Wilhelm Mülhens

Wilhelm Mülhens (born 25 June 1762 in Troisdorf and died 6 March 1841 in Köln) was a Cologne perfume designer and manufacturer, and the founder of the Mülhens company, famous for the fragrance "4711".

Life and work

Wilhelm Mühlens was the sixth of eleven children of Jakob Mülhens and his wife Anna, née Volberg.[1] His life prior to 1796 is not well known.

3rd Cologne Address Book 1797, Page 179: Wilhelm Mülhens in Klöckergasse

In 1803 Carlo Farina, who was not part of the famous cologne-producing family, fraudulently sold William Mülhens that family's naming rights.[2]

In 1805 Mühlens was first recorded as a cologne manufacturer, later sold under the product name 4711 from 1881. After the Napoleonic wars his company also exported the cologne abroad, including Paris and Stralsund.

5th Cologne Address Book 1822, Page 228: Wilhelm Mülhens (Mühlens) listed under the company Franz Maria Farina
Letter from Wilhelm Mülhens on 3 February 1826
Letter from Wilhelm Mülhens on 21 October 1826
7th Cologne Address Book 1831, Page 261: Wilhelm Mülhens Glockengasse No.12

In 1832 Wilhelm Mülhens was found guilty of abusing the name "Farina", and the 1803 contract was found to be void.[3] To continue operating under the name "Farina" in 1832 Wilhelm Mühlens son, Peter Joseph Mülhens, took on a Farina from Mortara as a partner in the company for "office work and supervision of fabrication."

References
  1. Home and Historical Society Troisdorf. Troisdorfer Köpfe
  2. Stiftung Rheinisch-Westfälisches Wirtschaftsarchiv (RWWA) Abt.33, Köln: Original Akten Notar Flamm vom 19. August 1803 und Mülhens-Briefe.
  3. 22. Mai 1832 Urteil des königlichen Landgerichts, 1. Civilkammer zu Cöln.
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