In 1882 Ahmet Faruki set up the first Ottoman perfume factory, and among other preparations became the first producer of cologne, which he marketed as kolonya. Cologne was both cheap and easy to produce, and its use quickly spread. There was already a long-standing tradition in Turkey of sprinkling rose water on the hands of guests following the initial exchange of pleasantries, and cologne as a more refreshing alternative soon took the place of rose water in the etiquette of Turkish social life.

The tradition of offering cologne to guests is still alive and well in Turkey today. You are likely to be offered cologne not only in homes, but on intercity buses, whose passengers are looked upon as guests. When visiting someone who is ill or buying souvenirs for friends during a visit to another part of the country, a bottle of cologne is one of the most acceptable gifts. Cologne is probably produced in more variety in Turkey than in its homeland.

Almost every part of the country has its own distinctive variety. Izmir is renowned for its Golden Drop, Secret Flower and Izmir Nights colognes, Antalya for its bitter orange flower cologne, Rize for its tea cologne, Duzce for walnut leaf and tobacco leaf colognes, Trabzon for hazelnut and anchovy cologne, Amasya for apple cologne, Isparta for rose cologne, Edremit and Ayvalyk for olive blossom cologne, Syndyrgy for pine cologne, Balykesir for white lily cologne, and so on. Whether the common lemon cologne or these more exotically scented varieties, cologne has played a part in the polite formalities of Turkish social life, refreshing guests, travellers and the sick, for more than a century.

* Aybala Yenturk and Nejat Yenturk are freelance writers