Eau de Cologne

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Eau de Cologne (French for "water of Cologne" or "Cologne perfume", Kölnisch Wasser in German) is a type of light perfume that originated in Cologne, Germany and is defined by its typical concentration of about 2-5% essential oils.

[edit] Composition

In a base of dilute ethanol (70-90%), Eau de Cologne contains a mixture of citrus oils including oils of lemon, orange, tangerine, bergamot, lime, grapefruit and neroli. It can also contain oils of lavender, rosemary, thyme, petitgrain (orange leaf), and jasmine.

[edit] History

Eau de Cologne is a spirit-citrus perfume launched in Cologne in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina 1685-1766, an Italian perfumer from Santa Maria Maggiore Valle Vigezzo, Italy. When Farina composed the perfume, he said he wanted it to have the odor of an Italian spring morning after the rain.

The Original Eau de Cologne was used only as a perfume, and Napoleon was a particular enthusiast of the Farina Eau de Cologne.

Giovanni Maria Farina's formula has been produced in Cologne since 1709 by Farina gegenüber and to this day has remained a secret. His shop at Obenmarspforten opened in 1709 and is today the world's oldest fragrance company. Other Colognes have the name in common and smell different, so the famous Cologne 4711, named after this location at the "Glockengasse No. 4711". In 1806, Jean Marie Joseph Farina a grandgrandnephew of Giovanni Maria Farina 1685-1766 opened the Paris perfumery business that developed into Roger & Gallet, who own the rights to Eau de Cologne extra vielle in contrast to the Original Eau de Cologne from Cologne..

Eau de Cologne, or just "cologne", has now become a generic term. Ironically, however, the original Eau de Cologne from Cologne is not an Eau de cologne, but an Eau de toilette, because it contains more than 5% aromatic compounds.