Eau de Cologne (French:[od(ə)kɔlɔɲ]; German:Kölnisch Wasser[kœlnɪʃvɐsɐ]; meaning "Water from Cologne") or simplycologne is aperfume originating inCologne, Germany.[1] Originally mixed byJohann Maria Farina (Giovanni Maria Farina) in 1709, it has since come to be a generic term for scented formulations in typical concentration of 2–5% and also more depending upon its type ofessential oils or a blend of extracts, alcohol, and water.[2] In a base of diluteethanol (70–90%), eau de cologne contains a mixture ofcitrus oils, including oils oflemon,orange,tangerine,clementine,bergamot,lime,grapefruit,blood orange,bitter orange, andneroli. It can also contain oils oflavender,rosemary,thyme,oregano,petitgrain (orange leaf),jasmine,olive,oleaster, andtobacco.
In contemporary American English usage, the term "cologne" has become a generic term forperfumes marketed toward men. It also may signify a less concentrated, more affordable version of a popular perfume.
The originalEau de Cologne is a spirit-citrus perfume launched inCologne in 1709 byGiovanni Maria Farina (1685–1766), anItalian perfume maker fromSanta Maria Maggiore,Valle Vigezzo. In 1708, Farina wrote to his brother Jean Baptiste: "I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain".[3] He named his fragranceEau de Cologne, in honour of his new hometown.[4]
TheEau de Cologne created by Farina was used only as a perfume and delivered to "nearly all royal houses in Europe".[5] His ability to produce a constantly homogeneous fragrance consisting of dozens of single-origin essences was seen as a sensation at the time. A single vial of thisaqua mirabilis (Latin for miracle water) cost half the annual salary of a civil servant.[4] When free trade was established in Cologne by the French in 1797, the success ofEau de Cologne prompted countless other businessmen to sell their own fragrances under the name ofEau de Cologne. Giovanni Maria Farina's formula has been produced inCologne since 1709 byFarina opposite the Jülichplatz[4] and to this day remains a secret. His shop at Obenmarspforten opened in 1709 and is the world's oldest fragrance factory.
Another famous scent, theOriginal Eau de Cologne4711, is named after its location at Cologne's Glockengasse No. 4711. It was developed byWilhelm Mülhens and produced in Cologne since at least 1799, and is therefore probably one of the oldest fragrances still produced in the world. On 12 December 2006, the perfumes and cosmetics companyMäurer & Wirtz took over 4711 fromProcter & Gamble and has expanded it to a whole brand since then.
In 1806, Jean Marie Joseph Farina, a great-grandnephew of Giovanni Maria Farina, opened a perfumery business inParis that was later sold toRoger & Gallet. That company now owns the rights toEau de Cologne extra vieille, in contrast to theOriginal Eau de Cologne. Eau de Cologne was once believed to protect against bubonic plague:[6] by drinking the cologne, the citrus oil scent would exude through the pores, repelling fleas. Many flea shampoos for dogs are based on citrus oils today.
In modern times,eau de Cologne or "cologne" has become a generic term. The term "cologne" can be applied to perfume for men or women, but in American English, usage typically refers to perfumes marketed toward men.
After the fame of the cologne became widespread, Farina's cologne was brought to the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Abdülhamid II. It was common to offer rose water to guests in the Ottoman Empire at that time, but the tradition of offering cologne began after it became popular there. In 1882, the first local cologne was produced in the Ottoman Empire by Ahmet Faruk, popularly calledodikolon. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the use of cologne became a widespread culture. Currently, most Turkish hosts offer cologne to their houseguests at each visit.[7]
Yevgeny Yevtushenko's poem "About Drinking" describes the author coming back from a whaling voyage and arriving at a small town where the local store is out of liquor and, as a substitute, they use a case of Eau de Cologne to drink.[8]
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