I am decidedly passionate about the history of Florence.  When I conduct a tour it is not possible to relate all of the wonders and inventions of this magical place without the risk of seeming a little bit exaggerated.  In fact, there have been many times that people asked me, “Was this also invented in Florence?”.

With luck it is so, because so many things truly were born in Florence.  There are the opera, Amerigo Vespucci who gave his name to America, Meucci who invented the telephone, the term ballot, and gelato, just to name a few.

Therefore, do not be surprised that I would like to give an account of something that was born in this city this time, too.

The historical Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella is found in Florence.  Now you can access it from Via della Scala, but originally this was the pharmacy of the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria Novella.  The Pharmacy is a Florentine institution which is known for the development of many well known creations.

Among these I like to remember that the Pharmacy specialized in the production of essences to mix perfumes, which quickly became famous and in high demand.  Since it was highly discouraged to bathe, it was necessary to use perfumes to mask one’s own “B.O”.

Caterina de Medici, the daughter of Lorenzo de Medici (who was portrayed by Michelangelo in the Medici Chapels), married the second son of the King of France, Henry, in the 1500s.  She brought many things to Paris: not only the fork and panties, which were absolutely unknown to the French, but also a “special water”, which was a perfume a bit lighter than those normally used and of which she had grown especially fond.  This water came to be called the “Water of the Queen”.

Subsequently, the Italian Giovanni Paolo Feminis moved to Cologne in 1725 and decided to produce the same water in his new city, changing the name to Eau de Cologne in tribute to the city that hosted him.

Therefore, yes certainly it is eau de Cologne, because Cologne is where it was produced on a large scale, but is also of an Italian origin, bound to the Medici of Florence!