The Earliest Scents: Unveiling The Names Of First Colognes

The first colognes were called Eau de Cologne, formulated in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina in Cologne, Germany. Farina was an Italian perfume maker who named his fragrance after his adopted hometown. Farina's concoction was a light and fresh scent made from local herbs and fruits, with a distinct citrus fragrance. It was also taken internally as a miracle cure for various ailments. Eau de Cologne was an instant success and was soon delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe. The original formula is still produced in Cologne today.

The origins of the name

The name "cologne" is derived from the French version of the German city of Cologne (Köln), where the fragrance was first created and marketed.

The original Eau de Cologne was created by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina (also known as Johann Maria Farina) in 1709. Farina named his fragrance after his adopted hometown, and it has since become a generic term for scented formulations with a similar concentration of essential oils.

In the early 18th century, French was the language of international trade, and only the wealthy could afford Eau de Cologne. As a result, the French name "Cologne" was used instead of the German "Köln".

The term "cologne" has evolved over time and is now often used as a generic term for men's fragrances. However, it is important to note that the original Eau de Cologne was a unisex fragrance.

The original formula

The original Eau de Cologne was formulated in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina (also known as Johann Maria Farina) in Cologne, Germany. Farina was an Italian perfume maker from Santa Maria Maggiore, Valle Vigezzo.

Farina's formula was a light and fresh scent made from local herbs and fruits, with a distinct citrus fragrance. It contained around 2-5% alcohol, which is significantly weaker than modern fragrances. He named his creation Eau de Cologne, meaning "Water from Cologne", in honour of his new hometown.

Farina's ability to produce a complex, light fragrance from a blend of other smaller elements was considered a sensation at the time. His perfume was referred to as "aqua mirabilis" or "miracle water" in Latin. It was delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe, and a single vial cost half the annual salary of a civil servant.

The first perfumer

The first perfumes were incense, first made by the Mesopotamians about 4000 years ago. Ancient cultures burned a variety of resins and wood at their religious ceremonies. Perfume then made its way to Egypt around 3000 BCE, but it was only used in religious rituals until Egypt's Golden Age, when it became available to all Egyptians. Citizens took elaborate baths and soaked their skin in scented oils for pleasure. The ancient Egyptians were the first to incorporate perfume into their culture, followed by the ancient Chinese, Hindus, Israelites, Carthaginians, Greeks, and Romans.

The ancient Greeks can be credited with creating the first liquid perfume. However, it was the development of distillation by the Arabs that made perfume manufacture viable. The Romans and Greeks extracted perfumes from diverse sources such as flowers, woods, seeds, roots, saps, and gums.

The first modern perfume, made of scented oils blended in an alcohol solution, was made in 1370 at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary and was known throughout Europe as Hungary Water.

The first factory

The success of Eau de Cologne led to the establishment of countless other fragrance businesses in the city. One notable competitor was Wilhelm Mülhens, who, in 1792, received a perfume recipe as a wedding gift. He initially marketed his fragrance under his own name but later renamed it 4711 Original Eau de Cologne after the address of his factory on Glockengasse. Today, the original Eau de Cologne is still produced in Cologne by the Farina family, now in its eighth generation, and by Mäurer & Wirtz, who purchased the 4711 brand in 2006.

The first rival

The Glockengasse building is known for its historical equestrian figures that revolve to music at the top of each hour on its southern facade. Inside, visitors can view memorabilia collected over a 200-year period during which 4711 Original Eau de Cologne became an industry leader. One of the highlights of the showroom is a tapestry featuring 4.6 million stitches and 300 shades of colour, created in 1964 by 12 women. The tapestry depicts a French soldier writing the number 4711 on the building.

In 1806, Jean Marie Joseph Farina, a great-grand-nephew of the original Eau de Cologne's creator, Giovanni Maria Farina, opened a perfumery business in Paris. This business was later sold to Roger & Gallet, who now own the rights to Eau de Cologne extra vieille.

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