The ORIGIN OF KOLONYA

Kolonya means Cologne. It was born in Köln, Germany in the 18th century. However, it is best known internationally after its French pronunciation Cologne or “Eau de Cologne” – water from Cologne.  While cologne is primarily a light perfume, Kolonya has been applied as a refresher and hand cleanser in the Balkans and Anatolia for centuries.

Distinctive for its soothing fragrance and luxuriant sensation on the skin, Kolonya, with a high-alcohol level (68%-80%), has the potency to thoroughly cleanse the skin. Elegant in texture and scent, Kolonya is a pleasing alternative to the sticky feeling and sharp odors of common gel-based products. Bathe your hands in luxury while purifying them with our Kolonya.

The supplier to our shop is Eyüp Sabri Tuncer, one of the foremost Kolonya producers in Turkey, and they export to more than 70 countries. One of their most recognizable products is the lemon scented Kolonya used across Turkey today.

The department of Genetic and Bioengineering of Yeditepe University (Istanbul) conducted research on 11 well-known micro-organisms (nine bacteria, one fungus, and one yeast) and discovered that, our supplier, Eyüp Sabri Tuncer’s Kolonya is effective on all of them.

ON THE POWER OF KOLONYA

“Turkey’s Scientific Board listed the [Kolonya] liquid, with its 80% ethyl alcohol base, as an official preventive measure against Covid-19.” – The Independent

“This ethanol-based concoction’s high alcohol content can kill more than 80% of germs and act as an effective hand disinfectant… Ingredient-wise, there’s not much difference between eau de cologne and Turkish kolonya. Both use roughly the same ethanol-to-essential-oil ratio and often incorporate citrus oils like orange and lemon. But what makes Kolonya so unique is how it’s used, both culturally and practically.” – The BBC

“...nothing quite matches Turkey’s love for cologne. Named after the German city in which it was invented, cologne arrived in the Ottoman empire in the 19th century. It found a brand ambassador in Sultan Abdulhamid II, who carried Atkinsons cologne wherever he went and could get through a bottle in a matter of hours. The habit caught on, and cologne made its way into Turkish vocabulary, initially as odikolon (from eau de Cologne) and eventually as Kolonya.” – The Economist

”Particles of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) are spherical and have proteins called spikes protruding from their surface, which invade human cells. A fatty layer that holds the spikes together is disrupted when it comes into contact with soap or a hand sanitiser with more than 60 per cent alcohol. This disruption causes the virus to come undone, and kills it.” - The Indian Express

“[Kolonya] mixture is also used to [counteract or reduce] …. dizziness, fainting, and headaches, as well as to clean or disinfect due to its anti-bacterial effect.” – The Culture Trip

“You may use French perfume on your good days, but Turkish Kolonya is by your side through the bad ones.” – Renk Magazine

”Cologne avec un taux de 50% ou plus d’alcool pourrait servir comme une excellente mesure préventive dans la propagation des virus et des bactéries” – Turquie News