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

And what relevancy will any of the many "trendy" brand cluttering the Sephora shelves have in short order?

There is some debate as to which is the original cologne, 4711 or Jean-Marie Farina (aka Extra Vielle) by Roger & Gallet. Here are my notes of comparison. 4711 is very lemony and refreshing, with a bit of rose and a hint of rosemary to freshen. It has a tiny bit of musk, and no wood that I can detect. Its lemon persists an amazingly long time for a citrus note – I give it credit for that. This is a simple fragrance. (For an amazing lemon-musk, try Eau Sauvage.) JMF is similar but at the same time is darker, deeper and more interesting. It has more depth and complexity, in my opinion. Carnation gives it a bit of clovey spice. It is a bit drier and spicier than 4711, and I like it better.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Catholic Church on a Friday night when the Germans serve lemons and vinegared cole slaw with the fish fry. No fishy smell, but the acid and citrus with slight sweetness and herbs so puts me in this particular situation that I can't even bring myself to wear what (only to me) has such a foody association. No one else will make this connection, I'm sure, but there you have it.

This was one of the first scents I owned- as a little one my mother for some reason would receive a bottle every Christmas (it seemed to me!)but it gave her a headache so I was always given the pretty little coin-shaped bottles. I still have my first bottle, and although I never wear it as an adult, 4711 is very special to me.

I absolutely adore the clean, fresh, crisp, cool and refreshing smell of all of these sort of Eau de Colognes.

BUT - thats only at the topnotes when all of teh citrus-herbal notes are present, loud and clear.

Very quickly, like most EdCs out there, this one loses it sparkling vibrance, as of that which one feel after taking a sip of sparkling mineral water, from a chilled, unopened bottle after a hot day, and becomes nothing more than a very weak indeed solutiong of lemon, orange and bergamot rind, presented in a tall glass of glacial water.

Whats more, at the drydown, if thats what it can be called, that weak watered-down citrusiness mutates into a "poopy" smell, if you dont pervail with your nose held upon your skin to "smell the truth"...Nice, but after 5 minutes, not worth it...sorry...

But apparently, the original Farina-gegenuber KOLNISH WASSER maintains its initial crispness somewhat longer - althoug, I have not yet been able to sample it, although I would love!

This reminds me of being ill, primarily because when I had a temperature, my mother would soak a hankie in this and put it on my fevered brow. I don't really like it, but you can't deny it's a classic. Everyone has had a dab of this at some point in their lives.

Not bad, even if a bit too sharp and penetrating at top. On the other hand it's only too weak - regardless of weather, it is usually gone within a mere 30 minutes, leaving you no chance to smell any base or drydown.

A great piece of history, but it ends right about there. This is too short lived and too weak to be used as a fragrance on the body. It will last a good 5 minutes even if you slosh it on with an 8 ounce glass.