A Rhode Island apothecary created a series of 20 fragrances nearly three centuries ago. One of them became George Washington’s signature scent, known as Cologne Number Six, which smells like citrus, lavender, and rosemary, with an undertone of musk.
Historic Fragrance
The apothecary, founded in 1752 by Scottish physician Dr. William Hunter in Newport, eventually evolved into the luxury fragrance brand Caswell Massey. According to Harry Kang, the company’s CEO, Washington was meeting with French officials during the Revolutionary War when he happened to enter the apothecary, smell the fragrance, and take a liking to it.
Washington’s love for grooming also applied to his iconic hair, which was not a wig, but rather his natural hair styled to mimic a wig. His penchant for hygiene dates back to his teenage years, when he copied etiquette manuals by hand to study appearance, manners, and what it meant to be a gentleman.
Caswell Massey still sells the historic cologne, which predates even the existence of the United States. At 274 years old, it is a testament to the enduring legacy of George Washington’s personal style.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.
