Cologne is a city that is rich in history as depicted in the various museums and galleries spread out across the city. One of the most popular museums here – one which you can smell a mile away – is the Farina-House in Cologne – Germany.
This is the oldest and still standing perfumery in the city.
Location
Farina-House in Cologne – Germany is located at Obenmarspforten 21, just across the City Hall and close to the Wallraf-Richartz Museum.
Getting There
To reach Farina-House in Cologne – Germany, you can take the U-Bahn going to Dom – Hauptbahnof; the tram going to Heumarkt or buses going towards Rathaus or Gürzenich.
From the stop, the museum is just a short walk off.
What to See and Do
The Farina-House in Cologne – Germany is a museum and a shop. After you have toured the museum, you can take a whiff of the scents that they have in the shop and buy whatever you fancy.
This particular museum is highly intriguing as it is the oldest perfume factory in the city and perhaps even around the world, having been established in the year 1709.
The museum is divided into various floors. When you step inside the museum, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time as you walk past the furnishings and view the decors and adornments of the museum-factory.
As you walk through the various rooms, you can learn more about the history of the perfumery, see apparatuses used in making the scents, and likewise learn all about the arduous and painstaking process of creating each scent to perfection.
The most interesting part in the tour is the room where you can see samples of some of the eau de colognes that have been making the rounds all across the globe, posing as the real Farina eau de colognes.
From the bottles, the scents and the trademark logo; one would think that these are the real deal, except to the discerning eye of a true-blue Farina Eau de Cologne patron.
Brief History
Farina-House in Cologne – Germany was established in the year 1709 which makes it the oldest fragrance trademark and fragrance label around the world. It has been in the building and the site where it still stands today since the year 1723.
In the year 1708, Johann Maria Farina, then a 23-year-old young man; created a scent, “Aqua Mirabilis” which he later named after his adoptive town of Cologne, hence; the birth of Eau de Cologne.
A year later, he established his fragrance label and company.
Today, the perfumery; the museum and the secret concoction for the Farina scents are still within the Farina family.
Cost
Entry fee to Farina-House in Cologne – Germany is 5 Euros per person. You can also have a private tour of the museum for 80 Euros. Private tours however should be for a group of at most, 20 persons.
Other Information
The Farina-House in Cologne – Germany is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10 in the morning up to 6 in the evening. Sundays, the museum is open from 11 in the morning up to 4 in the afternoon.
Audio CD guides are available in different languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, Chinese, Polish and Russian. These are free.
