Molinard, Signature Cologne, 300 ml. or 9 oz. Flacon, Eau de Cologne, 1918, 1935, Paris, France ..

The Maison Molinard was founded in 1849 in Grasse, Provence, in the south of France, cradle of the world's perfume industry. It has remained an entirely family-run business to this day, and is also the oldest of its kind. At that time, Molinard produced floral waters and Eaux de Cologne, which it sold in its "little shop" in the town centre. In 1891, Queen Victoria stayed at Grasse, and bought Eaux de Cologne there.

In 1900, the company moved into an old perfume factory, where the distillery structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Molinard is still there today. A typical Provençal showroom was set up, and its first customers were wealthy foreigners from England and Russia. They came to admire its magnificent collection of 17th and 18th century furniture, and buy Molinard eaux de Cologne together with all its floral fragrances.

Molinard's signature Eau de Cologne is going to be similar in structure to the traditional Jean Marie Farina that was passed on to Roger & Gallet. The history of that historic cologne goes back, astonishingly, to 1693 ... and the creation of ‘Acqua Mirabilis’, or ‘miracle water’, a distillation of medicinal plants, later patented by the Cologne Faculty of Medicine in 1727.

But it was in 1806 that Jean-Marie Farina, heir to the precious ‘apothecary formula’ for ‘Acqua Mirabilis’ .. and official supplier of fragrances to Napoleon I .. created his own ‘Eau de Cologne’. The first cologne ever .. named 'Eau de Cologne' .. was launched in 1709. He dedicated his Eau de Cologne in the honour of the city of Cologne, where he lived from 1708.

While a resident of Germany, Farina found inspiration in his native Italy, sunny citrus fruits and aromas of the Mediterranean coastline. This fragrance, with its freshness of the Mediterranean coastline view, bathed in brilliant Italian citruses, was created as a relaxant and scented aromatherapy that caresses all your senses. Aromatic citrus scents in the top notes are offered by vibrant and sparkling citrus fruits of Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, and Orange Blossom. The heart brings aromas of Lavender, Neroli, Myrtle, Petitgrain, Oak Moss, and Rosemary, while the base hides a discreet spicy Clove twist.

Offered here is a most historic huge nine ounce bottle of this inimitable eau de cologne. The bottle is shaped like a Grecian urn, with its Napoleonic style stopper. A real treasure .. and a historic masterpiece. Absolutely wonderful .. hardly any evaporation over the many years .. almost 100 years old .. !