- Wilhelm Muelhens the founder of the Mülhens company:
Wilhelm Muelhens, born on June 25, 1762, in Troisdorf, was a remarkable figure in the world of fragrance. He founded the Mülhens company, which became renowned for the iconic "4711" fragrance.
In 1792, Wilhelm Muelhens married Catharina Josephina Moers. According to legend, on the occasion of his wedding, he received from a Carthusian monk the formula for "aqua mirabilis" (miracle water), which laid the foundation for his eau de cologne. After the wedding, he wasted no time and opened a factory on Glockengasse in Cologne. His house on Glockengasse was marked as number 4711, a number that would later become the name of his famous fragrance.
Muelhens' journey in the perfume business was not without its challenges. In 1832, he was found guilty of misusing the name "farina," and the 1803 contract related to it was declared void. Despite this setback, his son, Peter Joseph Muelhens, took on a Farina from Mortara as a partner in the company for "office work and supervision of fabrication" to continue operating under the name "farina."
Wilhelm Muelhens passed away on March 6, 1841, in Cologne. However, his legacy lived on through the Mülhens company. The original 4711 eau de cologne, first made available to the public in 1792, became an instant classic. The term "eau de cologne" has since been associated with light, refreshing scents. Over the years, the company introduced other notable fragrances, such as the women's perfume Tosca in 1921, which featured a blend of aldehydes, animalic notes, and floral accords.
Today, the Mülhens company and its fragrances, especially 4711, continue to hold a special place in the hearts of fragrance enthusiasts worldwide, a testament to Wilhelm Muelhens' vision and the quality of the products he started creating more than two centuries ago.
