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nalivina – :
This one’s so fresh. 4711 with a little more sophistication. Great price as well. Napoleon would order cases of this stuff and have it poured into a bath basin and soak in it!
sasha28745 – :
AMAZING CLASSIC!
Finally arrived – exactly what I expected as a blind buy!
This is a classic somewhat complex citrus but a WARNING – this (as I also expected) is the only perfume that goes for 30 min and then disappears to the tiniest petitgrain, rosemary and lemon scent – just like a switch being flipped – so not for those wanting a BANGER of a scent – its for people whom appreciate scents and are happy with a cheer me up spray from time to time.
Citrus, Green, herbs, rosemary – simply gorgeous.
Its the citrus scent you have to at least try.
I bought the soap and shower gel too which ironically is a better way to enjoy the scent in a stronger sense.
Even though this would not be a daily wear at all I can imagine when it eventually is empty buying another one!
HeadoidoriSor – :
I’m generally a lover of citrus fragrances but there’s something very sickening about this to me.
Picked it up new and sealed extremely cheap in a charity shop but should have known that for a start the clove would make it a no no for me.
There’s something .. else .. apart from that sharpness though, something almost aquatic?
It smells too much like bad cheap aftershave to me so I think it’ll be going back to the shop.
Alex Perry – :
great classic
perfect in the heat… for me its nostalgic…love it.
gluk54 – :
Citrus Herbal Water…
Again, this fragrance reminds me of a lot of similar, old-style eau de colognes. The recipe is all there. Citrus top of lemon, bergamot etc… followed by a mid of petitgrain, rosemary, neroli etc.. and a light amber base. Of course along the way there’s always variation, in this case carnation and myrtle and sandalwood at the base, although I don’t really feel the base here as again this follows many eau de colognes in that it only serves a top and heart, with a very light base (if any).
Overall, I think that if you didn’t have for example the budget to purchase something like Eau de Cologne Imperiale by Guerlain you could probably settle for this (although I find this more herbal and green in nature than the Guerlain). Also, the longevity here is better than 4711, so if you are looking for something (marginally) better lasting, this could be something to go for. I think you could do a lot worse than to start with this one if searching for a basic eau de cologne in the old, classic style of perfumery. Not bad.
dadi1 – :
As part of my quest to sample every citrus EDC, I’d been on the look out for Jean Marie Farina for a while now. Unfortunately, the only places I could find this online were rather expensive. Finally found this on a recent trip to Lisbon (it appears to be sold in every pharmacy there!) for around 30 euros for 100 ml. Not as cheap as 4711, but not going to break the bank either.
This is a crisp and refreshing citrus fragrance, as you’d expect, in the same vein as 4711 and Guerlain Imperiale. The notes you’re looking for are all there. Lemon, bergamot, petitgrain in the open, with a hint of orange, neroli, rosemary and carnation. However, unlike other similar EDC’s, the florals fade quite quickly, giving you a more “true” citrus EDC, which is perfect for me. Perfect for a sunny spring day.
Like all EDC’s, don’t expect much longevity. This lasts around 2 hours on my skin – slightly longer than 4711, and is a skin scent on me.
Jacques – :
A favorite in my collection along with other summer fragrances like 4711, Guerlain’s Eau de Cologne Imperiale, and Christian Dior’s original Eau Sauvage. This one, unlike 4711 lasts a little longer on the skin, without being overpowering. Since it is an Eau de Cologne, do not expect it to last more than 2 hours, even when layering it with the Soap, Shower Gel, and Body Lotion. I bought this one because Napoleon use to wear this same fragrance (not 4711 like many people think). He use to order this fragrance by the gallons and use to pour it into his bath. Quite a great way to spend money if you ask me. This one is recommended for the summer, even though it actually stands up to cooler weather since it has a light touch of carnation. I wear it year round, just because I love it. If you’re into fresh citrus fragrances (and Napoleon) this can soon become your favorite fragrance. Highly recommended.
lkw847speagoessenda – :
I think it has been reformulated from the vintage one I always use. Mine has a white cork and a pattern in the glas an other then that the bottle quite flat.
I think it is superfresh and uplifting.
mishenka – :
It’s awful on me. I gave it a try a couple of times but had to get rid of it. Only consolation was that it didn’t last long. Pls sample before purchasing a FB.
