Walk into any department store, and you’ll likely see “cologne” in the men’s section and “perfume” in the women’s. But here’s the truth: these labels have little to do with the actual scent and more to do with marketing.
Fragrance has long been subject to gendered advertising: cologne for him, perfume for her. The reality? Today, “cologne” and “perfume” are just different terms for fragrance.
Historically: Cologne vs. Perfume
Like eau de parfum and eau de toilette, cologne and perfume historically relate to degrees of concentration, which refers to the amount of fragrance oil in a scent.
- Cologne (also called Eau de Cologne): about 2-4% oil
- Perfume (also called Parfum): about 20-30% oil
Perfume contains a higher concentration of fragrance oil, which gives it a stronger presence and longer wear time. Today both men and women want that, which means most “colognes” today no longer adhere to these percentages.
So, why cologne for men? If you’re after longevity or intensity, you may want to forego your label—and consider reaching for an eau de parfum or parfum instead. (Note: all Commodity fragrances are eau de parfums.)
Today: Cologne vs. Perfume
Today, since these oil concentrations don’t necessarily apply, colognes are used in advertising often to just refer to an eau de parfum as more “masculine.”
At Commodity, we tend to use the word “fragrance” to avoid the outdated “perfume vs. cologne” divide. All of our fragrances are unisex. You simply decide which scents you like or don’t like, instead of a label deciding for you.
So let’s set the record straight: perfume is not a feminine word, just like cologne is not a masculine word.