Eau de cologne in een oude apotheek in Keulen

Eau de cologne: meaning, origin and difference from perfume

Eau de cologne literally means "water from Cologne". The name comes from the fresh scented water that was made and sold in that German city at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Today the term mainly stands for the lightest form of perfume: a fragrance with little perfume oil and lots of alcohol, which opens fresh and fades quickly. On the label you see it as EDC. Below you can read where the word comes from, what odeklonje has to do with it, how EDC relates to EDT, EDP and perfume, and when you are better off choosing a stronger fragrance.

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Briefly summarized

  • Meaning: eau de cologne is French for "water from Cologne". It began as a product name and became a generic term for light scented water.
  • Odeklonje is simply the Dutch colloquial pronunciation of eau de cologne.
  • EDC vs EDP: eau de cologne contains the least perfume oil, eau de parfum much more. That is why EDP smells fuller and lasts longer.
  • Use: EDC is made to be sprayed generously as a quick refresher, on warm days or after showering or shaving.
  • Do you want your fragrance to last all day? Then choose a fragrance with a high concentration of perfume oil instead of a cologne.

Table of contents

What exactly does eau de cologne mean?

Eau is French for water, de Cologne means "from Cologne", because Cologne is the French name of that city. Together it means "water from Cologne", or in old-fashioned Dutch: Cologne water.

According to the Dutch Wikipedia page about eau de cologne, Farina named his elixir after Cologne after joining in 1714 the company that had been founded there in 1709. The fragrance caught on, and the city name became the product name.

Then something happened that often happens with a successful product: the name became a generic term. Just as everyone says "föhn" without thinking of a brand, eau de cologne became the collective term for any light, fresh scented water based on alcohol. Today the term is used for a light perfume with a lower concentration of fragrance substances than eau de toilette, eau de parfum and perfume.

So eau de cologne has two meanings:

  1. The historical meaning: the original Cologne scented water, with a fresh fragrance profile of citrus and herbs.
  2. The modern meaning: a concentration class. Any fragrance with little perfume oil can have EDC on the label, whether it smells like lemon, wood or vanilla.

From Cologne water to odeklonje

Anyone who grew up in the Netherlands or Flanders probably knows the word odeklonje from grandma's handbag. It is not a different product, but the way Dutch speakers pronounced and wrote the French word. The DHSV dictionary of Odeuropa gives "eau de cologne" as the preferred term and describes it as "Cologne water" and "scented water". It also mentions spellings such as oddeklonje, onjeklonje, oodeklonje and ooieklonje: a nice proof that the word really lived in everyday speech.

The story behind the bottle is also well documented in the Netherlands. Ons Amsterdam describes eau de cologne as a scented water based on herbs, fruits and alcohol, invented in early eighteenth-century Cologne by the Italian Giovanni Paolo Feminis and made famous by Giovanni Maria Farina. The article also mentions the nickname "4711", which for many people became synonymous with odeklonje.

There was a reason grandma kept the bottle with her. According to the Dutch Wikipedia, the old Cologne water contained about 85% alcohol and in the Netherlands was used because of this medicinal character for fainting, headaches and minor wounds. Odeklonje was therefore more of a household remedy than a luxury. Today, of course, eau de cologne is seen as a fragrance, not as medicine.

From Cologne water to odeklonje

Why "cologne" often means a men's fragrance

In the Netherlands, some people say "cologne" when they mean a men's fragrance. That comes from English. In contemporary American English, cologne has become a generic term for perfumes aimed at men, or for a lighter, more affordable version of a known perfume.

So that usage says nothing about what is in the bottle. A men's fragrance with EDP on the label is not a cologne in the European sense, and a fresh EDC can be worn perfectly well by women. So always look at the abbreviation on the bottle, not at what someone calls the fragrance.

