How to choose a perfume: EDP, EDT and buying fragrance online

Choosing a perfume online is hard: you cannot smell through a screen. That is why it helps to understand the label on the bottle, read the notes in the description and ask the seller the right questions. The eau de parfum section of the Dona catalogue has 51 items, priced from 9,800 to 450,000 UZS. Below is what to look for.

What EDP, EDT and the other labels mean#

The label on the bottle shows how much aromatic oil the perfume contains. The higher it is, the stronger the scent and the longer it lasts:

• Parfum (Extrait) — the most concentrated, roughly 20% or more. One or two drops are enough.
• Eau de Parfum (EDP) — roughly 15–20%. The most popular choice for every day and for evenings.
• Eau de Toilette (EDT) — roughly 5–15%. Lighter, good for hot weather and the office.
• Body mist — the lightest; the scent fades quickly, so it is sprayed several times a day.

The EDP version of the same scent usually costs more than the EDT, because it contains more oil.

Notes: how a perfume changes over time#

Descriptions often list three rows of notes. Top notes are what you smell in the first minutes after spraying, and they fade fast (citrus, fruit). Heart notes carry the main scent for the next few hours (flowers, spices). Base notes last the longest (wood, vanilla, musk). For example, the description of Dear Body in the catalogue lists apple, grapefruit and mandarin on top, rose, mimosa and magnolia in the heart, and vanilla and sandalwood in the base. From that you can tell in advance that it is a light, fruity-floral scent.

How to test and store perfume#

Spray perfume on a warm patch of skin, such as your wrist, not on paper, and do not rub it in. Wait 15–20 minutes so the top notes fade and the main scent opens up. Do not smell more than three or four perfumes in a row: your nose gets tired and stops telling scents apart.

Keep perfume away from sunlight and heat, with the cap on. The bathroom is not a good place for it: humidity and temperature swings spoil the scent faster.

Cheap perfumes labelled “scent” or “in samples”#

The catalogue has many perfumes at 29,000–50,000 UZS that carry a famous brand name with the words “scent” or “in samples”. This usually means the smell was made to resemble that perfume. An original bottle of that brand is not sold at that price, so do not take such a product for the original, and ask the seller exactly what it is. That is why the list below includes only fragrances sold under their own name. More in our guide on how to spot a fake.

All fragrances are in the eau de parfum section. If you are buying perfume as a present, read our guide to choosing a gift without leaving home.

Real prices (Dona, October 2026)#

Prices are taken from the app catalogue as of 13 October 2026. A seller can change a price at any time; the current price and availability are shown on the product page in the app.

• Dear Body — eau de parfum for women, 90 ml, fruity-floral notes — 76,000 UZS. The cheapest on this list.
• KIKSEL Feramon — eau de parfum, 30 ml, with separate versions for men and for women — 110,000 UZS.
• Clive&Keira №1044 — eau de parfum for women, 30 ml, made in Turkey — 220,000 UZS.
• Lanselot — Faberlic Lancelot White, eau de toilette (EDT) for men — 250,000 UZS.
• Pour Toujours — a fragrance from the Faberlic brand — 250,000 UZS.

What to ask on a live stream#

On a live stream, ask the seller to show the box and the bottom of the bottle up close: they should show the volume (ml), the type (EDP or EDT) and a batch code. Have them show whether the box is sealed in film and whether the sprayer works. Ask in the chat: “What are the notes?” and “How long does the scent last?”. If you are buying a scent you do not know for the first time, a smaller bottle is the safer choice.