(map) Vigezzo
A newly discovered document has settled a long-standing dispute regarding the inventor of Eau de Cologne. The document, from 1727, definitively attributes the creation of the world’s longest continuously produced fragrance to Giovanni Maria Farina, an Italian barber from Valle Vigezzo, in northern Piemonte.
In 1708, Farina wrote to his brother, “I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain”. He was able to consistently recreate the fragrance, which was produced of grape spirits, oil of neroli, bergamot, lavender, and rosemary. The French royalty loved it, and it was they who named it Cologne, French for Köln, Germany, where Farina had relocated to and was producing the fragrance.
The original formula, still secret, is today produced by the French company Roger & Gallet, although the word cologne has become a generic name for any fragrance produced with 5% or less essential oils. But now we know for certain that it originated not in Cologne, but in a beautiful valley in Italy, and that it reminded its creator of an Italian morning. If only he had remained in Italy, perhaps women would be wearing Eau de Vigezzo?
(Vigezzo valley pictured below)
– Contributed by Dana Kaplan, Freelance writer, proofreader, and copyeditor. Author of StresaSights, a great blog about a beautiful town.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Nice to know about the origination of “cologne”. My husband, being German, and from Cologne (Koln), Germany, and I (being Italian), have always believed that cologne originated in Germany, made by the 4711 company. Thanks for the update. I’m happy at least to know it was created by an Italian! Have to say again I love my little “fix” of Italy everyday and thank you for these wonderful little pleasures in my daily life. Kind regards to all of you who produce this great newsletter. Stephanie (Costanzo) Feldhaus
April 8th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Very interesting and beautiful picture of the spring mountains! Although I somehow stumble over the spelling of Cologne, I agree that Eau do Vigezzo would have posed its own problems. Another great invention by an Italian……
April 8th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
What a surprise plus an elegant and eloquent Italian Note
April 12th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
[...] believed to have been created in the German city. But new documents show that scent was actually created to mimic “an Italian spring morning” – which is infinitely more poetic (and probably more pleasant-smelling) than a bustling German [...]
April 28th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Very nice information. Thanks for this.