, not when the calendar does.

All three are genderless by intention.

If you want to test before committing, the August Collective is a 3 × 5ml discovery set. Three full-strength Extraits for €40 — and that €40 comes back as credit when you buy your first full bottle. We made it that way on purpose.

Honest answers to the questions everyone asks

What is the difference between Extrait de Parfum and Parfum?

Today, many fragrance houses use Parfum and Extrait de Parfum interchangeably. While there is no universal industry standard governing the terms, both generally refer to the highest concentration tier within traditional alcohol-based perfumery.

Can men wear Extrait? Can women?

Yes. Yes. All three Spiteful August Extraits — Cárda, Bohemia and Coya — are genderless by intention. Fragrance has no chromosome.

What does maceration mean in perfumery?

Maceration is the resting period between blending and bottling. Fragrance materials need time to integrate, soften and settle. For small-batch perfumery, this matters. It is the difference between something freshly mixed and something properly finished.