Eau de Cologne
Eau de cologne can mean a concentration or a citrus-aromatic style. Learn how to read EDC on a label and distinguish it from the everyday word cologne.
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Eau de cologne, abbreviated EDC, can describe a fragrance concentration or a style of scent. As a concentration designation, it usually sits below eau de toilette. As a style, it suggests a fresh combination of citrus and aromatic herbs.
The everyday word cologne has another use: especially in the United States, it often means a men’s fragrance. That fragrance might be sold as an eau de toilette, eau de parfum or parfum. The audience label does not identify its concentration.
Read the complete product name to find the version, then use the scent description and a sample to judge whether it suits you. A citrus opening is not a wear-time measurement, and a fragrance lasting longer than expected does not prove its label is wrong.
- Eau de cologne (EDC)
- A designation commonly associated with a low concentration. Cologne also names a citrus-aromatic style and, in everyday speech, can mean a men’s fragrance.
- Cologne style
- A fresh citrus-aromatic style of perfumery. A fragrance can have this character without being labeled eau de cologne.
- Cologne in everyday speech
- Often a term for a men’s fragrance, with no particular concentration implied.
- Eau de toilette (EDT)
- A concentration designation usually positioned below eau de parfum. An EDT can have a distinct formula and should be sampled in its own right.
- Eau de parfum (EDP)
- A concentration designation usually positioned above eau de toilette within a range. The exact percentage and composition depend on the product.