A liquid evaporative cooling composition has been discovered which is peculiarly effective in providing relief from heat-related discomfort. The composition utilizes a concentrate, dissolved in water, which preferably consists essentially of (a) about forty-three percent by weight of an alcohol; (b) about twelve percent by weight of a surfactant; (c) about four percent by weight of an aromatic oil; (d) about one percent by weight of a cooling agent; and (e) about forty percent by weight of water.Various ranges of concentrations for the composition components have been discovered, the concentration ranges featuring various advantages and disadvantages, and these ranges are disclosed herein.The composition can be applied to the surface to be cooled (typically, a user's skin) in a number of ways and has even been found to relieve heat-related discomfort in animals.