dario.bergamotin Citrus & Fresh · London ·
ReadingEau de Cologne began as a citrus water
Read the club's Class on the history of perfume on my break. Eau de Cologne was first made in Cologne in 1709 by an Italian, Giovanni Maria Farina: Wikipedia's article on eau de Cologne describes it as a light citrus scent in dilute alcohol. And bergamot was a major part of the original, which makes me proud for no good reason.
8 comments
ollie.grapefruit
So cologne is just the weak stuff they sell to blokes?
frankie.incense
The men's part is a language quirk. The same eau de Cologne article says the word is now generic and, in American English, used most often for men's fragrances [which explains every gift aisle in Chicago]. Farina's water was definitely a light citrus scent first.
bev.boston
My husband's aftershave said cologne on the bottle. Lavender and lemon. I can still smell it.
dario.bergamot
Good to know. My nonno called any fresh splash acqua di Colonia, for men or women.
joon.yuzu
It's also the lightest strength now. The club's Class on concentrations, from extrait to eau de Cologne puts it at the bottom of the range.
maeve.moss
My granny kept a bottle of eau de Cologne on the back kitchen windowsill and she'd splash it on her wrists before Mass and on our hankies before a long drive and the whole car smelled of lemons for an hour, so it did. Then it was gone.
hamish_heather
A wee splash and you loose it by elevenses. Folk who come in to the shop say the same about a light dram.
ambrose_leather
Right then. My father would of had one bottle of cologne his whole life, for weddings and funerals. Lemons and Sunday best. Cheers, Ambrose