Turkish perfume
Anyone who has spent time in or just visited Turkey can confirm the Turks’ love of cologne, often known as “kolonya.” Not to be confused with the high-end Turkish perfumes available in duty-free and designer stores.
Turkey might be the home of the perfume industry, and it continues to play a significant role in the perfume and cosmetics industries today.
A Brief History of turkish perfume and turkish cologne
Cologne first arrived in Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire’s capital, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
Because of its pleasant scent and relaxing effect, cologne was a huge hit among Turkish people.
In Turkey, local cologne production began shortly after importing it for the first time.
Ahmet Faruki created the first Turkish cologne in 1882.
Turkish people gave rose water to guests to wipe their hands with or without Turkish delight perfume. Turkish coffee and rose water held a prominent part in their culture till that time.
Because of its cleaning effects, cologne became popular in the Ottoman Empire’s last century, quickly displacing rose water.
Although Turkish Kolonya is still widely used today, rose water lost it famous.
Cologne reinvented and modified by Turks. As a result, Turkish Kolonya differs from Eau de Cologne.
Turkish cologne
Turkish perfumers manufacture Turkish cologne (Kolonya) from ethyl alcohol (60-80%), water, and scent.
Kolonya has only one perfume, unlike turkish eau de cologne, which is gomes of several various scents (oil). Lemon, tobacco, rose, orange, and jasmine are the most common scents.
The major difference between Turkish perfume and kolonya, , is the ratio of essential oils to alcohol, which can reach up to 80% in the latter.
Experts now believe that kolonya with a 50 percent or higher alcohol content could be a great protection tool against the spread of viruses and bacteria.
In reality, Turkey’s love for kolonya may have led to the country’s long-term immunity to the viral epidemic, as the use of this refreshing and sanitizing product has long been a prevalent custom in this country.
However, because of its antibacterial properties, Turks use the mixture to cure dizziness, fainting, and headaches.
turkey cologne served to guests and used as a scent because of its cooling properties, which are likely related to its alcohol content.
as well as to clean and disinfect. Orange, lilac, lily, lavender, mandarin, and even hazelnut are just a few of the perfumes available for Kolonya.
On the more traditional end of the spectrum, kolonya (typically lemon) served as part of a ritual during guest visits, bus excursions, and restaurants, as well as during family reunions and funerals.
Turks give Kolonya to refresh the guests and aid in the removal of bacteria acquired during their journey.
What is Turkish cologne used for?
Turkish cologne is no longer drinkable as it was in the past.
In Turkey, they serve the Turkish Kolonya to their guests, which has various applications in Turkish culture.
They also use Turkish cologne as a hand sanitizer, refresher, insect deterrent, and many other things in their daily lives.
In Turkey, Cologne has become one of the most popular traditions. Several regions have different sorts of cologne today.
Izmir’s golden drop (Altn Damla), Antalya’s citrus flower, Rize’s tea cologne, Düzce’s tobacco cologne, Amasya’s apple cologne, Ayvalk’s olive flower cologne.
Cologne being an important factor of Turkish culture, has played an important part in society for many years, attending people on religious holidays, visits, and trips.
best Turkish Cologne brands
Because of its widespread popularity and current high demand, choosing among the many renowned brands might be difficult, so use this as a guide to the various types of kolonya available in Turkey.
The best brands are Duru, Selin ,Vakko ,Tariş, Atelier Rebulor Rebul, or Eyüp Sabri Tuncer Colognes. They are the most popular and high-quality turkish colognes in the world.
Duru
Is well-known kolonya brand in Turkey that has lasted the test of time, having been founded in 1927 in Erzurum.
Duru, which now works out of a 350,000-square-meter factory in Istanbul, extended into a number of personal care goods and brands, including the Arko brand,
Which manufactures 300 tons of soap each year in addition to various of kolonya sizes.
Duru’s Lemon Cologne is well-known. Duru’s Lemon Cologne is Turkey’s most popular Kolonya.
Selin
Since 1912, Eczacbaş (a Turkish pharmaceutical firm) has been producing it.
Selin was the first brand to produce kolonya in Turkish history, appearing in Izmir in 1912 as Altn Damlas Kolonyas (Golden Drop Cologne),
created by none other than Süleyman Ferit Eczacbaş at the ancient ifa Eczanesi in Kemeralt.
Anyone visiting Izmir received the cologne as a prestigious gift.
Vakko
Vakko is your go-to brand for the ultimate in kolonya elegance.
This elegant Turkish brand delivers the utmost in fancy kolonya perfumes with the price tag to boot, featuring aromas
including Retro Gardenia, White Suede Musk, White Tea, and Cedar Atlas.
It is, however, the most upscale of kolonyas available and ideal for gifting.
Tariş
One of Turkey’s most well-known olive oil brands also boasts a reputable personal care line with over a half-dozen kolonya types,
including the more uncommon fig, olive flower, and green tea smells, as well as spray bottle choices.
Atelier Rebulor Rebul
One of Turkey’s oldest fragrance companies founded in 1895 by a French expat named Jean Cesar Reboul at his Grande Pharmacie Parisienne in Istanbul’s Beyolu neighborhood.
Their name became famous with the lavender kolonya they officially launched in 1938, and the company,
now known as Atelier Rebul, is one of Turkey’s most well-known kolonya producers.There are now dozens of Atelier Rebul shops throughout Turkey,
as well as an online store where you can purchase a wide variety of their aromatic kolonya.
Eyüp Sabri Tuncer
The Eyüp Sabri Tuncer brand, which founded in 1923 in Ankara,
Eyüp Sabri Tuncer inventing the lemon kolonya version that we are all familiar with today.
There is also a wide spectrum of aromas devoted to specific spots in Istanbul such as the Basilica Cisterns, the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, the Bosphorus, the Spice Market, and so on.
The Eyüp Sabri Tuncer websites advertise nearly 700 distinct personal care products
Summary
Turkish perfume and cologne was quickly diffused throughout Turkey due to its ease of production and low cost.
It became a component of the visitor reception ritual after that. The same procedure is still a custom in Turkish society today.