4711 Acqua Colonia Blood Orange & Basil

I just love this Acqua Colonia line so much! They are what they promise: aromatherapy like, adorable, fresh and totally natural scents in sometimes unusual, but always balanced and wearable combinations. It is a Cologne, people, don't expect heavy sillage and long lasting power! Buy EdP if sillage is what you are looking for. "lasts x hours on me as a skin scent" is totally what an EdC should do. So, back to the Blood Orange& Basil combo: although I am a fan of this line and I tried almost every single one of them, this stands out to me (with the regretted Apple&Chilli), because for me this is a total feelgood scent in a bottle. Juicy, freshly squeezed blood orange and a hint of genovese basil (the light green, spoon shaped leaves). Ah, it is just what I need whenever I feel down. It is so energising and uplifting. As always, beautiful bottle and paper box too.

4711 is a brand from Germany, mainly known for their cologne. The scent that just sprayed out is a mix of orange and grapefruit, very refreshing, uplifting, and energizing me throughout the day. As for the issue of the short-lasting fragrance of the cologne, actually, if sprayed on the skin in winter, it lasts quite a while. However, I don't recommend re-wearing this in the afternoon because after the main notes of the perfume dissipate, there is still a lingering hint of the base notes, which is a slightly sweet fruity fragrance that smells amazing. These are my personal opinion and feelings about this fragrance. I quite like it. It is the kind of fragrance that can be suitable for any occasion, any season, and is also a neutral scent. It is super fresh and gives a very vibrant feeling.

Got a mini bottle of this juicy, zesty scent a few years ago and it's been a favourite in the summer ever since. It's a bright, pulpy and just about perfect hot-weather scent. The orange is very lifelike, and on me at least the basil is just a quiet hum in the background. Not at least sticky, sweet or cloying - the herbal base makes it super fresh. It's perfect for hot, humid weather. I'm not a big sprayer (1-2 sprays is usually enough for me) but his cologne I'd happily bathe in. It's heavenly to splash on liberally after a shower. It doesn't last very long, as can be expected, but it's such a cheery, fresh picker-upper, I had to get a 170 ml bottle (at 40% off! Insanely good value!) and foresee many a lush summer with it!

I have a thing with this colognes. I know they don't last a bit, but they are so beautiful that I can't resist. I tried Mandarine & Cardamom, I like it. But Blood Orange & Basil blew my mind. It's much better, and in fact it start with a scent similar to mandarin more than orange. It's refreshing, full of happiness, clear and clean. But as you know, in a matter of minutes it's all gone, just a faint skin scent lingers for a little more. I swear, if 4711 could make this same fragrance with a better staying power, it would be my favorite scent. The price is quite affordable (very so), and that's a plus to try this wonderful cologne.

It does what it says! Totally improved my mood when my friend sprayed it on me driving my car on my way to the beach a warm sunny day . I wanted to sniff it more and more . Have been spraying on my hair , skin , clothes and around car all distance long. It didn't last at all on me but I love it and I wanna purchase it. Its 2 days I havent smelled it and I feel addicted . Wanna feel like that again . Hold its beautiful big vintage bottle. Fresh , Uplifting , Energizing. P.S. Unfortunately its not available in Greece , so If anyone has it available or can help me have it please contact me.

I love myself a fresh cologne in summer and if citruses are there - often the case in colognes- i am the merrier. Even if i own a hundred. Blind bought, I hoped this to be a dupe of Mandarine Basilic, a classic in my AA collection....and it is. A dead ringer, for a fraction of the price! Sweet oranges and mandarin peel and a fresh uplifting herbal note (basil is stronger in real life, here it's more a minty fresh feel). Lasts a couple of hours but if you overspray and make sure your clothes are well covered, it will last half a day. These 4711 frags are real little gems.

Being almost entirely citrus, this might be the shortest halflife I've experienced from 4711, but that's not a complaint. This may, in fact, be my favorite. It reveals itself, at least on my skin, independently before harmonizing. I surprisingly caught the basil first before getting wholloped by a big, fat, juicy blood orange. Then, of course, they coalesce and I found myself smelling like the brine I made last time I roasted a duck. I loved the smell of that brine and wanted to smell it all day. So, naturally, I loved this.

This is very similar to Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic in the best possible way. I just love the combination of citrus and basil (well, citrus in general), and this gives you the same vibe as the aforementioned Guerlain fragrance at a fraction of the price. The opening is more citrusy than the Guerlain one, but the more it dries down, the more similar the two become. Longevity is as expected for this kind of scent: not too strong and not too projecting, but defintely lasts a few hours.

