Cologne and Perfume, Answered

The difference between cologne and perfume, where the words come from, and who gets to wear what — answered by Studio Ready.

What is the difference between cologne and perfume?

Technically, concentration. The fragrance industry recognises a spectrum — parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne — in descending order of perfume-oil concentration and intensity. An eau de parfum typically carries 15–20% perfume oil and wears for many hours; an eau de cologne is the lightest, applied generously and often.

Where does the word perfume come from?

From the Latin per fumum, meaning through smoke — a reference to the burning of aromatic resins in religious and medicinal practice throughout the ancient world. The term passed into French and English to describe scented preparations, and in time came to denote a specific concentration of perfume oil in alcohol.

Where does the word cologne come from?

From the German city of Köln — Cologne in French — where in the early eighteenth century a perfumer named Johann Maria Farina produced a light, citrus-forward fragrance water he called Eau de Cologne. It was lighter and considerably more affordable than the concentrated perfumes of the period, and intended to be applied generously. The name became synonymous with the category.

Is cologne just perfume for men?

No — that is marketing, not chemistry. In the second half of the twentieth century, fragrance marketers began labelling men's products as cologne to disassociate them from the word perfume, which had by then acquired a feminine connotation. The words describe concentration, not gender.

Can men wear perfume? Can women wear cologne?

Anyone can wear anything. A fragrance takes on the chemistry of whoever wears it — the same composition smells different on every body. Studio Ready composes at eau de parfum strength, worn close and made to last, for whoever wants to be found.

What does eau de parfum mean on a Studio Ready bottle?

That the composition is concentrated for long-lasting wear and formulated to amplify your natural chemistry — heat and movement intensify it through the day. Try all seven in the Discovery Set.