Jo's Scent Notes: Farina Original Eau de Cologne

Nothing shouts summer like ‘cologne’. (And thank heavens, summer seems to be back!) But today, I am drenching myself repeatedly in the original Eau de Cologne, by Farina – a company established in 1709, when Johann (Giovanni) Maria Farina left the Italian Alps for the city of Cologne and, homesick for sun‑warmed orchards, composed a scent that ‘reminds me of an Italian spring morning… orange blossoms after the rain.’ An Italian outsider, in a chilly German trading city, bottling freshness for us all to enjoy. Well, hurrah for that!

Word travelled fast. Vials of Farina’s water tucked into carriage trunks and dressing cases scented Europe’s powerful elite – none other than Napoleon, Goethe, Queen Victoria and a roll‑call of royals and literati all doused themselves in it as their olfactory calling card. Inevitably, the imitations flooded in, prompting the Farina descendants to fight for their name and introduce some of the earliest German trademark protections. (Further fans are said to include Indira Gandhi, Honoré de Balzac, Ludwig van Beethoven, Mozart, Goethe, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde and Marlene Dietrich. WOW!)

Yet, notwithstanding centuries of copycats and changing fashions, the red‑tulip seal and that brisk, silvery citrus accord are still with us today – the perfect spritzes to reach for when the heat is on.

Most recently, Louise Farina – an utterly charming trained perfumer who is only in her 20s, who I met with last week when she visited London – has taken the helm of the family firm, the ninth generation to do so. Louise is shaking things up a bit, excitingly, recruiting other perfumers to create ‘spins’ on the original Eau de Cologne, which I am currently working my way through and will revisit here. (Winning, so far: the neroli version.)

But this original is a scent for anyone, anywhere. Maybe not anytime, because I can’t imagine spritzing this on a chilly winter day, since it has a near-miraculous cooling effect. Just so, so fresh and wearable.

The notes? Squeezed into this beautiful bottle – based on the original flacon – are notes that Farina himself described as ‘reminiscent of a spring morning after the rain: of oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bergamot and blossoms.’

Nails it, really, so let’s leave it to the maestro – except to add that it’s as refreshing as a long, iced glass of San Pellegrino, straight from the fridge. If a fragrance could be described as sense-quenching, this is it.

Spritz with abandon, is my recommendation.

£95 for 100ml – buy here

At time of press, only a 3ml sample is available at Roullier White, who stock the full size but have sold out – find it here (and I’m sure the full size will be back in stock soon)