One of the best fresh citrusy orangy opening exactly like standing under a fully blossomed orange tree. I just wish this enchantment could stay longer love the zesty sharp smell. Quickly settles down with very prominent orange note and basil following it. After an hour or so the sharp orange fades a bit and merges with basil and slowly disappears within 2 hrs sadly. Scent 9/10 Sillage 7/10 projects a lot in first 15 mins. you really smell like a walking orange tree. Longevity 5/10 Value 9/10

Oh, heaven! I just love this one! Realistic blood orange & basil. This is very similar to Mandarine Basilic Guerlain, that I already own and also love very much. I sprayed them on each wrist to compare. Blood Orange & Basil is a bit more linear and less sweeter then Guerlain's. They both lasted the same time with a pretty similar dry-down. I am definitely going for this one after my Mandarine Basilic is done. Also, this cologne is half price cheaper then Guerlain.

I really love this cologne, in part because I, too, think it smells like mandarin oranges, which I also love. The basil is much less apparent, although it does the counteract the sweetness of the orange. Unlike many others, however, I found the sillage and longevity unexpectedly strong. In fact, because of the... dominance of the orange, I only feel comfortable using it for casual wear (which fortunately isn't a problem with my lifestyle).

I love all the colognes I've tried from this line! This is a very nice natural orange, with a little herbal spice from the basil. It's simple, and very refreshing, exactly what I was hoping for. I think it's every bit as good as Mandarin Basilic, and it's more to my personal taste because it's less sweet. This will have a permanent place in my collection, right next to Melissa & Verbena.

I blind bought this and its a success! I already have a lot of citrusy notes in my collection but this is not one of those boring ones. There is something about it that appeals to me. Maybe its the basil note combined with blood orange. This has a calming, relaxing and almost tea like effect on me. So happy with this! Because of that, I will definitelt try the other scents in this line.

A real cologne which gives an ultimative blast of fruity zesty blood orange (lemonade) spiced with aromatic sunny basil. Has actually no drydown for me, but does what it should: Refreshs you, wakes you up, takes you on a little trip to sunny italia. Simple, very natural, uplifting. Love it!

This is yum! - everyone who loves their bloodorange should get it! It's not a sour but a very delicious juicy bloodorange with a hint at herbal, aromatic basil for becoming not too sweet! JO Malone-level because of quality, sadly sillage and longvity,too. But at a much lesser price-tag!

It is the most optimistic frag I have, pure happiness in a bottle. I feel lifted when I smell it. Guerlain AA Mandarine Basil lasts longer and is sweeter in comparison to Blood Orange and Basil. I love them both and will have this one in my bag during this Summer.

A fruit juice of blood orange, deliciously sweet, with a touch herbal.. Great for hot weather! Simply blood orange and basil, but very well matched, which makes this fragrance so refreshing and comfortable. Surprised me the lasting power!

one of the best and most realistic (blood) orange scents - its fresh, herbal and uplifting and on clothes, it lasts for quite a while. it was love at first sniff and i couldn't imagine hot summer days without it.

This is lovely! Way above my expectations. Light and orangey, very simple but oh so yummy.... just what i wanted. Stays on for long time. I am in love with this.....

ښکلي بوي لري او ډیر ښه بوي ساتی که څوک کشمالي خوښه وي دا د هغه لپاره تر ټولو غوره خوشبويی یاهم عطر دي د دري وو نه نیولی تر پینځه ساعته پور بوي ساتي او بوی ښه خوریږی

Simple and to the point: Blood orange and basil. These are the only two notes. Great mix, great scent! Goes on well in very hot weather, as well.

I can not get enough of the zing of this this on a hot day. It is intense and lifts the spirits. If I could drink it, I would!

Absolutely delightful and fresh. Fantastic summer scent. Soft projection and a fair longevity of 6-8 hours on my skin.

I'm normally not a huge fan of citrus, but I adore the smell of oranges and this perfume so much I've gone through three 170 mL bottles already. Great refresher for hot days, but I actually prefer wearing it on cold winter days because it just makes me feel so spritely and happy. The sharpness of the basil really cuts through the cold and brightens up those gloomy days. I also like wearing it when studying or doing something that requires focus since it's quite energizing. Lasting power isn't anything to write home about, lasts a good 4 hours on me. I will forever have this in my collection I love it so much. Edit: Got a mini of Mandarine Basilic and they are very very similar. I would say 4711 is a tad greener from the basil, but otherwise the differences are tiny and owning both is a bit redundant imo. This is seriously such a fantastic value for the price.

HERBACEOUS FANTASY IN A CITRUS COCKTAIL. The blood orange note in this one is all rind and the basil really evens it out. The basil develops last and brings out the mild sweetness of the blood orange, more tartness than anything else. It has a fizzy opening like that of the first zip of a blood orange cocktail but without the liquor. This is a great layering base sent. Especially if you want to amp up anything that is rum, bourbon, spicy or amber based. I personally enjoy wearing this as a layer under my Dior Homme Intense / Parfum and it creates something very beautiful. I also layer it with my Lake & Sky Midnight 07. As a scent of its own it is not very deep, literally 2 notes. But when mixed with something else I felt that it carried on longer and developed well into other layers. I have finished my full size bottle and considering ordering another round.

