Travel Tales Excerpt – Odo’s Cologne
“I have sampled Farina’s fragrance, and it has elements that I do not recognize. He was Italian, you know.” Odo began. “Italians have all sorts of exotic fruits and vegetables. His product is not perfect, but before I can make perfection, I must have the recipe.”
“Many have tried, master.” Jobst started. “It cannot be bought, and the formula is hidden. Even the workers do not know it. The current Farina mixes the portions in secret and then pours it into the vats himself or has his eldest son do it.”
“Ah! The son!” Odo exclaimed. “Is he married?”
“I do not know, master,” Jobst answered in a worried voice. Jobst always got scared and defensive when he could be the man with all his answers. “But why does a wife matter?”
“You are right, Jobst. It does not. A beautiful woman can always sway a man. That is what we will use. Find me the most beautiful woman in the area, one who can be bought.” Odo smiled a prideful little smile.
– End Excerpt
Cologne, Germany, was a surprise for me. When I hear “cologne,” I think of the French aromatic liquid called perfume. Indeed, Cologne briefly was a French town during the era of Napoleon, but it was a German city, and the residents today say it was always a German city.
Oddly enough, the product’s namesake cologne became famous because of Italian-born Giovanni Maria Farina (Germanized name: Johann Maria Farina), who settled in Cologne in 1709. Believing that the local water was the best base for his fragrance, he named his first product Eau de Cologne to honor the town he called home. It was the first time somebody had created such a perfume product, and it became very popular when there were no product protection laws.
Farina gave his product a French name purely for marketing purposes because the French language was spoken across Europe in “high society.” Soon, there were many counterfeits, fake products, and variations of his formula, though he kept his formula secret. This brief history became the basis for the Moliere-like short comedy story I wrote. Molière, whose real name was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, was an author and playwright who lived in the 1600s and wrote many comedies, faces, and tragicomedies.
Many attempts were made to steal the Farina formula or develop competing products. This ruthlessly competitive business became the foundation of my short story. Today, Cologne has many sites, like its Mustard Museum, Chocolate Museum, and several museums on perfumes and colognes, including the Farina Museum. The city also has several gorgeous cathedrals, though its most famous is near the river. Photos of both inside and outside the cathedral are posted here. Lastly, Cologne was founded as a Roman city, and there are remnants several blocks from the Cologne Cathedral, and photos have been included.
Like many European cities, Cologne is walkable, though there are tourist trams, bicycle taxis, and other transport. There are also many taverns, cafes, and restaurants, all serving wonderful meals.
