Cologne, or eau de cologne, is a type of perfume – a liquid with a pleasant smell that is applied to the skin. It is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and alcohol, typically with a concentration of 2–5% but sometimes more. Cologne is considered a type of toilet water, which is less concentrated than perfume and can be applied more liberally. The term cologne is derived from the French eau de Cologne, meaning water from Cologne – the city in Germany where it was first made.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type | Perfume |
Consistency | Liquid or solid |
Scent | Light, pleasant |
Composition | Alcohol, fragrant oils, water |
Application | Skin |
Concentration | Less concentrated than perfume |
What You'll Learn
Cologne is a type of perfume
Cologne is considered a light fragrance and is less concentrated than perfume, which means it does not have a strong scent and needs to be applied more liberally. It is typically applied to the skin behind the ears or on the neck.
The word cologne comes from the French 'eau de cologne', meaning 'water from Cologne'. It originated in the city of Cologne in Germany, where it was first mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709.
In contemporary American English, the term 'cologne' often refers specifically to perfumes marketed toward men, although colognes can be worn by both men and women.
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It is a liquid with a pleasant smell
Cologne is a perfumed liquid with a pleasant smell. It is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or extracts and alcohol, with a small amount of water. The concentration of cologne is typically between 2-5% but can vary depending on the type of oils used.
The name 'cologne' originates from the French 'eau de cologne', meaning 'water from Cologne', as it was first made in the city of Cologne, Germany. It has become a generic term for perfumes, particularly those marketed towards men, and typically has a lighter, less concentrated scent than perfume.
Cologne is often applied to the skin, with people dabbing it behind their ears or on their necks. It is considered a type of 'toilet water', and due to its lower concentration, can be applied more liberally than perfume.
Cologne comes in a liquid form, but can also be a cream or paste formed into a semi-solid stick.
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It is meant to be dabbed on the skin, typically behind the ears or on the neck
Cologne is a type of perfume, typically made from a mixture of fragrant essential oils and alcohol. It is meant to be dabbed on the skin, usually behind the ears or on the neck.
Cologne is considered a type of 'toilet water', which is less concentrated than perfume and can be applied more liberally. The term 'cologne' is derived from the French 'eau de cologne', meaning 'water from Cologne' in Germany, where it was first made.
The original Eau de Cologne was created by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709. It was a spirit-citrus perfume, and Farina described it as "reminding [him] of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain". The fragrance was initially only used as a perfume and was delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe.
Today, cologne is typically marketed towards men, although it can be worn by both men and women. It is often applied to the neck and behind the ears, where the pulse points are located, allowing the fragrance to be diffused as the blood vessels radiate heat.
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It is made from a mixture of fragrant essential oils and alcohol
Cologne is a perfumed liquid composed of alcohol and fragrant essential oils. It is a type of perfume with a light, pleasant fragrance that is not as strongly scented as traditional perfumes. It is typically applied to the skin, particularly the neck and behind the ears.
The word 'cologne' originates from the French 'eau de cologne', meaning 'water from Cologne', the city in Germany where it was first made. The original Eau de Cologne was created by Italian perfume maker Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709. It was a spirit-citrus perfume, and Farina described it as smelling like "an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain".
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 (orange leaf), jasmine, olive, oleaster, and tobacco. These essential oils are blended with a base of dilute ethanol (70-90%) and water.
The concentration of essential oils in cologne can vary depending on the type, but it typically ranges from 2-5%. This makes cologne less concentrated than traditional perfumes, allowing it to be applied more liberally. It is considered a type of 'toilet water', which is a term used to describe scented formulations that are less concentrated and more affordable than traditional perfumes.
In contemporary American English, the term 'cologne' is often used as a generic term for perfumes marketed towards men. However, cologne can be worn by both men and women.
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The name comes from the French 'eau de cologne', meaning 'water from Cologne'
The name "cologne" comes from the French "eau de cologne", which means "water from Cologne". Cologne is a type of perfume – a liquid with a pleasant smell that is applied to the skin. It is typically made from a mixture of fragrant essential oils and alcohol. It is also sometimes formed into a semi-solid stick.
The word "cologne" is derived from the French "eau de Cologne", which translates as "water from Cologne". This name was given to the fragrance in honour of its place of origin – the city of Cologne in Germany. The original Eau de Cologne was created by Italian perfume maker Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709, and it has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2-5% and a base of dilute ethanol.
The term "cologne" is often used to refer specifically to perfumes marketed towards men, particularly in American English. However, colognes can be worn by both men and women. They are generally less concentrated and more affordable than traditional perfumes, which makes them suitable for more liberal application.
In addition to its use as a fragrance, cologne has also been associated with certain cultural practices and beliefs. For example, in Turkish culture, it is customary to offer cologne to guests when they visit someone's home. Additionally, during the Ottoman Empire, it was believed that drinking cologne could help ward off the bubonic plague by exuding a citrus scent through the pores, thereby repelling fleas.
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