They mean "Cologne" which is short for "Eau de Cologne" which is fancy french for "Kölnisch Wasser" which is the german scent of geriatric hell but has become an expression for almost any kind of perfume for some reason.

So if using fancy words you should perhaps know the correct spelling...

[–] UpperBroccoli@feddit.de 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well actually, there is also "Eau de Toilette" which translates to toilet water. That name makes sense if you consider that you empty your colon in the toilet, and there is already water in there, so "Eau de Toilette" would smell less of you than your Colon would.

[–] Rexelpitlum@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

lt does but toilette had a different meaning during the time the term Eau de Toilette has been invented. So the funny cross reference is a random artifact of language change.

Although perfume has also been used a lot to cover the smell of unwashed bodies especially during Baroque.

So it is perhaps a fitting reference nonetheless :-)