Cologne - 4711

4711 is a German Eau de Cologne, that because it has been produced in Cologne since at least 1799, it is allowed to use the geographical indication Original Eau de Cologne.

According to legend Carl Gereon Farina, a Carthusian monk with Italian roots, made the secret recipe of a remedy named "aqua mirabilis" a wedding gift for Wilhelm Mülhens. Mühlens then started a small factory at Cologne's "Glockengasse to produce the remedy.

After French troops had occupied Cologne in 1794 the guard-committee received authorisation to number all houses in Cologne . It is believed that the house in which the "Eau de Cologne" was produced got the number "4711".

When Peter Joseph Mülhens moved from Glockengasse 12 into a newly constructed commercial building with a neo-gothic facade at Glockengasse 26-28, who then brought the number "4711" to the new building.

The building was completely destroyed by an air raid in 1943. In 1963 a new building in the style of the pre-war building was built at Glockengasse 4.

The Mühlens family sold the business to Wella AG in 1994. Wella AG was taken over by Procter & Gamble in 2003. Procter & Gamble sold the 4711 brand to Mäurer & Wirtz in 2006.