A Rhode Island apothecary created a series of 20 fragrances nearly three centuries ago, including one that became George Washington’s signature scent. Cologne Number Six, the personal fragrance of the first president of the United States, 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. He styled himself to mimic a wig, but he didn’t like the idea of wearing them, said Margaret Newell, a professor of history at Ohio State University. Washington’s decision to adopt a personal fragrance was a sign of his wealth and his desire to appear as a gentleman, Newell said.
Caswell Massey still sells the historic cologne. At 274 years old, the scent predates even the existence of the United States.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
