Eau de Quinine Crown Perfumery 1890

... would be the adequate translation of Eau de Quinine into German, but it definitely wouldn't sound as good and mysterious. This fragrance certainly doesn't make it easy. The top note comes across, as my predecessor has already described, rather bitter and sour. The parallels to quinine-containing gin and tonic are undeniable. However, gin and tonic has never really been my thing - I can quickly think of 100 beverages I'd rather drink.

But there are significant differences between drinking and smelling. And fortunately, the confusing yet fitting opening, which I would definitely attribute to the addition of lavender, is quickly replaced by herbal and soapy notes thanks to coriander, making Eau de Quinine appear a bit smoother. The scent constantly fluctuates between sour citrus, bitter herbal, and dry spicy. The long-lasting final phase becomes even more interesting when the powdery notes take over, infusing the whole with more sophistication. This evokes a mood reminiscent of a forest lake, an abandoned castle, and a creaky library.

Certainly, Eau de Quinine belongs to the almost peculiar fragrances that you don't encounter on every corner. No, one can't really call it an ordinary crowd-pleaser. But it is excellently crafted ... above all, it is considered a fine spring fragrance that can offer a refreshing note on warm days. It most reminds me of “Mouchoir de Monsieur” by Guerlain, which, not coincidentally, was released just 14 years later - at a time when men's fragrances were still something truly special. And Eau de Quinine can still be seen as something special today.

It's a pity I don't have a UV lamp at home; otherwise, I could check if the scent also fluoresces, as is typical for quinine-containing liquids. That would be something ...