{"id":2732,"date":"2021-08-15T09:50:45","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T09:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitlocalturkey.com\/?p=2732"},"modified":"2023-12-20T11:24:50","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T11:24:50","slug":"turkish-cologne-kolonya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visitlocalturkey.com\/turkish-cologne-kolonya\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkish Cologne (Kolonya) – 12 Essential Things to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Turkish Kolonya and its simple, beautiful, and refreshing smell can be addictive. As a Turkish local, I can tell you all about Turkish Kolonya, the best brands, and its place in culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today you can find Turkish Kolonya in every home and office. When writing this post, I already found three bottles in my office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I will tell you all about Turkish Kolonya and my favorite brands, but first, what is a Turkish Kolonya? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkish Cologne (Kolonya) is made with ethyl alcohol (between 60-80%), water, and fragrance. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Eau De Cologne, different odors are not mixed in their production, Kolonya usually has only one aroma (oil). The most common aromas are lemon, tobacco, rose, orange, and jasmine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Here is the Turkish Kolonya I use in the office. Duru’s Lemon scent and Selin’s Juniper scent. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Turkish Kolonya <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turks reinvented Cologne and made modifications to it. For this reason, Turkish Kolonya is not similar to Eau de Cologne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arrival of Cologne in the Ottoman Empire\u2019s capital Istanbul was around the last quarter of the 19th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cologne was an absolute hit among Turkish people because of its pleasant smell and refreshing effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The domestic production of cologne started in Turkey just after it was imported for the first time. The first Turkish Cologne was produced by Ahmet Faruki in 1882.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up until that time, rose water was offered to the guests to clean their hands, or rose water was served with Turkish Delight, Turkish Coffee and rose water had a prominent place in our culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of its disinfection properties, the use of cologne spread rapidly in the last century of the Ottoman Empire, replacing rose water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we still use Turkish Kolonya very commonly, and the use of rose water is nearly forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkish Limon Kolonyasi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lemon cologne (Limon Kolonyasi) is Turkey’s most consumed type of cologne.\u00a0 Lemon cologne contains lemon essence, water, and alcohol.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is possible to come across lemon cologne in homes, barbershops, and restaurants where you eat, in short, everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Turkish Kolonya scents are very diverse. Lavanta is the perfect one for summer as a mosquito repellent. Fig scent is my favorite in winter, making me remember summer.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Aromas of Turkish Kolonya<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The aromas of Turkish Kolonya are very eclectic, reflecting the richness of the Turkish climate and its culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some aromas that just came to my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figs<\/td>Blossoms<\/td>Rose<\/td><\/tr>
Lemon<\/td>Jasmine<\/td>Citrus<\/td><\/tr>
Tobacco<\/td>Juniper<\/td>Lavender<\/td><\/tr>
Green Tea<\/td>Lime<\/td>Mandarine<\/td><\/tr>
Honeysuckle<\/td>Cherry Flower<\/td>Blue Spruce<\/td><\/tr>
Hazelnut<\/td>Lilium<\/td>Lily<\/td><\/tr>
Lemongrass<\/td>Magnolia<\/td>Verbena<\/td><\/tr>
Ginger<\/td>Apple<\/td>Olive Flower<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
The different scents of Turkish Kolonya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most of the aromas are very hard to find outside of Turkey. For these reasons, they can be excellent souvenirs.,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Turkish cologne used for? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turkish Cologne is not drinkable as it used to be in its early days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is customary to serve Turkish Kolonya to our guests, and it has many uses in Turkish culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, Turkish Kolonya (usually Limon Kolonyasi) is served on bus rides, in restaurants, and at family gatherings and funerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, we use Turkish Cologne as a hand sanitizer, refresher, mosquito repellent, and many more uses in our daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does the Turkish Cologne’s smell not last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Colognes have high alcohol content and less oil content than perfumes. For this reason, they are made to be a refresher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfumes have high oil fragrances and less alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons, Turkish Colognes are not long-lasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the best Turkish Cologne brands? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Duru, Selin or Rebul, or Ey\u00fcp Sabri Tuncer Colognes are the best brands. These Colognes are the most popular and top-quality Turkish Kolonya Brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can see one or two of these brands on my work table every time because I love to use them as a refresher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today on my desktop, I had Duru\u2019s Lemon Flower and Selin\u2019s Juniper Colognes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selin<\/strong> has been produced by Eczac\u0131ba\u015f\u0131 (a Turkish pharmaceutical company)\u00a0 since 1912. I love their Juniper Blue Spruce fragrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duru<\/strong> is famous for its Lemon Cologne. Duru\u2019s Lemon Cologne is the most popular Kolonya in Turkey.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebul<\/strong> is a company that was established in 1895. They are known for cologne products reflecting Turkish traditions and fragrances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebul\u2019s brand, Atelier Rebul, offers cologne in stylish bottles with rare scents such as lemongrass and honey, amber, jasmine, rose, magnolia, fig, lavender, verbena, and ginger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ey\u00fcp Sabri Tuncer has been<\/strong> another Turkish Kolonya producer since the 1920s. This old brand is another quality brand for Turkish Kolonya.<\/p>\n\n\n

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My father is a pharmacist, and he only sells Selin in his drugstore. I asked him the reason, and he said loves the scents of Selin Kolonya better.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Is Turkish Cologne bad for you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turkish Cologne is not bad for you unless you drink it. The methyl alcohol in cologne is harmful to our bodies if consumed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otherwise, Turkish Cologne is pretty safe. Turkish Cologne is typically made of %80 also alcohol, and for this reason,\u00a0 it is a perfect sterilizer and disinfectant.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkish Cologne kills bacteria and germs because Turkish Cologne has a high alcohol content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the recent pandemic, Turkish Cologne was one of the most used liquids in Turkey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cologne kills bacteria by dissolving their oily membrane and neutralizing their cell structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can cologne be used as a mosquito repellent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cologne scents will also keep mosquitoes away from you due to the alcohol in them. Some will be most effective, and some will be less effective, depending on their fragrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most effective cologne that can be used as a mosquito repellent, is Lavender Cologne. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fragrance also plays an important role because lavender essence is a natural insect repellent. The other colognes will not be effective as lavender cologne. Yet, they offer some degree of protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a good brand of Lavender Kolonya<\/a> on Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, all Colognes contain isopropyl or ethanol-type alcohols that relieve mosquito itch thanks to the cooling effect they create while evaporating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol in Cologne also acts as a disinfectant which helps faster healing mosquito bites.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do Turkish barbers spray after a haircut? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turkish barbers spray Turkish after a haircut. It is also custom to apply cologne to the customer after shaving.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In all barbers in Turkey, lemon cologne is applied after shaving to refresh the face. So why is cologne applied after the barber? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two answers to this question, the first is to give a feeling of freshness, and the second is used to disinfect the irritated parts of the body the razor is used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, because of its smell, Turkish people find it refreshing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you make Cologne?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I used to make Turkish Kolonya with my dad, who is a pharmacist. Making Turkish Kolonya is very easy. Yet, today branded Cologne is cheaper and has a better smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many tips for making Kolonya, but the most important is fragrance. If you do not have good-smelling oil, you will have no chance of making a good Kolonya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the simple recipe with ingredients for Turkish Kolonya<\/p>\n\n\n\n