Perfume vs Cologne vs Body Spray
These three terms get used almost interchangeably in everyday speech, and they shouldn’t be.
| Term | What it actually means |
|---|---|
| Perfume | A general term for fragrance, or specifically a high-concentration format (parfum/extrait). |
| Cologne | Historically a specific light concentration (eau de cologne); now often used loosely, especially in the US, for any men’s fragrance. |
| Body spray | A lightly scented, low-concentration aerosol or spray, not a true fine fragrance — much lower oil content and shorter longevity. |
Why the confusion exists
“Cologne” drifted in casual American usage to mean any masculine-marketed fragrance, regardless of its actual concentration — which is why you’ll see genuine eau de parfums and eau de toilettes both loosely called “cologne” in everyday conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Is body spray as good as perfume?
It’s a different, much lower-concentration category, generally intended as a light, casual refresher rather than a fine fragrance — see our full concentrations guide for the detail.
Shop genuine fine fragrance in our Perfume Sprays range.
