Eau de Cologne

The paternity of the original product is still a bit controversial, but it is admitted that it all started in the first half of the 18th century with the creation of a light, fresh and expensive fragrance called Aqua Mirabilis, attributed to Giovanni Paolo Feminis, an Italian living in Cologne (Köln, Germany). It was essentially a blend of citrus notes with the addition of neroli and lavender. In 1709, Giovanni Maria Farina, another Italian settled in Cologne, launched a modified version called Eau de Cologne – in reference to his home town- that became immensely popular and was used as perfume in almost all royal houses across Europe. In modern times, “eau de cologne” has become a generic term referring to a low concentration fragrance: An Eau de Cologne typically contains 4% to 6% of fragrance oil and the rest of the solution is alcohol.