Fragrance house

Johann Maria Farina

Johann Maria Farina traces its founding in Cologne to 13 July 1709, when Giovanni Battista Farina established G. B. Farina; Johann Maria, his younger brother, joined the business in 1714. Born in Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy, in 1685, Johann Maria developed a fragrance water built around bergamot, lemon, and orange. After his brother’s death, he continued the business from 1733 under his own name, using the address “Farina gegenüber,” which became a trademark. He named the fragrance Eau de Cologne in honor of his adopted city, and the term later became the generic designation for a class of light fragrances. Its success brought customers at European courts and prompted widespread imitations, while the Farina family defended the house name and kept the composition secret. The brand introduced its red tulip logo in 1924. Today, the company remains family-owned and is run by the eighth and ninth generations, with the original Eau de Cologne still produced in Cologne. The fragrance legacy is especially tied to this signature citrus style, built around bergamot and other citrus oils.