WinHelper – :
I really like this one for the summer. Whereas 4711 evaporates practically on contact, this one has a little more depth and staying power. It’s really nice. If you are expecting a modern EDT longevity, you will be disappointed, but if you just expect something that freshens you up and lingers around for a while that is light and fresh and invigorating, this is your money. Yeah, I wish it were slightly stronger and longer lasting, but its 4711 with more depth and longevity, and that’s some high praise. One of the best scents ever.
gffffsd – :
I really like this fragrance and I’ve agonized over buying it in the past but end up passing on it because of performance and relatively high price for what it is.
I absolutely get the association with 4711 but I think this has some subtle differences. The opening is green and zinging with lemon, lime & petigrain, just hints of herbs, then crucially the cloves making for a perfect eau de cologne in the classic style. The fragrance smells amazing I’d just love to find something like this but paired with incredible performance and I’d be a very happy man.
boss_11 – :
Extra-Vieille is a perennial personal favourite, and back when I knew nothing beyond Opium, this was my preferred soap. Of course, it has a great whack of carnation which is a favourite note for me. The freshness, the citrus, the spice – I actually prefer the soap to the cologne; as everyone knows, the cologne lasts 2.4 seconds so you need to re-spritz at lunchtime for sure. However: layering with lotion, soap and cologne does improve sillage quite a bit. It’s not cheap to do all that, but I love it enough to have the range. On a summer day it can be really beautiful, and on men, clean and classy. I recommend the handwash, which is stronger than the shower gels; all in all I have to give it 10/10 because it’s been so much a part of my life, it’s the equivalent of a Madeleine 🙂
thibiftidwich – :
smell like luxurius soap, fresh, herbal with spa effect.
pwter111 – :
I just sampled this fragrance today and was surprised how much it smells like “4711”. There are subtle differences in the scent between this one. “4711” has more of that vintage sun tan lotion aroma. I don’t think this will last past a half hour on my skin. I put this on a few minutes ago with that vial applicator and it’s now very weak. I like the citrus aroma when I first put this on. I think it’s a nice fragrance like “4711” but I think it would be better if they made a EDT instead of EDC of this. 🙂
olya6969 – :
Great in hot weather, a very citrussy and light fragrance that is not long lasting but is a great regular and refreshing spritz. You can smell the history of eau de cologne in its composition, somewhat old fashioned but fascinating. I don’t regret buying it, but can’t imagine it on a man.
petro26193 – :
An eau de cologne that tends toward the “savory” or salty end of the spectrum. Initially it’s a lot like 4711 but then the floral components go into hiding pretty quickly, leaving a relatively leafy citrus. The lime that survives this transition stays fairly close to the scent of the peel, without much of the candy-like or herbal tinges that other lime scents can have. Finally as the lime begins to fade, the florals return, again like 4711 but accompanied with a slight dusty herbal component like Wellington or Blenheim Bouquet. JMF, however, does this herbal note right, and it comes out less stale and “kitcheny” than those two. Finally, we’re left with that light, dry wood aura that always reminds me of straw, hay or bamboo, as seen in the bases of the newest versions of Guerlain Vetiver and Eau Sauvage. The only drawback here is that the Perfumed Court refers to the sample I bought as the vintage formula, so even though it’s pretty cheap, I hesitate to actually buy a bottle online (only large sizes available!) and then not quite get what I bargained for.
васильевич – :
To me it smells exactly like sides to a Mexican dish. I smell beans, sourcream, lettuce, cilantro, and lots of lime. On me it lasts less than a half an hour. It was a blind buy, will become a nice toilette air freshener. Not very good.
Pukla_Inhingeunwike – :
@ karlovonamesti — I agree with you, that this is a well crafted cologne with an older, higher-fidelity rendering of 4711. To me, this has a slightly richer lemony fragrance than 4711, but alas… it is more like an aftershave than an EdC as it does not last long (like 4711). I use 4711 as an aftershave and then layer another fragrance over it after the dry down. Extra Veille would serve the same purpose, but at a higher price. Given that… I’ll stick with 4711. 8.5/10 for fragrance, 6.0/10 for value.
bwed – :
Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle is not a fragrance you hear of very often. I was first alerted to this fragrance whilst browsing Ebay. It caught my attention the minute I saw how many bidders were eager to win a bottle of Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle and its matching lotion. It made me think, what is it that is so great about Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle? Of course my curiosity soon led me to the Roger & Gallet counter at my local department store.
Since testing Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle on my skin, I can fully understand its popularity. It’s Summer in Australia at present, and even though the weather hasn’t reached a record high, many of us are bracing ourselves for the onslaught of dry, unbearable heat. Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle is a crisp and invigorating citrus scent, absolutely perfect for an intense Summer.
