Muelhens

Muelhens is the former parent company behind the brands 4711 and Tosca. The 4711 business was sold to Mäurer & Wirtz in 2006. To tell the story of the brand 4711 one has to go back to the end of the 18th century. Johann Maria Farina composed a light and fresh fragrance that he called Eau de Cologne. The name of the fragrance was inspired by Cologne, where he resided at that point. The fragrance became a bestseller and all rights and licenses were eventually bought by Wilhelm Mülhens. Mühlhens sold rights and licenses to more than 20 individuals, a move that was judged illegal and was voided in court. Mülhens then entered into a business relationship with another individual going by the name Farina (but unrelated to the fragrance's creator) and a company bearing the name Farina was set up.