Fragrance Museum in the Farina House

In the birthplace of Eau de Cologne – the Fragrance Museum tells the story of the famous Cologne scent in original 18th-century rooms.

Eau de Cologne Guided tour Rainy day Indoor

The Fragrance Museum in the Farina House stands within sight of the city hall, opposite the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. It occupies the birthplace of Eau de Cologne – the original 18th-century production rooms.

Source: Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-06-23

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At a glance

Location: Obenmarspforten, old town
Notable: home of the world's oldest surviving perfume factory (Farina, founded 1709)
Awarded: in 2006 a "Selected Landmark" in the "Germany – Land of Ideas" competition
Visiting: usually as part of a guided tour

The cradle of Eau de Cologne

The Johann Maria Farina perfume house has been based here since 1723. Over several floors the museum shows how Eau de Cologne has been made since its earliest days – from historic stills to documents about early imitations, back when there was no legal trademark protection. A guided tour weaves together city history, craft and scent in charming fashion.