Hoyt's German Cologne: A Homemade Fragrance Recipe

Hoyt's German Cologne was originally created by Eli Waite Hoyt, the owner of a successful apothecary, in 1868. Hoyt's German Cologne is part of the same scent family as Florida Water and 4711, which was developed in Cologne, Germany. Hoyt's German Cologne is stronger than Florida Water but lighter than 4711. Hoyt's German Cologne was used in a variety of workings, such as dressing mojo bags and cleansing ritual tools. The original recipe for Hoyt's German Cologne is as follows:

> 1/2 oz sandalwood oil

> 7 pints cologne spirit

> 1 pint rose water

> Mix, then let stand one month, then filter and bottle.

History of Hoyt's German Cologne

Eli Waite Hoyt, born in 1838, was the original creator of Hoyt's German Cologne. Hoyt was the proud owner of a successful apothecary in Lowell, Massachusetts, and in 1868, he developed his signature cologne, which he named Hoyt's German Cologne, inspired by the original cologne from Cologne, Germany. Hoyt's cologne was stronger than Florida Water but lighter than 4711.

Hoyt's German Cologne was initially sold in large bottles for $1 each. However, Freeman Ballard Shedd, who joined Hoyt as a partner in the early 1870s, introduced smaller and more affordable bottles, including a 50-cent medium-size option and a 25-cent trial size. Shedd was a marketing genius, and his innovative ideas, such as giving away free samples and creating scented cards, generated significant interest in the product. The cologne's popularity grew, and by 1877, Hoyt and Shedd sold the apothecary to focus solely on producing and selling Hoyt's German Cologne.

During World War II, the name was changed to Hoyt's Cologne, as anything with a Germanic reference was considered inappropriate in America at the time. The product continued to be successful, especially among gamblers, who believed it brought them luck and money. Users would rub the cologne between their hands before gambling or pour it over their heads. It also became popular for cleansing ritual tools and was used in mojo bags to attract luck and money.

With the outbreak of World War I, the word "German" was removed from the product name, and the company operated as E.W. Hoyt & Co. in Lowell, MA, until 1951. While the original founders did not witness this change, the cologne continued to be produced, along with other products such as eau de toilette and Rubifoam teeth cleaner. Hoyt's Cologne is still produced today by another company, although it is unclear how similar it is to the original formula.

Ingredients

The original recipe for Hoyt's German Cologne is said to include:

• 1/2 oz sandalwood oil
• 7 pints cologne spirit
• 1 pint rose water

Eli Waite Hoyt, the creator of the cologne, developed this recipe in 1868. It is said that the scent is stronger than Florida Water but lighter than 4711.

The cologne was originally named Hoyt's German Cologne, inspired by the original cologne from Cologne, Germany, 4711. However, during World War Two, the name was changed to just Hoyt's Cologne as anything with a Germanic reference was considered to be in poor taste in America.

Recipe

Eli Waite Hoyt, the owner of a successful apothecary, developed Hoyt's German Cologne in 1868. Hoyt's German Cologne is a direct reference to the original cologne that inspired him, which was developed in Cologne, Germany, 4711.

• 1/2 oz sandalwood oil
• 7 pints cologne spirit
• 1 pint rose water

Mix the ingredients, then let the mixture stand for one month. After a month, filter and bottle the cologne.

Uses

Hoyt's German Cologne has a wide variety of uses, from enhancing magical workings to cleansing ritual tools. Here are some common uses for this versatile scent:

• Dressing Mojo Bags: Hoyt's Cologne is commonly used in mojo bags, especially those intended for luck or money drawing. Adding a few drops of the cologne to the bag and concentrating on your intent can help to imbue the bag with these properties.
• Cleansing Ritual Tools: Belonging to the same scent family as Florida Water, Hoyt's Cologne can be used to cleanse ritual tools. Adding it to your wash or oil will not only cleanse but also imbue your tools with luck and money-drawing abilities.
• Gambling Luck: Traditionally, Hoyt's Cologne has been used to bring luck to gamblers. Users would rub the cologne between their hands before gambling or pour it over their heads to increase their chances of winning. Some would even add it to their bathwater before trying their luck at the tables.
• Money-Drawing Spell: Hoyt's Cologne can be used in money-drawing spells, along with other easy-to-obtain ingredients like a large lodestone, money, and magnetic sand.
• Healing and Protection: Some modern practitioners use Hoyt's Cologne for its purported healing and protective properties, similar to Florida Water.
• Perfume: Of course, Hoyt's German Cologne can also be worn as a fragrance. Its recipe, which includes sandalwood oil, cologne spirit, and rose water, results in a strong yet pleasant scent.

Marketing

Freeman Ballard Shedd, who joined Hoyt as a partner in the early 1870s, was a marketing genius. The product's success was largely due to his innovative ideas. One of his strategies was to give away free samples of the cologne to create interest in the product. While this generated demand, it was expensive, so Shedd came up with the idea of soaking printed cards with the cologne, which served as both advertising and a scent sample. These cards were the forerunners of the scented pages now included in many fashion magazines.

Shedd also realised that the cologne was being sold in larger bottles than many users wanted or could afford, so he introduced a 50-cent medium-size bottle and a 25-cent trial-size bottle, which was especially popular. In the early 20th century, 5- and 10-cent bottles were introduced to further expand the market. Offering different sizes at different prices was quite innovative at the time.

Hoyt's German Cologne was also marketed as a product with luck and money-drawing abilities, particularly for gamblers. Pharmacies and stores that carried the cologne would quickly sell out on nights when the gambling dens were busy. Users would rub the cologne between their hands before gambling, pour a bottle over their head, or add it to their bathwater.

With its strong magical properties, Hoyt's German Cologne became a staple in dressing mojo bags, primarily as a luck or money-drawing agent.

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