EDC, EDT, EDP and perfume: what the abbreviations mean

The abbreviation on the label tells you how much concentrated perfume oil is dissolved in the alcohol. The more oil, the fuller the fragrance and the longer it stays on your skin. The percentages below are indications commonly used in the perfume world: brands use their own limits, so treat them as a rule of thumb.

Abbreviation Full name Indication of perfume oil Character Typical occasion
EDC Eau de cologne approx. 2 to 5% Light, fresh, often citrus Quick refresher, warm days
EDT Eau de toilette approx. 5 to 15% Lighter, easy to wear Office, daytime
EDP Eau de parfum approx. 15 to 20% Full, clearly noticeable All day, evening
Perfume / extrait Perfume or extrait de parfum approx. 20% and more Intense, rich, close to the skin Special occasions

A few things you can take from this table:

  • EDC is the lightest. It contains relatively a lot of alcohol and little fragrance oil. That makes it feel cool and refreshing, but the fragrance materials evaporate faster.
  • EDT is in between. If you want to know more about that step up, read our piece on eau de toilette vs eau de parfum.
  • EDP and perfume are the concentrations for anyone who really wants to feel a fragrance. We explain the difference between those two in eau de parfum vs perfume.

Note: the same fragrance name can exist in multiple concentrations. The EDC version of a fragrance often smells fresher and lighter than the EDP version, because the heavy base notes are less present.

Cologne vs perfume: how long does it last?

This is the question that really matters for most people. Because eau de cologne contains so little perfume oil, it is often largely gone after a few hours. The fresh top notes, such as bergamot, lemon and neroli, evaporate the fastest, and little base remains to hold the fragrance.

With an eau de parfum or perfume, it's different. The higher concentration ensures that the heart and base notes, such as flowers, wood, amber and musk, stay on the skin for a long time. You smell the fragrance develop throughout the day instead of fading away quickly.

How long a fragrance lasts also depends on:

  • Your skin. Dry skin holds fragrance less well than hydrated skin.
  • The notes. Citrus and fresh herbs are volatile, wood, vanilla and amber last a long time.
  • Where you spray. On warm areas of your body and on fabric, fragrance behaves differently. In perfume on clothes or skin you can read what works best where.
  • The weather. Heat makes fragrance evaporate faster and project more strongly.

If you want to smell a fragrance from morning to night, a high concentration is more useful than constantly respraying a cologne.

When do you choose eau de cologne, and when something stronger?

Eau de cologne has its own place. It is meant as a quick refresher, not as a fragrance you wear all day. That makes it useful in a few situations:

  • After exercise or showering, when you want to feel fresh for a moment.
  • On a hot summer day, when a heavy fragrance feels like too much.
  • After shaving, as a cooling ritual. Be careful with your skin: in perfume after shaving you can read when that is and isn't sensible.
  • When you share a small space and only want a hint of fragrance.

Choose a stronger concentration if you:

  • want your fragrance to last through the entire workday or evening;
  • don't want to top up a bottle every few hours;
  • want a fragrance that develops, with a clear heart and a warm base;
  • are looking for a scent that others will really notice when they are close.

Not sure which fragrance suits you? With our tips on choosing perfume without making a bad buy, you can quickly narrow the choice down to two or three candidates.

Using eau de cologne: how to apply it

Because EDC is light, you can use more of it than an eau de parfum. This is how to get the most out of it:

  1. Start with clean, dry skin. After showering, your skin absorbs fragrance well.
  2. Spray on your pulse points: wrists, the sides of your neck, behind your ears and in the crook of your elbows. There the skin is warm, which helps the fragrance spread. You can find more spots in our overview of fragrance application points.
  3. Don't rub. Rubbing your wrists together breaks down the fresh top notes faster and makes the fragrance evaporate more quickly. Just let it dry.
  4. Be more generous than with EDP. A cologne can be applied to more places or with a few extra sprays, precisely because it is lighter.
  5. Take it with you on the go, if you want to top up during the day.

