4711 Acqua Colonia Myrrh & Kumquat

As ever, these neat little fragrances do pretty much exactly what it says on the box, at least in terms of their composition. Well, I could do with a bit of "harmonising" which is said to be the effect of Myrrh and Kumquat but so far it has failed to materialise those promises. Never mind, I actually bought this (retail, even, with a little black Friday discount) simply because it smells gorgeous and I have no regrets! The ingredients are simple but play together well. Obviously the kumquat makes for a cologne-like opening that would fit all seasons alike, although it is a rather unusual citric note which sets it apart from from those usual EDC topnote suspects such as mandarin, bergamot etc. It may be a little sharp at first, but never sour. There is an undercurrent of dry warm spiciness spreading out like a soft rug... Actually I find this scent wears well in winter, when you crave something a bit lighter or look for a fragrance to layer with heavier ones. I layered this with myrrh heavy Yves Rocher Voile d Ambre and it was gorgeous together. For an EDC concentration the longevity also on clothes is rather astonishing. As can be expected the kumquat gives up sooner than the myrrh, but that isnt a big deal for me. It is a good component if you are looking for a versatile inexpensive layering tool or an allrounder cologne that avoids the stereotypical cologne notes. Most definitely unisex.

Remember those tiny itty bitty little bottles of 4711 you could buy years ago? Well I have a set of the modern original that contains this little one. It’s late spring and coming into summer as I write this review in New Zealand and today I thought I would try this one. It’s fresh, it’s a wee bit fruity and as the fragrances fade away over time I put on a neutral body lotion before applying this after I had shower. I really like it and it’s pretty. It’s not overwhelming but it has a slightly musk note to it that seems to blend well with my body chemistry. Ideal for this time of year and in the summer too. I really like it and are now on the search for a nice bottle of it as I can see myself wearing this through the summer and into autumn. It is light so you can douse yourself as often as you need to without it being overwhelming or too heavy. It’s definitely a daytime fragrance and is perfect for both genders. Unfortunately some of the old favourite brands like this one seem to have shot up in price in New Zealand for some reason so I’m pleased I got my wee set before it went up again.

I just got a set of mini bottles of 4711 colognes. Wish I'd had them sooner, because they are excellent for honing in on notes and deciding if you like them. I suspected I liked myrrh, and this proves to me that I love it! I dig the kumquat as well, it's a softer and rounder citrus scent. This is entirely unisex, which normally turns me off as I prefer very feminine. So I am experimenting with layering using this one. Add a touch of sweet floral and you end up with a very sophisticated scent. I'm extremely pleased with all of these. They are realistic dual-note scents, but they are cologne strength so you need to put quite a bit on and/or reapply. To me, these would fit easily into the Acqua Allegoria family of colognes, moreso than Joe Malone. To me they feel fresher and more realistic somehow. Less synthetic. YMMV.

This is a beautiful Cologne. I spotted it on sale, so though it’s very reasonable at full price, I got a fantastic bargain and I’m extremely pleased with it. I don’t especially enjoy the first contact, which is reminiscent of citrus gin; however that dies back in minutes, to leave a light, warm, mellow dry down. It is as soft and inoffensive as EDC suggests, but as mentioned previously, for its formulation, it lasts an impressively long time on fabric. It’s an unusual scent and, I would imagine it would be an ace for layering, though I haven’t tried. I wear fragrance according to my mood, rather than by season. That being said, this does feel absolutely perfect for our mild Autumn here in the Southern Hemisphere topics.

What a delightful fragrance! This is a beautiful softly blended citrus that doesn't get weird or sour on the skin. It's semi-sweet freshness has an uplifting quality. Don't let the Myrrh note scare you, it's the softest most tender resinous offering and perfectly balances out the scent. It smells chic and effortless, perfect for warm weather & is surprisingly long lasting for an EDC concentration. Totally unisex & appropriate for all ages (even children). This would be a great gift, or for a guest bathroom, room/linen spray, you name it. I tested it before buying, but I believe it is a very safe blind buy if you are interested. A wonderful new addition to my collection & one of my favourite citrus scents of all time.