Eau de Cologne du Coq: At the far edges of the Guerlain cradle For Aimé Guerlain, it is sometimes difficult to assert one's creativity when inheriting an olfactory heritage as significant as that of the creator of Eau de Cologne Impériale.
A daring composition by Guerlain for its Eau de Cologne du Coq If the house of Guerlain achieved its very first success in perfumery with Eau de Cologne Impériale under the guidance of the house's founder Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain, it was indeed his descendant Aimé Guerlain who managed the bold feat of proposing absolute modernity in a Jicky that upended perfumery at the end of the 19th century. With Eau de Cologne du Coq released in 1894, the brilliant Aimé Guerlain once again signs a classic composition marked by his extraordinary talent as an olfactory visionary.
Olfastory’s review
Eau de Cologne du Coq, the worthy descendant of Jicky and the lovely powerful water of the talented Aimé Guerlain
In order to relieve the migraines of Empress Eugénie, Pierre François-Pascal Guerlain created Eau de Cologne Impériale. Beyond its success against the Lady's headaches, it was recognized for its exceptional olfactory quality and quickly became the success of the house of Guerlain, founded in 1828. From then on, and despite all the magnificent creations of the great house of Guerlain, which became the perfumer to every crowned head in the world, the Eau de Cologne of the house of Guerlain is an institution that every descendant of the house of Guerlain would come to measure themselves against.
The very first to offer his own Eau de Cologne, his interpretation of this cascade of freshness, would therefore be the first successor to Pierre François-Pascal Guerlain, Aimé Guerlain. And Aimé Guerlain, creator of the splendid and highly animalic Jicky, would completely upend tradition with his Eau de Cologne du Coq, while still preserving its essential codes.
Indeed, Eau de Cologne du Coq, composed to be worn by the sparkling actor who played the title role of Cyrano de Bergerac on stage, Benoît-Constant Coquelin, offers the freshness of the classic citrus notes of Cologne paired with floral and powerfully woody accords that no one expected. An absolute modernity thus emanates from this Eau de Cologne du Coq; a scented vision of the future already seemed to be taking shape through the great perfumer that Aimé Guerlain was.
When Eau de Cologne turns into perfume, Eau de Cologne du Coq is born in 1894
While for Jicky Aimé Guerlain made use of vanillin and other synthetic olfactory discoveries of the era, for Eau de Cologne du Coq, the olfactory ingredients used are all of natural origin, save for the small touch of vanilla used in the heart notes.
Indeed, in Eau de Cologne du Coq we find the classic elements of late 19th century Eau de Cologne, namely citrus (bergamot, lemon, orange) and the aromatic notes of rosemary and lavender. A lovely neroli flower brings its sun-kissed, mesmerizing facet to these fresh bursts. A light that will not be lost thanks to the jasmine heart of this Eau de Cologne du Coq, which unfolds like sunshine on skin. A touch of vanilla brings to this jasmine note the personal signature of the great perfumer that Aimé Guerlain was. Finally, the fiery, woody sillage of patchouli, sandalwood and oakmoss comes to break with the classic codes of Cologne, granting them new longevity and an intense depth never seen before.
With Eau de Cologne du Coq, the traditional Eau de Cologne of centuries past soared toward other horizons, drawing closer to a perfumery still unknown, the perfumery of the modern era, the perfumery of the 20th century, and perhaps even that of the 21st!