With an eau de parfum or perfume, the opposite applies: one to three sprays is usually enough, because the fragrance is much stronger.

Safe use: read the label

Eau de cologne, eau de parfum and perfume are cosmetics, and that comes with a few habits. The Dutch government advises, for products containing chemical substances, including cosmetics, to read the label and follow the instructions for use. Through that same page you can go to Waarzitwatin.nl, where you can find overviews of substances in products and tips for using them safely.

A few practical points:

  • Sensitive skin, eczema or a previous reaction to fragrance? Then first spray a small amount on your forearm and wait a day. If you get redness, itching or bumps, stop and consult your GP or dermatologist. In our article about allergens in perfume you can read which substances are listed on the label and why.
  • Natural is not automatically gentler. Essential oils can also irritate the skin. A clear overview of reactions to essential oils shows how to recognize that.
  • Fragrance-free and unscented are not the same. Anyone looking for skincare for sensitive skin benefits from knowing the difference between fragrance-free and unscented on a label.
  • Sun and fragrance. Fresh colognes often contain lots of citrus, and fragrance and sun call for extra attention. So read perfume and sun before spraying at the beach.
  • Alcohol is flammable. Don't spray near an open flame and keep your bottles in a cool, dark place.

Our view on cologne and fragrance concentration

We understand very well why eau de cologne has been popular for three hundred years: it feels fresh, light and accessible. But most people who come to us want something different. They want a fragrance they can spray on in the morning and still smell in the evening, without the high price of designer brands.

That's why we deliberately choose perfumes with a high concentration of perfume oil. Our customers therefore experience a long-lasting fragrance compared with lighter fragrance types. We think that is the fairest way to offer value: you pay for what is in the bottle.

What we leave out is what you don't smell. No expensive marketing campaigns, no luxury packaging. Our fragrances are inspired by well-known designer perfumes, and all the fragrances are vegan and cruelty-free. That way, as a conscious buyer, you can enjoy a full, rich fragrance.

If you want that fresh cologne feeling, choose a fresh, citrusy fragrance in a high concentration. Then you get the lightness of an eau de cologne, but with a fragrance that lasts.

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A fragrance that lasts longer than a cologne

Are you looking for the freshness of eau de cologne, but want your fragrance to last all day? At Pure Parfum you will find vegan, cruelty-free perfumes with a high concentration of perfume oil, inspired by well-known designer fragrances. Choose from our men's perfumes, women's perfumes or unisex perfumes.

Pureparfum

Want to layer your fragrance? Combine your perfume with a scented hand cream or body lotion from our Body Care collection. Still unsure between fragrance types? Then also read perfume oil vs perfume.

Frequently asked questions about eau de cologne

What does EDP mean in perfume?

EDP stands for eau de parfum. It is a fragrance with a relatively high concentration of perfume oil, much higher than eau de cologne (EDC). That is why an EDP smells fuller and stays on the skin longer.

What is an odeklonje?

Odeklonje is the Dutch colloquial name for eau de cologne, the original Cologne scented water. The word reflects how Dutch people pronounced "eau de cologne" in French. In the past it was also used as a household remedy, for example for headaches.

Is eau de cologne only for men?

No. That idea mainly comes from American English, where "cologne" often means a men's fragrance. In its original meaning, eau de cologne is simply a light scented water that anyone can wear. Look at the fragrance notes, not the word.

Which lasts better, eau de toilette or perfume?

Perfume, and also eau de parfum, lasts longer than eau de toilette because it contains more perfume oil. Eau de toilette is lighter, and eau de cologne is the lightest of all. If you want a fragrance that lasts all day, choose a high concentration.

How often can you spray eau de cologne?

Because eau de cologne is light and fades quickly, you can use it more generously and top it up during the day. Always read the instructions for use on the label. If you have sensitive skin or irritation, stop and ask your GP or dermatologist for advice.

Sources

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