This fragrance is quite natural in a sense, very much like the scent of citrus peel. Its simplicity is what makes it all the more endearing. Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle is thankfully not synthetic nor overtly sweet. I consider it a classic, citrus cologne type scent, one that wears beautifully on both sexes.
The matching soap coffret had a more intense citrus scent, a scent I was not particularly fond of. I would much rather wear Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle on its own, and forgo the layering options.
Unfortunately Jean Marie Farina Extra Vielle is not the best in regards to longevity. Three hours after my first application and I could barely smell a thing. This is unfortunately common for an eau de cologne. Nice scent, just wish it would last longer.
Риточка – :
I’ve yet only used the soap of this precise fragrance which I always buy when I’ve got a bit of cash and want to feel like a billionaire first thing when I get up and shower (it’s not cheap at around 5€ a bar and lasting 5 days at most). Zingy aroma and slightly mysterious combination of notes, too. Very masculine and the soap does not smell “soapy”. Hmmm,…I just talked myself into ordering the fragrance! 10/10.
Choibhinofumn – :
Did they reformulate this? A decade ago, this was a great blend of bergamot, orange blossom, and woods, with a touch of spice. It was fresh and never overpowering. Now it’s muddled and foul.
lexaizotov – :
A well balanced cologne, not “mentholly” like 4711, not as sweet as Guerlain Imperiale, reminds me of Grey Flannel. It’s what a man should smell like whether casual or business – it leaves the man spelling clean and pleasant unlike others that say, “I have after shave on!”.
I’ve worn it for 42 years. My mother gave me a bottle when I went to boarding school. Like it so much I buy it in the Liter bottles. Please don’t tamper with it.
drdao – :
Very Very well done cologna. Claimed to be Napolean’s signature cologne. Very underrated. Fresh and masculine. the only problem is longetivity. does anyone know similar? please tell me. Higly recommended .Smells Sophistication.
analysersz – :
I wanted to sample the original Farina cologne and discovered in the process that there are two distinct varieties out there.
I’ve just side-by-side tested Roger & Gallet’s “Extra Vieille” and the 1709 Original by Farina, Köln (Farina1709.com) – and they are very different.
Simply put, R+G is 4711 with extra citrus and a pinch of Nag Champa (to my nose at least – could be the clove), whereas the Original (current formula) is much more floral and green. I’ve always liked 4711, so naturally I like R+G’s take on the classic eau de cologne, but the Original is much more elegant and subtle.
godchate – :
Very green, dry, clean and aromatic, like the smell of sheets in a very old, very expensive hotel. The total absence of sweet notes make it perfect for hot weather and ensure that you’ll never get sick of it. A good alternative to 4711, though more expensive.
Personally I prefer the Jean Marie Farina soap to the cologne – the soap adds a creaminess to the dry cologne smell which makes it perfect.
foks11 – :
The name is a tribute to the creator of Cologne. This fragrance is for 1806 (hence the term extra vieille, something old), the Farina family pioneered the manufacture of perfumes and the term “colony” (refers to namesake German city where the perfumer was residing).
This is my first impression:
This is already beginning a strong mixing citrus (bergamot, lemon and orange) and sum it with flowers and leaves gifts fragrance that I recalled the light scent of saffron. Over a few minutes to soften citrus notes, but the smell reminds me of saffron q is still present in my nose. Not my style perfa.
Not bad, just not the kind of fragrance you would.
egor79 – :
People! This is a cologne! It is not meant to stain you forever. Even so on my skin, which doesn’t keep scents well, it lasts for more than 5 hours.
Of course sillage is minimal and thank god for that because this is horrid. Upon application I thought “hmmm, interesting” and then everything came crashing down! The symphony of notes played for about a minute and then it was like a slapstick comedy scene with an orchestra under a heavy shower of rotten vegetable from an angry mob. Most of them ran for cover while a brave few stayed on stage making a miserable attempt to keep the melody. A neurotic soprano is screaming (Angelica is her name and she is nowhere credited) while Cedar-X plays the xylophone hidden under the piano. Rose had to sleep with the producer to get on stage so she wont go but everyone can tell she is only fooling herself thinking anyone pays attention to her insignificant presence (50% silicon). Clove never showed up.
