Eau de Cologne
From Cologne to the world: a fragrance water with over 300 years of history, travelling from European royal courts to Turkish living rooms.
Eau de Cologne is a fragrance water that originated in Cologne in the early 18th century and shaped the perfume market through to the end of the 19th century.
At a Glance
- Type
- Fragrance water (Eau de Cologne)
- Origin
- Cologne, developed in 1709 by Johann Maria Farina (1685–1766)
- Location of original house
- Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz, Cologne
- Brand
- "Original Eau de Cologne" is a registered trademark of Cologne manufacturers, registered with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office
- Best-known brand
- 4711, named after the former street number on Glockengasse
- Special feature
- According to the company, Farina's original formula has remained unchanged to this day
Source: Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-06-25
Origins and Spread across Europe
Italian perfumer Johann Maria Farina combined oils of lemon, orange, bergamot, mandarin, lime, cedar and grapefruit with herbs to create his fragrance water in 1709. He introduced the name "Eau de Cologne" for the first time in a letter in 1742 — a nod to his adopted home city. The term had previously been used by French officers for the fragrance, which at the time was still called "Eau Admirable." In the decades that followed, Eau de Cologne found buyers across Europe; its users included Louis XV, Napoleon Bonaparte, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Voltaire and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
The 4711 Brand and Other Producers
The 4711 brand takes its name from the former street number of the headquarters of Muelhens GmbH & Co. KG on Glockengasse in Cologne. Production there began in the early 19th century under Wilhelm Mülhens. In December 2006, fragrance and cosmetics company Mäurer & Wirtz acquired the brand from Muelhens GmbH & Co. KG, which at the time belonged to Procter & Gamble. Significant production also developed outside Cologne: Maria Joseph Farina emigrated to Paris and began producing a "Véritable Eau de Cologne" there from 1806. In 1862, the newly founded firm Roger & Gallet took over this Parisian operation; it is now part of the L'Oréal group.
Kolonya – Eau de Cologne in Turkey
Towards the end of the 19th century, Sultan Abdülhamid II began importing the Eau de Cologne that had become well known across Europe. Initially confined to the palaces, the Sultan's personal physician recommended it to the general population on account of its antibacterial properties. In 1882, Ahmet Faruki Bey founded the first perfume factory in the Ottoman Empire to produce Eau de Cologne. The population initially called the product "Odikolon," before the term "Kolonya" took hold. The lemon scent remains the most popular variety; today more than 190 fragrances are available, including black tea, olive and lime. By tradition, guests are offered Kolonya upon entering a home, and it is also used to cleanse the face and hands of the sick.
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Sources & links
- 🌐 Official website
- Official website (retrieved 2026-06-25)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-25)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-25, rev 267214479)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-25
Social Role and Pricing
Compared to perfume, Eau de Cologne was more affordable and thus accessible to a wider audience: wealthy individuals used it in large quantities, while the middle classes could enjoy it in moderation. Barbers and pharmacists stocked it as part of their range. Originally worn almost exclusively by men, it became established as a fragrance for all genders in Britain from 1830 onwards.