4711 Echt Kölnisch Wasser (1792)
by 4711 (orig. by Muelhens)

Simple and pleasant. There's nothing exotic about it and it's clear and open. Puffy lemons with a woodsy drydown. Cheap to purchase, too.

4711 is, above all else, a cheap drugstore brand, but probably the best known and most readily available eau de cologne on the market (shamefully nonetheless). I have 400ml bottle on hand to splash on now and then since it cost $6 at my local Walmart. The opening is a decent citrus with nothing exciting or special. There is some synthetic rose, and finally the faintest musk. Dissipates within a few minutes. A decent cologne, but I would spend a few more dollars and get Roger & Gallet Extra Vieille, Eau de Coq, or something along those lines.

I love that this simple, classic cologne is available in such huge bottles, like a 40oz or something. In the summertime, you can chill this in the fridge, place it in your favorite brown paper bag, and off you go. You'll have a refreshing splash always at your fingertips.

I am joking. About the paper bag.

Once you have looked beyond the Creed-like creative marketing of their history, this is a straight up and down traditional cologne. Compared to some of the Titans in this class of fragrance like Jean Marie Farina and Acqua di Parma Colonia, this lacks the depth, longevity and the requisite class to warrant anything beyond a shrug and a a dismissive "meh!" As long as I own the aforementioned classics, I see no possible reason to purchase something so clearly inferior

This is what some may describe as "old school". It's citrussy and doesn't last very long. Surprised? If you are then you shouldn't be. This is what proper "Cologne" should smell like.

4711 would have been groundbreaking in it's day but these days it's copied and surpassed by many. I'd rather have Trumpers Wellington Cologne as my citrus cologne of choice any day and more recently, or for someone who would want a modern version of a cologne, Comme des Carcons Cittrico from the Cologne series is almost identical to 4711 in smell but has better longevity and a better drydown even though it is only marginally more expensive.

Please, try 4711, it is a piece of history and it's cheap. I don't believe in all the hype of a "back story" but this is a historical cologne nonetheless.

Weighing all the pros and cons up, this gets a neutral. If I was writing this review in the time period between 1850 - 1920 I'd probably give it a positive.... it's just that there are better colognes out there.

My mother's favorite fragrance, and she is not a perfume wearer in any sense. She first received this as a gift from my father's grandmother, from Germany, over 40 years ago. When she does actually wear perfume, it's the only one she wears.

I also love it. It is light and fresh, and a perfect daytime scent. I get many compliments on it, and I love the blank look I get when I tell people what it is. It's like my own little secret scent.