The whole riot that dropped the curtain on the little opera was instigated by none other but the Phantom (Dr.Synthius Musk) who hates historical dramas and sabotages classical colognes in lack of more creative pastimes.
arshavin1995 – :
Farina Extra Vieille reads as an older, higher-fidelity rendering of 4711’s classic eau de cologne. This is an updated version of the original eau de cologne, which makes it interesting to wear. I’m a little conflicted, though. 4711 lasts much longer on my skin, but I do see the advantage to having Extra Vieille in my collection. Its notes of bergamot, lemon, petitgrain, neroli, rosemary, and sage (for shadow effect) are crystal-clear, impeccably separated, and incredibly satisfying to behold. The downside: it lasts about five minutes, and then is nothing more than a memory. Me? I’ll spend half as much money for twice as much citrus/herbal goodness and just wear 4711.
EROKEZIK – :
I bought the body lotion and it’s superb.I’m obsessed with this crispy,mediterranean smell.I’d like to buy the cologne someday.
AleXtreme – :
been wearing this today. i’m a sucker for these clean, citrus-y scents, so i like this a lot. i have nothing but respect for a fragrance that has been around for > 200 years!
i know some will disagree, but i prefer 4711 over JMFEV. to my nose there’s a midnote that’s just a tad chemical-y. it’s not horrible or anything – and it’s just a midnote, but it’s there for me.
IME, sillage is minimal and longevity is horrible – not unlike 4711. i’d say if i wanted to wear this all the time i’d need to reapply every 4 hours, if not 3.
VERY happy to own a bottle and will definitely revisit this classic from time to time!
Mirror – :
Discovered when I stayed at the Sofitel in Chicago, where they supplied toiletries from this R&G line…I still have the wrapped soap from there, having since purchased the full-sized ones from Caswell-Massey. This is VERY appealing to both sexes — Farina knew what he was doing when he created this intoxicating scent more than two centuries ago! Usually I find scents change dramatically — and not for the better — after I’ve worn them a few hours. Thankfully JMF only improves over time, and the subtlety of the alteration is very appreciated: you will leave the house smelling like a garden at its peak in Santa Maria Magiorre, then return in the evening with a cloud of the essence of closed blooms and earthy dusk lingering about you. Others’ comments are true: it stands up to humid climates perfectly. I’d also add that it is ideal for those with oily skin. Enjoy!
kareno76 – :
The EDC is intense, citrus and I think the most classic there, at least I do not detect much the transition between stages, it is only since I have power until it fades, only stands a huge note of entry and base clove. The aroma is citrus entry with acid and rose, leave its base note is a clove thinner and softer.
Universal range of ages, preferably in hot weather, is a sorry little unisex scent is too acid to be a woman in my opinion, only cleaning projects, nothing more. Skin near term 5hrs.
friblebet – :
On Christmas Eve in the Antipodes, where it’s over 30 degrees and the humidity has been hovering between 80-95% for a few days, I’d just like to give a whoop and a holler for Jean Marie Farina Extra Vieille….it’s been a lifesaver. It’s so nice to smell clean, sharp and fresh, even tho in reality, I’m wilting…
kpssi – :
I’ve love this scent since I was a child. Like other writers here, this is one of my favourite scents for humid summer afternoons – it somehow “cuts” the density of the air. Having said that, my enjoyment was diminished one day when a co-worker described it as “the smell of an airplane toilet air freshener.” Philistine.
nimur_2010 – :
Best Cologne ever!! So much better than 4711 !! This is, an obvious thing comming from the Farina family..
Firsth of all, I can feel the yummy citrus playing with my skin, which is a bit strong but pleasant, then the fragance will become more softer.. and finally about 1 hour later, you began to feel a soothing smell of herbs combined with the smooth citrus.. is fantastic.. I always thought colongnes only lasted about 20 min, but not this one..
It is slightly more expensive than 4711, but has much better fixation so Jean Marie Farina Extra Vieille worth a try..
verona9 – :
in the begnng its very strong……… but its getn betr n betr to the end…. ast long… good one and i simply love it………….
NDIER – :
this is about the only thing that keeps me sane/alive/fresh-smelling when we’re really having one of the sticky heatwaves you get here in holland. it’s about the freshest, cleanest smell i know. for me it’s a typical”eau de cologne” very similar to 4711 and boldoot which is a dutch version of the above. in very hot weather i can be a bit headachey and become irritated by even some of my favourite perfumes.this is a life saver!!
chelovek34 – :
Very good fragance. It starts citrusy and green, but the citrus notes go fast. Then the perfume smells like the countryside, with all the aromatic herbs, plants and even hay.
It reminds me of Sisley’s Eau de Campagne but quite lighter.
It has good lasting power to be an Eau de Cologne.