Farina 1709
Founded 1709
Johann Maria Farina created the original Eau de Cologne in Cologne in 1709, and the house still makes it under the Farina family. It calls itself the world's oldest family perfumer, and its shop and museum sit in the same old town building on Obenmarspforten.
Hours and prices change, so check with the shop before you go.
The Cologne house where Eau de Cologne began
Farina 1709 is the house where Johann Maria Farina (1685 to 1766) created the original Eau de Cologne in 1709, in the old town of Cologne. The scent gave its name to a whole class of fragrance. The house says it is still made by the Farina family to a secret recipe and calls the family the world's oldest family perfumers; a note from Louise Farina, a ninth-generation perfumer, introduces its newer Neroli après la pluie.
Farina described his scent as an Italian spring morning after the rain, with oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bergamot and cedrat. He signed each bottle himself before it went to his customers, and the house names Napoleon, Goethe, Empress Sissi and Queen Victoria among those drawn to it. The museum in the same building shows historic bottles, rococo furniture, family portraits, archive papers and how essential oils are obtained.
The house's own boutique and museum share one building at Obenmarspforten 21, open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. The museum can only be seen on a guided tour of about 45 minutes: €12 for adults on weekdays, €18 for the costumed historical tours at weekends; booking ahead is advised. A 50 ml Original Eau de Cologne costs €60. Start with the Original: it is the scent first made here in 1709.
- Original Eau de CologneFarina's Italian spring morning after the rain, the citrus cologne first made in this house in 1709.
- RosolieThe Original in the classic rosolie bottle once used to fill it, a nod to the bottles Farina signed by hand.
- Cuir de RussieLeather, moss and fern with vanilla and bergamot, inspired by the worldly 1920s.
- Neroli après la pluieThe whole bitter orange tree wet with spring rain, after Farina's own words and the orangeries of Versailles.
Where to buy
- Own boutique and museum, Obenmarspforten 21, 50667 Cologne
In our city guides
- Farina Atelier (Eau de Cologne workshop) (Workshop, Cologne)
- Farina Fragrance Museum (Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus) (Museum, Cologne)