If a favourite perfume has ever left you wishing for greater longevity, it may be time to consider the quiet overachiever of the fragrance world: the extrait.
Often regarded as the most luxurious form, an extrait contains a significantly higher concentration of perfume oils than a standard eau de parfum, resulting in a scent that is richer, more enduring and noticeably more nuanced on the skin.
Although many fragrances are chosen for their olfactory profile, whether warm, fresh, floral or gourmand, concentration is an equally important factor. Perfume houses classify formulations by the percentage of oil within the blend.
A higher concentration directly enhances intensity, projection and wear time, which is why an extrait is the most compelling option for those who prefer a fragrance that lingers long after they have left the room.
The distinction lies in strength. Eau de toilettes are the lightest, often containing around 10 percent perfume oil, occasionally less.
Eau de parfums offer greater impact, typically reaching concentrations of up to 20 percent. An extrait stands apart from both, delivering the most potent and long-lasting interpretation of a scent.
Once you understand what an extrait can do, it becomes difficult to settle for anything less.
The Best Perfume Extraits To Add To Your Collection
Merit Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum
$147 at Merit
Fragrance Family: Fresh & Floral
Developed in Paris by one of the industry’s leading artisans, Merit’s debut scent offers a refined take on subtle femininity. Bright bergamot and pear soften into jasmine, rosemary and violet, before settling into spiced vanilla, musk and moss. Retrospect evolves beautifully on the skin, revealing a quietly arresting depth.
Byredo Rouge Chaotique Extrait de Parfum
$575 at Mecca
Fragrance Family: Fruity
Byredo’s Night Veils reimagine fragrance as a nocturnal ritual. These potent extraits sit close to the skin, opening with saffron, cassis and bergamot before deepening into plum, praline and smoky woods.
Designed to linger for hours, the scent captures the rich duality of night and the emotions it awakens.
Goldfield & Banks Tales Of Amber Eau De Parfum
$416 at Sephora
Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody
Tales of Amber is a warm, opulent extrait de parfum that blends smoky labdanum, earthy moss and Madagascan cinnamon with sensual musk and rare ambergris. The result is a deep, refined fragrance with a golden, long-lasting trail that evokes understated luxury.
Fornasetti Giadino Segreto Extrait de Parfum
$819 at Libertine Parfumerie
Fragrance Family: Fresh
Fornasetti’s Giardino Segreto Extrait de Parfum opens with bright notes of black raspberry, blackcurrant, rhubarb and tomato leaf before deepening into petitgrain, carnation and galbanum. Oud, sandalwood, myrrh and opopanax anchor the scent with warmth, creating a luxurious, atmospheric fragrance that feels both modern and enchantingly immersive.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge Extrait de Parfum
From $426 at Mecca
Fragrance Family: Amber & Musky
Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait de Parfum intensifies the cult favourite with richer depth and heightened radiance. Jasmine and saffron open the scent before giving way to bitter almond, cedarwood and a warm blend of ambroxan and musky woods. The result is a long-lasting, luminous fragrance with unmistakable signature appeal.
Maison Crivelli Hibiscus Mahajád Extrait de Parfum
From $379 at Mecca
Fragrance Family: Floral
Maison Crivelli’s hibiscus and rose fragrance blends vanilla, cassis and leather for a warm, modern floral. Crafted with high-quality ingredients, it reflects the brand’s signature approach to unexpected, transportive scent experiences.
Fugazzi Angel Dust Extrait de Parfum
$249 at Libertine Parfumerie
Fragrance Family: Amber & Woody
Fugazzi’s Angel Dust Extrait deepens the original’s soft warmth with amplified white amber, cashmeran and spiced pink pepper, creating a richer, longer-lasting scent that feels truly angelic.
