a commercial center and river port in western Germany on the Rhine River; flourished during the 15th century as a member of the Hanseatic League
"Cologne, which flourished during the 15th century as a member of the Hanseatic League, remains today a major commercial center and river port on the Rhine."
a perfumed liquid made of essential oils and alcohol
"He sprayed some cologne on his tie before going to the party."
A type of perfume consisting of 2-5% essential oils, 70-90 % alcohol and water.
"He applied a splash of cologne to his wrist before stepping out the door."
In plain English: Cologne is a light, fresh-smelling fragrance that people spray on their skin to smell good.
"He sprayed some cologne before leaving for dinner to smell fresh and clean."
Usage: Use this word to refer specifically to light fragrances with low oil concentrations rather than heavy perfumes or colognes in other languages. It is often confused with "perfume," but the key distinction lies in the much lower percentage of essential oils found in a true cologne.
The largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in northwestern Germany, on the Rhine River.
"Many tourists visit Cologne to see its famous cathedral and historic buildings along the Rhine River."
Cologne gets its name from the Latin phrase Colonia Agrippina, which referred to a Roman settlement founded in honor of Agrippina, mother of Emperor Nero. The word entered English via Middle French as "coloyne," preserving this ancient reference to a colonist's town rather than describing any specific scent or city function today.