Prepare to have your perception of fragrance SHATTERED. That 'cologne' you've been spritzing for years? It's built on a massive marketing illusion. Decades ago, advertising masterminds realized men wouldn't buy 'perfume'—it was coded as 'feminine.' So, they created a linguistic loophole, hijacking the term 'cologne' and turning it into the ultimate code for 'man scent.' You've been participating in a century-old sales pitch without even knowing it! This isn't just an American phenomenon; while the US clings to this gendered term, other cultures use 'perfume' for everyone. In the UK, 'aftershave' often serves the same catch-all purpose. The reality is that the division is a commercial fantasy designed to shape what you buy and how you perceive masculinity. The words on the bottle have more to do with boardroom strategy than what's actually inside. For advertising opportunities, visit Avonetics.com.