The Origin Of The Word Cologne: A Historical Perspective

The word 'cologne' comes from the German city of Cologne, where the fragrance was invented in 1709. The French name for the city is 'Cologne' and the German name is 'Köln'. The word 'cologne' is a shortened version of 'Cologne water' or 'eau de cologne', which means 'water from Cologne'.

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

The name cologne derives from the German city of Cologne, or "Köln" in German. The city was founded in 38 BCE as Oppidum Ubiorum and was renamed Colonia in 50 CE at the request of Emperor Claudius's wife, Agrippina the Younger, who was born there. By 450 CE, the name had been shortened to Colonia, from the Latin "colonia" or "colōnia," meaning "colony".

The perfume originated in the city of Cologne in 1709 and was created by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina (or Johann Maria Farina). It was originally named "Aqua Admirabilis" or "Eau de Cologne", meaning "water from Cologne" in French, and was sold as a miracle medicine. The fragrance was highly praised by Napoleon and was first sold as a scent under the name 4711, the address of the first eau de cologne shop in Cologne.

The name "cologne" has since become a generic term for perfumes marketed towards men, particularly in American English. However, the term can also be used to refer to perfumes for women.

It was invented by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709

The word 'cologne' comes from the German city of Cologne, where it was invented by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709.

The original name of the concoction was "Aqua Admirabilis" (Admirable Water) or "aqua mirabilis" (Latin for miracle water). It was sold as a "miracle medicine" and was highly praised by Napoleon. It was first sold as a fragrance under the name 4711, the address of the first eau de cologne shop in Cologne.

Farina wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste 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."

He named his fragrance Eau de Cologne, in honour of his new hometown.

Cologne was originally mixed by Giovanni Maria Farina as a perfume, and it was 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 at the time. A single vial of this aqua mirabilis cost half the annual salary of a civil servant.

When free trade was established in Cologne by the French in 1797, the success of Eau de Cologne prompted countless other businessmen to sell their own fragrances under the name of Eau de Cologne.

Farina's formula remains a secret to this day

The original Eau de Cologne is a spirit-citrus perfume launched in Cologne, Germany in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina (also known as Johann Maria Farina). It has been produced in Cologne since then and to this day, Farina's formula remains a secret.

Farina's perfume was originally used only as a fragrance and was delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe. Its formula, consisting of dozens of monoessences, was considered a sensation at the time. A single vial of this aqua mirabilis (Latin for miracle water) cost half the annual salary of a civil servant.

When free trade was established in Cologne by the French in 1797, the success of Eau de Cologne prompted countless other businessmen to sell their own fragrances under the name of Eau de Cologne. However, Giovanni Maria Farina's formula has remained a secret, and his shop in Obenmarspforten, which opened in 1709, is the world's oldest fragrance factory.

The Original Eau de Cologne 4711, named after its location at Glockengasse No. 4711, was developed in the 18th century by Wilhelm Mülhens and has been produced in Cologne since at least 1799. It is one of the oldest fragrances still produced in the world.

In modern times, the term cologne has become a generic term for perfumes marketed toward men, although it can also be applied to perfumes for women.

Eau de cologne was originally taken internally as a cure for ailments

The original Eau de Cologne was invented in 1709 by Italian perfumer Giovanni Maria Farina (also known as Johann Maria Farina) in Cologne, Germany. It was initially marketed as a "miracle medicine" or "miracle water" and was sold under the name "Aqua Admirabilis". It was believed to be a cure-all for a variety of ailments, including migraine headaches, cold feet, and even the plague. The citrus oil in the cologne was thought to ward off fleas when ingested, as the scent would exude through the pores of the skin.

The cologne was also used as a fragrance and was delivered to nearly all royal houses in Europe. Its fame spread worldwide during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with devotees including Napoleon Bonaparte, who is said to have used at least one bottle per day. The original Eau de Cologne is still produced in Cologne today and is the world's oldest continuously produced fragrance.

The success of Eau de Cologne led to many other businessmen creating their own fragrances under the same name. One such businessman was Wilhelm Mülhens (also known as Wilhelm Muelhens or Young Cologne resident Wilhelm), who received a recipe for Eau de Cologne as a wedding gift in 1792. He later renamed his product "4711 Original Eau de Cologne" after his home address on Glockengasse. This fragrance is also still produced today and is likely one of the oldest fragrances in the world.

In modern times, the term "cologne" has become a generic term for perfumes marketed towards men, although it can also be used for women's fragrances. It typically refers to a less concentrated and more affordable version of a popular perfume, with a typical concentration of 2-5% perfume oils in alcohol and water.

It was believed to ward off the plague

The original Eau de Cologne was believed to ward off the plague. In the 18th century, it was also taken internally as a "miracle cure" for various ailments, including migraine headaches and cold feet. It was believed that the citrus oil in the cologne would exude through the pores, repelling fleas. The alcohol content, made even more potent when mixed with wine, was thought to be the "miracle ingredient".

The cologne was originally marketed as "Aqua Admirabilis" (Admirable Water) and sold as a "miracle medicine". A single vial of this "miracle water" cost half the annual salary of a civil servant. The cologne was also believed to be a cure-all tonic, with devotees including Napoleon Bonaparte, who, according to legend, used at least one bottle every day.

The belief in the medicinal properties of cologne was not limited to Europe. After its fame became widespread, Farina's cologne was brought to the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Abdülhamid II. Even after the collapse of the empire, the habit of using cologne remained in Turkey. Today, in most Turkish households, cologne is offered to guests during their visit.

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