# cologne

/kəˈɫoʊn/ (US) · /kəlˈəʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cologne
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. personal fragrance

noun · CEFR B1

a liquid with a pleasant smell that you put on your skin to smell good.

For teachers: a scented liquid consisting of alcohol and various essential oils, typically with a lower concentration of fragrance than perfume.

- He applied a little cologne to his neck before going out to dinner.
- The department store features an extensive collection of designer colognes, ranging from traditional citrus blends to modern woody scents.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun.

Teaching tip: In modern American English, 'cologne' is often used specifically for men's scents, while 'perfume' is used for women's.

### 2. the city in Germany

noun · CEFR B1

a large, famous city in western Germany located on the Rhine River.

For teachers: the largest city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, known for its Gothic cathedral and as the origin of the fragrance.

- We spent three days in Cologne visiting the famous cathedral.
- Cologne serves as a major cultural and economic hub in western Germany, attracting millions of tourists to its annual carnival celebrations.

Usage: Always capitalized as a proper noun.

Teaching tip: Learners should note that the German name for the city is 'Köln'.

### 3. to apply scent

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to put cologne on yourself or something else so it smells nice.

For teachers: to apply cologne to a person or object for the purpose of scenting.

- The barber cologned the customer's face after the shave.
- The air in the dressing room was heavily cologned, thick with the competing scents of several different floral extracts.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires an object.

Teaching tip: This verbal use is quite rare in modern conversation; 'put on' or 'apply' is much more common.

## Examples

- He wears a fresh cologne every morning.
- The department store has a large section dedicated to expensive cologne and designer perfumes.
- While the scent of his cologne was initially overpowering, it eventually faded into a subtle, woody aroma that lingered in the room long after he had departed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.