The History of Cologne

Perfume has been around since ancient times, with men and women often wearing similar fragrances. But that all changed in the 18^th century. In 1709, Giovanni Marina Farina created the first bottle of eau de cologne as an ode to Cologne, Germany. The product was lighter and fresher than other scents and quickly gained popularity among royal and wealthy men of the time. In fact, King Louis XIV and Napoleon were both cologne fanatics. When European settlers colonized the Americas, men brought cologne with them. George Washington and John Adams were supposedly fans of Caswell No. 6, a fragrance released in 1789 by a Rhode Island-based perfumery called Caswell Massey that is still available today. In modern times, men’s cologne remains popular and most designers offer cologne options, signifying the product’s importance in the world of men’s fashion.