On me, it opens up with a very hyper realistic bitter blood orange taste, as if I’m really drinking a carbonated blood orange limo. This opening was too bitter for me (I honestly also find blood orange limos sometimes too bitter). Afterwards, it started getting less bitter and more mellow, and the basil started to show up, but really as a supporting role. It has almost no sweetness, besides the hint of sweetness you would naturally find in a regular blood orange. I’d like it more if it had a more prominent basil, or if it was perhaps a bit sweeter. It can indeed be a great alternative to Guerlain’s scent. But the Guerlain has that hint of sweetness that I miss here to balance out the tartness. So, for me personally, Guerlain receives a love, and 4711 receives a like. If it’s worth it to pay the price difference, I still need to figure it out...

4711 Blood Orange & Basil smells really good, yes, but smells soooo much like fresh orange that it's like I just squeezed one for morning orange juice. As good as it smells -- and it smells amazing! -- after trying this one over a couple of years, I have finally recognized that I don't want to smell like straight up orange juice; it veers too edible/gourmand for me. I always say that I need my gourmands to have something that renders them inedible, otherwise I feel like I just smell too much like food (or drink). And so it goes with Blood Orange & Basil. By the way, I've been able to get decent (4 hour or so) longevity out of this one by both overspraying as well as spraying directly on my clothes.

Very refreshing and overall my favorite of the three colognes of this line that I tried. It reminds me of the L'Occitane Eau de Toilette Orange Leaves which I love, too, but the Acqua Colonia is less bitter. It took me some time until I detected the basil - one day, when I stepped into the sun c an hour after applying it, a strong whiff of basil rose from my skin - I looked around me to see whether there was a basil plant in a garden. But no. It's difficult to catch but it's there. I have the body spray, too, and in our very hot climate, I rely on it to refresh me over the day. A lovely line, in the tradition of the sharp, clean, refreshing original, but without the granny associations.

This one is my second favorite from the mini collection. i was positively surprised when i sprayed it. It ́s juicy, natural and has a delicious herbal feeling. when i spray it i am immediately transported to the woods. i think it makes a great scent for a picnic or when you go camping. it is good for hot and cold days.great for men and women alike, all ages. unfortunately, like with all scents from this line, this one is gone within minutes. I wish 4711 would work to improve longevity. But, while it lasts, the smell is really intense. if you like citric and/or herbal fragrances you can ́t go wrong with this one, but i don ́t know if it would make a good gift for someone else...

Wow what a nice find! Great for the price, very realistic blood orange, I actually compared it to both a vial of blood orange extract and to the much more expensive AC Orange Sanguine and I swear that blood orange top note is very close, I don’t know how they managed that at this price. I also get some added greenness and some linen-like musks in the base. The skin scent left behind is zesty and neutral. I almost bought this on the spot but found it is dirt cheap online, under 20$. It's not a very luxurious or expensive smelling scent, but it is very refreshing and at this price you can use it all over yourself and the house.

Green, watery citrus. I detect a very present note of what I've seen referred to as geranium in other fragrances. Whatever it is, it lends a sweet and clean vibe to the fragrance. The citrus is gone almost immediately, leaving green, watery floral soap. It doesn't have the acidic punch or mossy base of eau d'orange vert. Completely different fragrances. Edit: I still prefer the original 4711 or their Lime and Nutmeg, which are both excellent, but this has grown on me. It has a pleasant wet, leafy quality that reminds me of something Hermes would have added a mineral note to and sold for $120.

I will have to take a contrarian view compared to the reviews below me on this, it's probably my least favourite of the 4711 Acqua Colonia line. The blood orange here is bitter on me, very unlike the bright, zesty mandarin from Mandarine and Cardamom. However, unlike the rest of the line, this didn't seem to do what it said on the bottle. The basil was undetectable to me. There was a hint of spice, but not really basil. Not much longevity and sillage, as expected. A pleasant fragrance, but not my favourite. Mandarine & cardamom is a much more realistic orange and spice fragrance in my books.

This is the third fragrance I've bought from the Acqua Colonia line and so far I've loved them all, but I'm pronouncing Blood Orange and Basil as my favourite so far. It's a warm late-summer's day and I've just been on a walk through some bushland. While walking I was enjoying the smell of sun-baked eucalyptus leaves. It was quite warm out and when I got home I wanted refreshment - pronto! Happily this fragrance delivers! The blood orange is super refreshing and not too sweet. The undertone of basil isn't strong, but it seemed to echo the natural smells of the bush. Wonderful.

