MINIATURE PERFUME SHOPPE – Huge 3,500+ Mini Perfume Bottle Inventory
NAME: No. 4711
PERFUME HOUSE: Mülhens No. 4711
LAUNCH DATE: 1792 / 1914 / Current
CONCENTRATION: EDC (The original Eau De Cologne from which the classification EDC is derived.)
SIZE (inches): MICRO MINI 1.75 x 0.50
CAPACITY: Estimated apx. 3ml
CONTENTS: Full
CONDITION: Used; vintage bottle and "juice"
RATING: 5 Star
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Depending on the sources you choose to believe, No. 4711 is said to have been created by a Carthusian monk. "Aqua Mirabilis", or miracle water literally, as he called it, was made from water taken from the Cologne River (Germany) and then combined with other "secret ingredients" that he concocted. It was this secret recipe that was purportedly given to Wilhelm Mülhens as a wedding present by that same monk on October 8, 1792. Seeing its commercial potential, Mülhens launched (more than 200 years ago) what we essentially know today as No. 4711 and can arguably be referred to as the first unisex cologne.
In fairness, however, it should also be noted that another theory of the genesis of the fragrance exists. Namely, that the grandson of Mülhens (Ferdinand) essentially piggybacked on the already popular Eau de Cologne developed by Johann Maria Farina, and which eventually forced Mülhens, by court order, to rename his product. The name originated from the street address where the fragrance was originally manufactured, No. 4711 Glockengasse, Koln (Cologne) Germany.
Ownership and distributorship of the famed cologne has passed hands many, many times over the past 200+ years and includes Mülhens, Mülhens & Kropff, 4711 Kölnisch Wasser, Yardley, Rheingold, R.J. Reuter, Colonia, and Richard Barrie Fragrances (since sold to Parluxe Fragrances). In 1994, the company of the Mülhens family was bought by Wella AG, Darmstadt, Germany. Since 1997, the cosmetics activities of Wella AG have operated under the name Cosmopolitan Cosmetics GmbH, but the name Mülhens GmbH & Co. KG is still used. In 2003, Wella AG was taken over by American cosmetics giant Procter & Gamble. 4711 is currently owned and operated (July 2011) by Mäurer & Wirtz of Aachen, a subsidiary of the Dalli Group.
According to the official 4711 website (yes, 4711 has its own website) the ingredients that contribute to both the uniqueness and popularity of the world's original cologne still remain a trade secret, but includes HEAD NOTES of bergamot, lemon, and orange; HEART NOTES of lavender and orange; and BASE NOTES of Neroli. Still considered a modern day aqua mirabilis, the company claims that the "4711 Original Eau de Cologne banishes the trials and tribulations of everyday life in a flash. Stress, heat and lethargy vanish in the twinkling of an eye."
Although many other named fragrances under the House of 4711 have been created over the centuries, none have gained the success of the original No. 4711. An interesting contempory note is that "Moments" by Priscilla Presley (launched 1990) was created for her by Mülhens 4711.
[Leslie Ann for Miniature Perfume Shoppe]
References cited:
The Perfume Intelligence Library http://www.perfumeintelligence.co.uk/
Official 4711 Website http://www.4711.com/
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4711_(brand)
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