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A Brief History Of Kolonya, Turkey’s

Fragrance

Eyüp Sabri Tuncer/Wikimedia Commons

FERIDE YALAV-HECKEROTH
UPDATED: 29 DECEMBER 2016

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The sweet scented liquid kolonya is a staple in every Turkish household,

usually smelling strongly of lemon and held in a decorative glass bottle.
With many different scents from rose to lavender and from common
supermarket brands to the more upscale bottles, kolonya is used mainly
as a refresher and perfume (and sometimes as an antiseptic due to its
alcohol content). We take a look at the history of kolonya that stretches
back to the Ottoman Empire. Discover
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It was rose water that first made its appearance in the Ottoman Empire as the
main scented liquid. However in the 16th century, when newly discovered eau de
cologne made its way to Turkey during the reign of Abdülhamit II, rose water lost
its primary spot. The new cologne was mixed with rosemary, orange, bergamot
and lemon, and sometimes even sprinkled on sugar as a relief for upset
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stomachs. By 1920, Eyüp Sabri Tuncer started producing
a city cologne out of a small

shop in Ankara where he would provide customers with free sample bottles and
informative leaflets. One of the first people in the Republic to use a promotion
campaign, Tuncer remains as one of the most important brands in the kolonya
sector.

As for the production of kolonya, three simple ingredients (ethyl alcohol, water
and fragrance) are mixed together for the final product. The alcohol used in
kolonya is also specially produced through the fermentation of starchy
substances such as grapes, potatoes, or barley. The ethyl alcohol is then mixed
with distilled water until it reaches the necessary levels, after which the fragrance
is added. After sitting in a tightly sealed container for seven to ten days, the
mixture is transferred to its final, ready-to-use plastic or glass bottle.
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Eyüp Sabri Tuncer/Wikimedia Commons Rebul/Wikimedia Commons

Due to its refreshing property, probably due to its alcohol content, kolonya is
offered to guests and used as a fragrance. However, the mixture is also used to
treat dizziness, fainting, and headaches, as well as to clean or disinfect due to its
anti-bacterial effect. Kolonya comes in many different fragrances, including
orange, lilac, lily, lavender, mandarin, and even hazelnut. On the more traditional
end, kolonya (usually lemon) is offered during guest visits, on bus trips, and in
restaurants, as well as during family gatherings and at funerals as part of a ritual.
The offering of kolonya is always meant to refresh the guest and help get rid of
bacteria acquired during their trip.

Found at almost every pharmacy and supermarket, the more upscale versions of
kolonya have also made a name for themselves. A standout for the most high end
line of kolonya is Atelier Rebul , which was established in 1895 and offers kolonya
in chic bottles with fragrances such as lemongrass and honey, amber, jasmine,
rose, magnolia, fig, lavender, verbena and ginger, and green tea. At modern
venues and hotels, kolonya is always found in bathrooms as a traditional yet
modern touch for the guest experience.

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