Worth a Spray

Dior Sauvage EDT vs EDP: the real differences

Same bergamot-and-pepper opening, different finish. The Eau de Toilette stays sharp, dry and fresh; the Eau de Parfum turns rounder, warmer and a little sweeter, with lavender and vanilla. Sample the EDT first for warm weather, and the EDP if the EDT felt harsh or you want it for evenings. Editorial inference

By Christian KergerFounder and editor

Last updated 23 September 2026

Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette bottle

fresh / spicy

  • bergamot
  • pepper
  • ambroxan
Sauvage Eau de Toilette · 2015
Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum bottle

aromatic / amber

  • bergamot
  • lavender
  • vanilla
Sauvage Eau de Parfum · 2018

Side by side

Eau de ToiletteEau de Parfum
Launched20152018
PerfumerFrançois DemachyFrançois Demachy
Key notes Brand descriptionBergamot, pepper, ambroxanBergamot, lavender, vanilla
Scent familyFresh / spicyAromatic / amber
Dry-down Brand descriptionDry, mineral ambroxanWarmer, with a trace of vanilla
Character Editorial inferenceBrighter and sharper, with more edgeSmoother and rounder, a little sweeter
Best for Editorial inferenceWarm days, daytime, the gymEvenings and cooler months

How they differ Editorial inference

The opening

Both open on the same bright, juicy bergamot, which is why many people can’t tell them apart in the first minute. The EDT pairs it with a sharper peppery kick; in the EDP the pepper is softer and a little spice, from nutmeg and star anise, comes through.

The heart

This is where they split. The EDT stays lean and airy. The EDP brings lavender forward, which gives it a smoother, more classic, slightly barbershop feel.

The dry-down

The EDT settles into ambroxan: dry, mineral and slightly salty, with the same energy it started with. The EDP adds vanilla to that base, so it ends warmer, rounder and closer to the skin.

Which should you sample first?

Choose the Eau de Toilette if

You want something fresh for warm days, you like a scent with an edge, and you don’t mind wearing one of the most recognisable fragrances around.

Choose the Eau de Parfum if

The EDT felt too sharp or synthetic on you, you want it for evenings and cooler months, or you prefer a smoother, slightly sweeter finish.

If you can, sample both on skin, one on each wrist, and compare them again after an hour: the difference is clearest in the dry-down.

Other versions of Sauvage

Dior has since added Sauvage Parfum (2019) and Sauvage Elixir (2021), both also by François Demachy. Each moves further towards warmth and intensity than the Eau de Parfum. As with any concentration, don’t assume a stronger version is simply a louder copy: brands often change the formula between versions.

More on Sauvage Eau de Toilette → · More on Sauvage Eau de Parfum →

Notes are from Dior’s published descriptions. Read how we compare perfumes.