Cologne Vs Parfum: What's The Difference?

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne, is a perfume originating from Cologne, Germany. It was originally mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 and has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2–5% essential oils, as well as blends of extracts, alcohol, and water. In contemporary American English, cologne has become a generic term for perfumes marketed toward men. However, the term can be applied to perfumes for both men and women. Cologne compositions often feature notes such as citrus, wood, and musk, which are considered traditionally masculine.

Cologne is a type of perfume

Eau de Cologne typically contains a mixture of citrus oils, including lemon, orange, tangerine, clementine, bergamot, lime, grapefruit, blood orange, bitter orange, and neroli. It can also contain oils of lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, petitgrain, jasmine, olive, oleaster, and tobacco. The perfume is formulated with a concentration of 2–5% essential oils, blended with extracts, alcohol, and water.

In contemporary American English, the term "cologne" has become a generic term for perfumes marketed toward men, often featuring notes such as citrus, wood, and musk, which are considered traditionally masculine. However, colognes can also be designed as unisex fragrances. While there is no inherent reason why men cannot wear perfume or women cannot wear cologne, the use of cologne by men reflects cultural norms and personal preferences for scents perceived as masculine.

Cologne compositions can vary from bold and robust to subtle and elegant, catering to different preferences and complementing the unique essence of the wearer.

Cologne typically contains a mixture of citrus oils

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne, is a perfume that originated in Cologne, Germany. It was originally mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 and has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2–5%.

Eau de Cologne contains a mixture of citrus oils, including lemon, orange, tangerine, clementine, bergamot, lime, grapefruit, blood orange, bitter orange, and neroli. It can also contain oils of lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, petitgrain (orange leaf), jasmine, olive, oleaster, and tobacco.

The original Eau de Cologne was a spirit-citrus perfume, and it was believed that by drinking the cologne, the citrus oil scent would exude through the pores, repelling fleas. Today, cologne has become a generic term for perfumes marketed toward men, though it may also refer to a less concentrated, more affordable version of a popular perfume.

Many modern colognes continue to feature citrus notes, such as the following:

• Banana Republic Classic Citrus
• Cremo Blue Cedar & Cypress
• Tommy Bahama St. Barts Men Eau De Cologne
• Pino Silvestre Italian Citrus Perfume
• NAUTICA Classic Eau de Toilette
• Clubman Pinaud Lime Sec Eau de Cologne
• LUCKY You Cologne Spray for Men
• Dossier - Citrus Ginger
• Viking Revolution Bergamot Cologne for Men
• L'Occitane Eau de Toilette: Citrus Verbena
• Bath & Body Works Citrus & Cedar Cologne Mist
• D.R.Harris Classic Cologne

In American English, cologne often refers to perfume marketed toward men

In American English, the term "cologne" is often used as a generic term for perfumes marketed toward men. However, it is important to note that the original Eau de Cologne, from which the term is derived, was a unisex fragrance.

The usage of the term "cologne" to refer specifically to men's fragrances is a relatively modern development. The original Eau de Cologne, created by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709, was a unisex perfume used by royalty across Europe. It was a spirit-citrus perfume, containing a mixture of citrus oils, including lemon, orange, tangerine, and bergamot, among others.

Over time, the term "cologne" evolved to encompass a wider range of scented formulations with varying concentrations of essential oils, extracts, alcohol, and water. Today, in American English, the term is typically associated with perfumes marketed specifically toward men.

This gendered usage of the term is not universal, however. In some regions, such as the United States, the terms "perfume" and "cologne" are used according to their technical definitions in stores and salons, regardless of gender. Additionally, some people may use the terms fragrance or scent as more gender-neutral alternatives.

The distinction between "perfume" and "cologne" based on gender is a cultural and marketing construct that has evolved over time. While it is prevalent in American English, it is important to recognize that the original usage of the term "cologne" was not gender-specific.

Cologne was originally mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne, was originally mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709. Farina was an Italian perfume maker from Santa Maria Maggiore, Valle Vigezzo, who settled in Cologne, Germany.

In 1708, a year before he created the original cologne, Farina wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste, "I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain". Inspired by his new hometown, he named his fragrance Eau de Cologne, or "Water from Cologne".

The original Eau de Cologne is a spirit-citrus perfume with a delicate fragrance that reveals the finest citrus notes. The first whiff provides refreshing bergamot, followed by tender jasmine and violet, smoothed down by warm sandalwood and olibanum. It is a timeless perfume for both men and women.

Farina's cologne was used only as a perfume and was delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe. His ability to produce a constantly homogeneous fragrance consisting of dozens of monoessences was seen as a sensation at the time. A single vial of this "miracle water" cost half the annual salary of a civil servant.

Farina opened a shop in Obenmarspforten in 1709, which is the world's oldest fragrance factory. His formula has been produced in Cologne since 1709 and remains a secret to this day.

Cologne compositions often feature notes such as citrus, wood, and musk

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne, is a perfume originating from Cologne, Germany. It was originally mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 and has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2–5% essential oils, along with a blend of extracts, alcohol, and water.

Woody notes, on the other hand, can be derived from natural means such as maceration and distillation of wood chips, or produced via lab synthesis. Examples of woody notes include cedar, sandalwood, agarwood/oud, pine, and vetiver. Woody notes are commonly associated with masculinity and provide a robust and natural feel to fragrances.

Musk, traditionally derived from animal sources, is now mostly synthetically produced in perfumery to avoid ethical concerns. It is a versatile note that can be combined with other scents, adding depth and longevity to fragrances.

These three types of notes—citrus, wood, and musk—form the foundation of many colognes, each bringing its unique characteristics to create a well-rounded and appealing fragrance.

Frequently asked questions