Duftmuseum im Farina-Haus

About the museum

In 1709 in Cologne, the Italian-born perfumer Johann Maria Farina composed a fragrance meant to evoke an Italian spring morning and named it after his new hometown. The company he founded is considered the oldest perfume factory in the world still in operation and has been based since 1723 in the building on Obenmarspforten, opposite today's Wallraf-Richartz-Museum. To this day the Farina family – the current perfumer represents the ninth generation – produces the Eau de Cologne to a secret recipe.

The Duftmuseum (fragrance museum) occupies the original 18th-century production rooms and cellars. Display cases and furnishings tell how Eau de Cologne was supplied to royal courts, how distillation and enfleurage work, and how imitators and counterfeiters tried to profit from the success of the Farina name. On display are historic flacons, Rococo furniture, family portraits and archival documents; at a scent station, visitors can smell natural raw materials.

In 2006 the Farina-Haus was honored as a selected landmark in the "Deutschland – Land der Ideen" (Germany – Land of Ideas) competition. Visits are by guided tour only; on weekends, an actor in Rococo costume leads guests through the building as the perfumer Farina. The Farina Atelier Eau de Cologne has recently been added: in small workshops there, guests can now compose a fragrance of their own for the first time.

Highlights

• Original 18th-century production rooms in the company's home since 1723
• Historic flacons, Rococo furniture and portraits of the Farina family
• Essence room with a scent station on distillation, enfleurage and extraction
• Costumed tours with "Johann Maria Farina" on weekends
• Atelier workshops for composing your own Eau de Cologne

Permanent exhibitions

• Duftmuseum – Geschichte der Original Eau de Cologne – Guided tour through the historic rooms with flacons, furniture and documents from three centuries and an essence room where visitors can smell natural fragrance materials.

Founded

1709

Operated by

Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz (Familienunternehmen Farina)

Admission & discounts

Price for the regular weekday tour (approx. 45 min.), including a small fragrance gift. Tickets are non-refundable; rebooking possible up to 24 hours in advance. A FlexTicket allows cancellation or rebooking up to 1 hour before the start. The Farina Atelier Eau de Cologne (fragrance workshop for up to six people, including a 50 ml flacon) is booked separately.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Because of the listed historic building fabric, not accessible for wheelchairs, rollators or strollers. There are no restrooms in the museum. Assistance dogs allowed, other animals not.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 6+

• Stroller-friendly: not available

Visits only as part of a guided tour lasting around 45 minutes; not recommended for children under 6. Strollers cannot be taken along.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Farina boutique in the building and online shop. Free cloakroom for bags. No restrooms.

Events & venue rental

No venue rental mentioned; private tours and private atelier workshops can be booked.

Plan your visit