Turkish cologne takes on scent as hand sanitizer of choice

Producers struggle to keep up as pandemic whiffs up demand

20200501N Turkish cologne

Hosts often greet guests by sprinkling kolonya on outstretched hands. © Anadolu

MOMOKO KIDERA and SINAN TAVSAN, Nikkei staff writers

ISTANBUL -- Locally produced cologne in Turkey has become a hot commodity of late, thanks to its germ-killing properties.

The product, known as kolonya, is more than 80% ethanol. It has traditionally been repurposed as a type of hand cleanser -- a role only amplified by the coronavirus pandemic.

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