The Ancient Origins Of Cologne

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne, is a perfume originating from the German city of Cologne. It was originally mixed in 1709 by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina, who named it after his new hometown. The original formula, which contained a mixture of citrus oils, was sold to nearly all royal houses in Europe.

Cologne was invented in Germany in 1709

Cologne, or more specifically Eau de Cologne, was invented in Germany in 1709. The name comes from the German city of Cologne, where its inventor, Giovanni Maria Farina, lived at the time. Eau de Cologne is a lighter fragrance blend of 2%–5% perfume oils in alcohol and water.

Farina was an Italian perfumer who settled in Cologne in 1690. He created the fragrance as a refreshing alternative to the stronger scents produced in France, which had long been the centre of perfumery. In a letter to his brother, Farina described 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. It refreshes me while stimulating my senses and my imagination."

Farina's cologne was a sensation at the time, and he was able to produce a constantly homogeneous fragrance consisting of dozens of monoessences. A single vial of this "miracle water" cost half the annual salary of a civil servant. Farina's shop, which opened in 1709, is the world's oldest fragrance factory, and his formula is still produced in Cologne and remains a secret.

The word "cologne" has since become a generic term for perfumes marketed toward men, and it also may signify a less concentrated, more affordable version of a popular perfume.

It was created by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina

Cologne, or Eau de Cologne, was created by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709. Originally known as "admirable water" or "Aqua Mirabilis", it was a perfumed alcoholic solution produced in the Middle Ages by many Italian monasteries, to which therapeutic virtues were attributed. The original formula was passed on to Farina by his great granduncle, Giovanni Pablo Feminis, an Italian grocer who had settled in Cologne, Germany, in 1690.

Farina made some changes to the formula, including the addition of aromatic essences of lavender and bergamot. He established a factory in Cologne to manufacture and market his creation, which he named "Aqua Mirabilis di Colonia". A few months before the first sale of his new fragrance, Farina wrote to his brother, describing it as:

> "My perfume is reminiscent of a beautiful spring morning after the rain. It is made of oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bergamot, flowers and fruits from my native country (... ) It refreshes me while stimulating my senses and my imagination."

Farina's cologne was a departure from the heavy and heady perfumes commonly used for cleaning at the time. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, cleanliness was often only apparent, and washing consisted of rubbing and wiping with a cloth. Everything was perfumed—skin, clothes, gloves, powders, and even tobacco. Houses were filled with heavy and heady scents, used to hide bad smells.

From the eighteenth century onwards, ablutions became fashionable again. Baths were recommended by doctors, and washing became a pleasant ritual. Farina's light and refreshing fragrance was soon in demand across Europe, particularly among the upper classes. The name of the perfume was simplified to "Eau de Cologne", in tribute to its city of adoption.

Today, Eau de Cologne is a generic term for scented formulations with a typical concentration of 2–5% essential oils, along with a blend of extracts, alcohol, and water. The term cologne is commonly used to refer to perfumes marketed towards men, although this is changing, with colognes once again becoming unisex.

The word 'cologne' comes from the German city of Cologne

The word "cologne" comes from the German city of Cologne, where the fragrance was first created. The original Eau de Cologne was invented in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina (also known as Johann Maria Farina), an Italian perfumer living in the city. The name "Eau de Cologne" means "Water from Cologne" in French.

Farina's creation was a light and refreshing alternative to the stronger scents produced in France, which had been the centre of perfumery for many years. Farina's cologne was a blend of 2-5% perfume oils in alcohol and water, with citrus and aromatic notes such as lavender and bergamot. He described his new fragrance in a letter to his brother, Jean Baptiste, writing that it reminded him of "an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain".

The original Eau de Cologne was an instant success and was soon delivered to royal courts across Europe. Farina established a shop in Cologne in 1709, which became the world's oldest fragrance factory. The popularity of his creation led to countless other businessmen selling their own fragrances under the name of Eau de Cologne.

Over time, the term "cologne" has become a generic term for scented formulations with a similar concentration of essential oils, alcohol, and water. In contemporary American English, it is often used specifically for perfumes marketed towards men. However, its origins lie in the German city of Cologne, where Farina created his revolutionary fragrance over three centuries ago.

It was originally called 'Aqua Admirabilis' or 'admirable water'

The original Eau de Cologne was called "Aqua Admirabilis" or "admirable water" in Latin. It was created in the 18th century by Giovanni Maria Farina (also known as Johann Maria Farina), an Italian perfumer living in the German city of Cologne (or Köln). The name "cologne" is derived from the city of its origin.

Aqua Admirabilis was a light and refreshing blend of perfume oils in alcohol and water, containing 2-5% perfume oils. Farina described his creation as reminiscent of "an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain". He named his fragrance Eau de Cologne, in honour of his new hometown.

Before the creation of Eau de Cologne, heavy and heady perfumes were often used to mask body odours and hide bad smells. With the arrival of the 18th century, ablutions became fashionable again. Baths were recommended by doctors, and washing became a pleasant ritual. Aqua Admirabilis offered a fresh and light alternative to the stronger scents that were previously popular.

Farina's creation was a sensation at the time. His ability to produce a constantly homogeneous fragrance consisting of dozens of monoessences was considered remarkable. A single vial of this "miracle water" or "miracle medicine" cost half the annual salary of a civil servant. Aqua Admirabilis was soon being delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe.

The success of Eau de Cologne prompted countless other businessmen to sell their own fragrances under the same name. To distinguish his product, Farina opened a shop in Cologne, which became the world's oldest fragrance factory. His original formula has been produced in the city since 1709 and remains a secret to this day.

It was marketed as a 'miracle medicine'

Cologne, or 'Eau de Cologne' in French, is a perfume originating from the German city of Cologne (or Köln in German). It was created by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina (or Johann Maria Farina) in 1709. The word 'cologne' comes from the French name for the city.

Cologne was originally known as 'Aqua Admirabilis' (Admirable Water) or 'aqua mirabilis' (miracle water in Latin). It was marketed as a miracle medicine, with therapeutic virtues, and was sold as a "wonder water". It was highly praised by Napoleon, who munched on "Farina ducks" (pieces of sugar soaked in Eau de Cologne) to protect himself from diseases. It was also believed that drinking the cologne would ward off the bubonic plague, as the citrus oil scent would exude through the pores, repelling fleas.

The original formula for this admirable water is still marketed today by the Maison Jean-Marie Farina in Paris, now called 'Eau de Cologne Extra-Vieille'.

> [Giovanni Maria Farina wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste in 1708:] "I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain".

Farina's cologne was soon delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe. When free trade was established in Cologne by the French in 1797, countless other businessmen began to sell their own fragrances under the name of Eau de Cologne.

In the 19th century, cologne was used in Paris to offer to guests, a tradition that began in the Ottoman Empire after the fame of the cologne became widespread there.

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