I bought this in a pack of 5 miniatures and this was my favourite. You can smell the tangy, zesty blood orange so well in this. Such a lovely, fresh and zesty scent. Yes, it's not super strong, yes, it doesn't last long (as all 4711 won't), but it doesn't matter. 4711 fragrances are not made to be long lasting power houses, but more like refreshments for the warmer days. The quick slap and dash refreshment fragrances. So I'm happy with Blood Orange And Basil. Once I'm through my tester bottle I will get myself a full sized bottle for sure.

Dangerously teeter to be undistinguishable from car freshener in sharp cold weather but otherwise it does possess some naturalness once it develops on the skin. Mixed feelings about the soapiness when sprayed on fabrics but the greenness saves it I'd say. Slightly sweeter than AA Mandarine Basillic but it's still the kind of natural mandarin orange sweet, I enjoy this more than Guerlain's one as that turns soapy way too quickly and too potently on my skin and nose.

My first blind buy and it was definitely different than I was expecting. More masculine and dark than I anticipated. I absolutely love it though, it’s perfect for warm weather. Blends well with body odor. It’s also great for layering. Inexpensive and comes in a big bottle so I don’t feel bad about overapplying. Longevity isn’t amazing but citrus never is so I’m not too disappointed. I would recommend to anyone as a good starter perfume. Overall 7/10

This is one of my favorite Acqua Colonias, and I have several. There is no progression of scent, it is very linear. However on my skin it lasts, and lasts longer than many eau de toilettes. I have primarily worn this and the other Acqua Colonias that I own during the summer, but I chose to wear this today, on a warm mid-February day. I will have to try the others during the fall and winter months as well as spring and summer.

Interesting orange smell. Very fresh and much less synthetic than I expected. Nice for a while after leaving the shower, best on hot days. Longevity is no more than 3-4 hours and sillage is close to the skin, like all of such fragrances. Very well made and is too cheap. I bought a 170ml bottle for 30$....Very good price for this. scent: 6/10 longevity: 5/10 sillage: 4/10

I have 3 fragrances of the 4711 acqua colonia serie but to me this one is the best. The scent of the the blood orange is delicous. From the beginning till the end. I am positive about the longevity, 3 hours. It is a cologne so quite long in my opinion. It is a refreshing scent, very nice in hot weather. The blood orange smells very naturel like real fruit.

Very real blood orange and basil. Not sweet, but refreshing and herbal. It fades quickly. Someone earlier in the comments recommended applying jojoba oil to the skin before spraying to make it last longer and that actually worked on me. For the price and the surprisingly fresh scent, it's a good buy.

As soon as I've sniffed it, I loved it. I bought it for my mum's b-day and she loved it too. It's simple and refreshing, trully energizing. I'm happy i've bought it :D

for about 30€ it is one of the best summer fragrances ever... very refreshing and (on me) it lasts almost all day

Natural blood orange with a hint of basil. This combination is very interesting! Fruity and herbal.

Too soapy during the first mins, overall a good choice considering the price.

It’s not really anything special. I blind bought it based on a recommendation, and I noticed that users had voted that it resembled Eau D’Orange Verte, which I adore. Considering that it was only $26 for 170ml, I decided to give it a try. If we’re comparing it to Eau D’Orange Verte, I would say that it has a slightly herbal undertone, but it doesn’t bear any resemblance to it. In fact, I would choose Orange Verte over this any day. It’s much more feminine than Orange Verte. I can’t discern any blood orange or basil notes in this fragrance. Instead, it’s more of a bitter floral aroma that I’m picking up. It’s not particularly fresh. I don’t envision myself ever wearing this fragrance. This wasn’t a successful blind buy for me, but it was only $26, so I don’t mind.

Smells like blood oranges and not much else. It's pretty and soft and very much a skin fragrance where you'd have to get up close to someone to smell it. I had hoped the basil would stand out a bit more and was looking forward to a herbaceous freshness but it misses the mark for me. It is nice and you certainly could give it a whirl one summer but I won't be purchasing it a second time around.

Blind bought this because some compared it to Clementine California, which is largely unavailable now. Unfortunately I found the scent extremely soapy with an overly savoury basil note, and almost no hint of blood orange or other citrus. I let it macerate/mature and it mellowed out a bit (slightly less soapy) so I use it as a room spray, as it still does not mesh well with my skin chemistry.

I Love the scent but it really doesn’t last on me at all. 5 minutes max. I’ve never had that experience with any other frag. I thought this may be a nice alternative to guerlain’s Mandarine basilic - and it is scent wise. But it just doesn’t last as long as MB on my skin anyway.

Refreshing blood orange and a hint of young basil. Something underneath those notes reminds me of the genericism you breathe in as you pass the Macy's fragrance department. Short-lasting. Not my favorite.

It is a linear and simplistic green and herbal scent like the leaves of citruses. The projection and sillage are soft. The price is affordable, and it doesn't smell abrasive.