Bambus J. G. Mouson & Co. 1930 Eau de Cologne

Cream Mouson with deep effect.

This advertising slogan is probably only known to a few today. The name Mouson is familiar to the people of Frankfurt through the tower of the same name and the theater located within it.

I knew that there were soaps and creams from this brand, but that there was also perfume made in Frankfurt was new to me.

Why this men's fragrance was named Bamboo is beyond my understanding. Since the first men's fragrance from Kenzo, I associate, and probably others do too, a rather fresh scent with the sweet grass.

The scent of Mouson takes a completely different direction.

Well, at the beginning, the fragrance is more than fresh, and I was already afraid that this might be a classic Fougère. Herbal, sour, and quite alcoholic, the first few minutes give off something like a barbershop feeling.

Once the alcohol evaporates, Bamboo increasingly changes its scent direction. In the heart, it then moves towards a floral-spicy direction, and Bamboo loses, in my perception, its masculinity.

With the base, a bit more sweetness, wood, and a distinct animal note develop, or in the case of Bamboo, rather a hint of panda bear.

The longevity is top-notch and thus atypical for a Cologne. I can clearly perceive the scent for over 12 hours. However, the sillage is rather restrained, although I can imagine that it becomes stronger when the fragrance is sprayed on.

In terms of scent character, I would have placed Bamboo more in the late 60s to early 70s, and the bottle design would also fit well in that era, in my opinion.

It is unnecessary to mention that one should have a certain open attitude towards classic perfumery for this type of perfume; otherwise, certain associations with the gerontological field could arise again. ;)

For those who want to learn more about the brand Mouson: http://www.stadtgeschichte-ffm.de/download/mouson.pdf

Speaking of the gerontological field: Dear Ms. Mümmelmann, thank you very much for the decanting of this rarity; I almost forgot that.