Johann Maria Farina facts for kids
Giovanni Maria Farina (born December 8, 1685, in Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy – died November 25, 1766, in Cologne, Germany) was an Italian perfumer. He moved to Germany and created the very first Eau de Cologne. His German name was Johann Maria Farina, and in French, he was known as Jean Marie Farina.
Farina's Amazing Career
Farina moved to Cologne, which is now in Germany, in 1709. There, he started his own company, Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz GmbH. This company is the oldest perfume factory in the world that is still making perfumes today!
His special perfume, called Eau de Cologne, quickly became famous all over the world. In the 1700s, it was a must-have item for kings, queens, and nobles at all the royal courts.
Farina decided to name his perfume after his new home city, Cologne. He wanted to honor the city because, at that time, it was very strict about allowing foreigners to live there. Farina was given citizenship, and to show his thanks, he named his first perfume Eau de Cologne. This French name means "Water of Cologne." This amazing new perfume helped make Cologne famous around the globe.
Since it was the first perfume of its kind, the word "Cologne" soon became a common word. Today, "Cologne" often means a light, refreshing perfume. It usually has a fresh, citrus smell and can be used by both men and women.
The perfume was given a French name because, in the 17th and 18th centuries, French was the language spoken by important people and traders across Europe. This is why Farina chose a French name for his creation.
Later, after the French Revolution, French soldiers took over Cologne for a few years. They brought new rules, including freedom for businesses to trade. Back then, there were no registered trademarks. This meant that many people started making fake versions of Farina's famous perfume.
His Death and Lasting Legacy
Johann Maria Farina passed away on November 25, 1766, in Cologne. He was 80 years old. Even today, more than 250 years later, the Farina family continues to make the original Eau de Cologne. The current generation of the family, the eighth, still runs the company.
Gallery
-
An invoice for Eau de Cologne from 1763.
-
A statue of Johann Maria Farina on the Town Hall tower in Cologne.
-
Another statue of Johann Maria Farina inside the Cologne Town Hall.
-
A marble bust of Johann Maria Farina.
-
Johann Maria Farina Street in Cologne.
-
A bronze statue of Johann Maria Farina.
-
The Farina family home in Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy.
-
Via G.M.Farina, a street in Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy.
-
The gravestone of Johann Maria Farina in the Melaten-Friedhof cemetery in Cologne.
.JPG)
See also
In Spanish: Juan María Farina para niños
