cologne

Definition

A type of perfume consisting of 2–5% essential oils, 70–90% alcohol and water.

Etymology

Ellipsis of eau de Cologne (French eau de Cologne), the name given to the original product in 1709. The success of the original Eau de Cologne inspired many imitators and it has become a genericized trademark. See Cologne.

Example Sentences

• "You stink of too much cologne."
• "The perfume market has always been a two-tiered one, with a relatively small number of buyers of small bottles of real perfume and eau de parfum that cost large amounts of money, and a larger number of buyers of somewhat larger bottles of cologne and eau de toilette that are considerably more affordable but not always cheap."
• "He wore some aftershave or cologne that gave him a heavy, nasty, sweet scent."