Cologne's Fragrant History: A City's Scent Legacy

Cologne, the perfume, was indeed named after the city of Cologne (Köln) in Germany, where it was invented by Italian Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709. The original cologne was designed to smell like an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain. Farina named his formula after his new hometown, and his creation has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2–5% alcohol.

Cologne was invented in the city of Cologne, Germany in 1709 by Giovanni/Johann Maria Farina

Cologne, or "Eau de Cologne" in French, was invented in the city of Cologne, Germany in 1709 by Giovanni/Johann Maria Farina. Farina was an Italian-born perfumer who settled in Cologne in 1709, where he founded the world's oldest perfume factory, which still exists today.

Farina's subtle fragrance Eau de Cologne quickly became famous worldwide and was an indispensable accessory at all royal courts in the 18th century. The perfume maker chose to name his creation after his new hometown, to honour it. At the time when Farina first moved to Cologne, there were very strict laws regarding foreign settlers. Farina was granted citizenship, and he wanted to show his gratitude.

Farina described his new perfume in a letter to his brother in 1708, saying:

> I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain.

The original Eau de Cologne was a spirit-citrus perfume with a base of dilute ethanol. It contained a mixture of citrus oils, including oils of lemon, orange, tangerine, clementine, bergamot, lime, grapefruit, blood orange, bitter orange, and neroli. It could also contain oils of lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, petitgrain (orange leaf), jasmine, olive, oleaster, and tobacco.

The word "cologne" has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2-5% and more, depending on the type of essential oils or blend of extracts, alcohol, and water.

The original cologne was unisex and was designed to smell like an Italian spring morning with mountain daffodils and orange blossoms

The name "cologne" for perfumes is derived from the city of Cologne, Germany, where it was first invented. The original cologne, Eau de Cologne, was created by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709. Farina was an Italian perfume maker who had recently moved to Cologne, Germany, from Santa Maria Maggiore, Valle Vigezzo.

In 1708, a year before he created Eau de Cologne, Farina wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste, describing his new creation: "I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain." He named his fragrance Eau de Cologne, or "Water from Cologne" in honour of his new hometown.

The original cologne was designed to capture the essence of an Italian spring morning, with fresh and delicate notes of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms. It was a revolutionary fragrance at the time, and its light, fresh scent was a departure from the heavy, musky perfumes that were commonly used by both men and women.

Farina's Eau de Cologne was an instant success and was soon delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe. Its ability to produce a constantly homogeneous fragrance consisting of dozens of monoessences was seen as a sensation. A single vial of this "aqua mirabilis" or "miracle water" cost half the annual salary of a civil servant.

The original Eau de Cologne was a unisex fragrance, suitable for both men and women. It stood out for its versatility and became a favourite among many historical figures, including Napoleon Bonaparte, Goethe, Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, and even former US President Bill Clinton.

Today, the term "cologne" has become a generic term for scented formulations, typically with a concentration of 2-5% essential oils, extracts, alcohol, and water. While it is often associated with men's perfumes in contemporary American English usage, the original cologne from Cologne was designed as a refreshing and elegant scent for everyone.

The original formula remains a secret but typically contains 2-5% alcohol and essential oils

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne, was originally mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 in Cologne, Germany. The original formula remains a secret, but the cologne typically contains 2-5% alcohol and essential oils.

The concentration of alcohol and oils in cologne is less than that of perfumes, which can contain up to 40% essential oils. The lower concentration of alcohol and oils gives cologne a more subtle and refreshing scent, making it a popular choice for those who want a lighter fragrance.

The specific blend of essential oils in the original cologne formula is unknown, but it is said to smell like "an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain." This unique scent is achieved through the careful selection and blending of various natural ingredients, including essential oils extracted from plants, fruits, and even animal secretions.

The process of creating a cologne scent involves extracting oils from natural ingredients, blending them according to a specific formula, and then diluting them with alcohol and water. The amount of alcohol added determines the strength and classification of the fragrance, with cologne typically having a lower alcohol content than perfumes or eau de toilettes.

Over time, the term "cologne" has become a generic term for scented formulations with a similar concentration of alcohol and essential oils. These formulations may vary in the specific blend of oils and extracts used, resulting in a wide range of unique cologne scents. However, the original Eau de Cologne created by Giovanni Maria Farina remains a closely guarded secret, with its formula being produced in Cologne since 1709.

Eau de Cologne was originally considered a miracle cure for various ailments and was believed to ward off the plague

The original Eau de Cologne was considered a miracle cure for various ailments and was believed to ward off the plague. The perfume was invented in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina, an Italian perfume maker from Santa Maria Maggiore, in Cologne, Germany.

In the Middle Ages, perfume was recognised as a healing agent, and during this period, medicinal perfumes were made in monasteries using a still. The beneficial character of Eau de Cologne was such that each bottle sold was accompanied by a small leaflet indicating the uses and effects of this miraculous water. It was recommended that young people could swallow 20 to 30 drops of Eau de Cologne, mixed with water or wine spirit, while older people could swallow 50 to 60 drops to slow down a rapid heartbeat. It was also said that inhaling the fragrance could cure headaches.

The original Eau de Cologne was a light, citrusy perfume with only five per cent alcohol, and its name was inspired by Farina's new hometown. The scent was characterised by the refreshing smell of bitter oils, pressed from the skins of lemons and bergamot. In a letter to his brother Jean Baptiste in 1708, Farina described the fragrance as "reminiscent of a spring morning in Italy after the rain; of oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bergamot, cedar and the blooms and herbs of his home".

The perfume was believed to be a miracle cure for various ailments, including headaches and the plague. It was also thought to have the power to ward off the bubonic plague when ingested, as the citrus oil scent would exude through the pores, repelling fleas. This belief in the medicinal properties of Eau de Cologne contributed to its popularity, with notable figures such as Napoleon, Beethoven, Mozart, and Goethe adopting its use.

Today, the original Eau de Cologne is still produced by the eighth generation of Farina's descendants in Cologne, and it remains a well-known fragrance with a rich history.

The perfume's fame spread worldwide in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with devotees including Napoleon Bonaparte

The original Eau de Cologne was created by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 in the city of Cologne, Germany. The perfume was intended to evoke "an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain". It was originally used purely as a perfume and was delivered to almost all royal houses in Europe.

The fame of Eau de Cologne spread worldwide in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with devotees including Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was a big promoter of colognes and believed that they had hygienic properties. He is said to have used an astronomical quantity of cologne: nearly 120 litres per month. He would rub it on himself and even drank it. He always carried a vial of cologne, hidden in his boot.

Napoleon's favourite cologne was Eau de Cologne by Farina. He was so fond of it that he consumed 3 bottles a day, each containing about 75ml of fragrance. An invoice from the French National Archives indicates that 72 bottles of Eau de Cologne were ordered in October 1808. Napoleon was generously sprayed with cologne after his daily baths and would rub it vigorously over his whole body with a brush. He attributed his health to this habit, which he claimed to have picked up in the Orient.

During his exile on the island of St. Helena in 1815, Napoleon was unable to obtain his favourite cologne. This was a "real privation" for him, according to Emmanuel de Las Cases, his private secretary. Napoleon begged his servant, Mameluck Ali, to make him a cologne, and thus the only remaining olfactory memory of Napoleon was created. This cologne, known as Emperor Napoleon I's Authentic Saint Helena Eau de Cologne, is still produced today, certified by the Osmotheque, the world's perfume archive.

Frequently asked questions