Cologne: A Light Perfume Named After a German City
Cologne is a light scented water worn on the skin. It is named after the German city where an Italian perfumer created it in 1709.
Cologne is a light fragrance, weaker than perfume and typically citrus-based. It is one of the few products named directly after a city: Johann Maria Farina made his scent in Cologne in 1709 and called it eau de Cologne after his new home.
- A light scented water. *A splash of cologne.*
- Men's fragrance generally. *He wears too much cologne.*
- The German city (capitalised). *The cathedral at Cologne.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | cologne | A bottle of cologne. |
| Full form | eau de Cologne | Classic eau de Cologne. |
| Related | perfume | A French perfume. |
| Related | eau de toilette | An eau de toilette spray. |
| Related | aftershave | A splash of aftershave. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The room smelled faintly of cologne.Uncountable when it means the substance.
- He gave her a cologne for her birthday.Countable when it means a particular product.
- Eau de Cologne has been made since 1709.The original formulation is still produced.
Fragrance strengths, weakest to strongest
- Eau de Cologne — roughly 2 to 5 per cent fragrance oil
- Eau de toilette — around 5 to 15 per cent
- Eau de parfum — around 15 to 20 per cent
- Parfum or extrait — 20 per cent and above
- The higher the concentration, the longer it lasts and the less you need
From French *eau de Cologne*, water of Cologne. The city's German name is Koln, and it in turn comes from Latin *Colonia* — a Roman colony founded there in the first century.
Cologne or aftershave?
Aftershave is applied to soothe skin after shaving and is usually lighter. Cologne is worn for the scent alone.
Is cologne only for men?
No. It describes a concentration, not a gender. The association with men is a marketing convention, mainly American.