Kolnisch Wasser 4711 Eau de Cologne

[solar]

I haven't used this one for several weeks, and in doing so today I was struck buy how it seems to work especially well on the hot, humid days of summer.

I had the opportunity to visit the German city of Koln (sorry, I can't get the umlaut over the "o" on this keyboard) several years ago, and was able to pick up a bottle of the famous scent.

Anyways, a hot and humid day here, and it seemed to be a good time to put on the 4711 after the morning shave. It has a light but definate citrus and floral composition. As cologne goes, what's not to like on a hot summer day?

I often use Pineaud's Eau de Portugal hair tonic, a very citrus-based tonic which leaves a very light citrus scent in the hair and which works well with the general flavour of 4711.

Best,

Chris

 

[Austin]

It is a good summer scent. I use it after a cool shower when I work on the yard. I sit outside afterwards with a cold beer and a cigar.

 

[Uncle Erik]

4711 is absolutely a great summer scent. I especially love using on warm summer evenings after my nightly shave. I'll relax with a cold one and spin some vinyl.

 

[Whitmore]

It never ceases to amaze me how 4711 is perceived pretty much anywhere but here in Germany. Because while rather young friends from the US beg us for a bottle whenever we come over, here it's considered a scent for elderly women - although the producing company really does everything to change that.

 

[solar]

My family lived in Germany years ago. On a school field trip, my brother went to the factory, and always remembered the tour guide reverentially holding up the final bottled product and making a lot of noise about how nice it was. He said his first impression upon smelling it, was the similarity for him to the fragrance used in those little foil-packed moist towelettes given out on airplanes once upon a time. So, he doesn't use it.

It does have a citrusy scent, and while there are many imitators, I believe its popularity in North America comes with its having been the first as it were. Here in Canada, seeing tourists from Europe buying bottles of maple syrup seems cliche, but in the end, our maple syrup is extraordinary stuff, made using techniques dating back to the early 1800's. It just fades into the background a bit because we see it so much, whereas its a rareity for Europeans who visit since they can't easily find it nice and fresh back home.

Same thing with 4711 I think; its been around a long time in Europe, its heavily marketed especially in Koln, and the average young hipster might well see it as being too heavily played, and seek something more esoteric for them (Brut, Aqua Velva, I don't know).

For myself, since its rarely if ever seen or experienced here. I can enjoy the scent without the complication of the surrounding marketing or old-lady affiliations that accompany it in Germany. Ultimately, its a great fragrance for warm weather in my experience.

Even if I do smell like a little old lady to the odd visiting resident of Koln und Koenigswasser, who knows; I might get a nice emotional hug from a cute young lady from Koln who's homesick and who misses her muttie.

Best,

Chris