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The definitive guide to cologne

08 November 2019 | By Justine Hewitt

Fragrance, perfume, eau de toilette, cologne? Find out the differences between them and why cologne should be your daily go-to!

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You’ve seen the adverts of clean-shaven men patting themselves with refreshing cologne, but how exactly does it differ from the other fragranced offerings on the market? 

A brief history lesson

The first cologne was created by Italian-born perfumer, Giovanni Maria Farina
who named it after the city in which he lived in Germany. Later, cologne became a generic term for perfumed water and for centuries it has contained uplifting and citrusy notes including orange, lime and grapefruit as well as floral notes and even tobacco. 

What’s in a name?

Although ad campaigns have been telling us for decades that cologne is a man’s commodity, the word merely refers to the concentration of ingredients in a perfumed product – it’s definitely not gender-specific! 

Concentration is key

What differentiates the various perfume products is concentration. The strongest fragrance is eau de parfum with about 25% concentration of pure ingredients; next is eau de toilette with around 10% concentration; and finally eau de cologne with an average of 3% fragrance concentration. This is why eau de cologne is such a great everyday scent – it’s perfect to spritz on in the morning and freshen up with during the day. 

Fabulous fragrances

Perfumers rely on fragrances that evoke pleasant memories and promote an uplifting mood, which is why cologne – with its super citrusy elements – has remained a favourite for centuries. Combine these with balancing notes of bergamot and lavender, and you have an irrisistably zesty offering. Modern colognes also include more exotic scents like green tea and Yuzu, the much-loved Japanese citrus fruit. 

 

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com

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