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What Did George Washington Smell Like? The Perfume of the First U.S. President and Its Modern Cost
🇦🇷 Argentina /Elections & Politics

What Did George Washington Smell Like? The Perfume of the First U.S. President and Its Modern Cost

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • George Washington's signature perfume, created by a pharmacy founded in 1752, featured notes of citrus, lavender, and rosemary with a touch of musk.
  • The fragrance, originally cologne number six, became Washington's personal scent after he discovered it by chance while meeting French officials.
  • The perfume, now sold by luxury brand Caswell-Massey for $225 per 100ml, highlights Washington's wealth and desire to project a gentlemanly image.

George Washington, the first U.S. president, had a signature scent derived from a blend of citrus, lavender, and rosemary, with a hint of musk. This fragrance was originally created by William Hunter, a Scottish doctor who founded a pharmacy in 1752, which later evolved into the luxury brand Caswell-Massey.

The decision of Washington to use a personal fragrance was a sign of his wealth and his desire to represent a gentleman.

— Margaret NewellProfessor of history at Ohio State University, explaining the significance of Washington's perfume choice.

According to Margaret Newell, a history professor at Ohio State University, Washington's choice of a personal fragrance signaled his wealth and his aspiration to be seen as a gentleman. The specific scent, identified as cologne number six, was discovered by Washington quite by accident. While meeting with French officials during the Revolutionary War, he entered the apothecary, smelled the fragrance, and was immediately taken with it.

Caswell-Massey continues to sell this historic perfume, which predates American independence. A 100ml bottle currently costs $225. The brand also offers a soap set featuring scents associated with Washington, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. The company's CEO, Harry Kang, noted that Washington purchased multiple bottles, sharing them with trusted advisors and the French military ally, the Marquis de Lafayette.

He was meeting with French officials during the War of Independence, he entered the apothecary, smelled the fragrance and liked it.

— Harry KangCEO of Caswell-Massey, recounting how George Washington discovered the perfume.

Beyond his choice of fragrance, Washington was reportedly meticulous about his personal hygiene and appearance. Newell mentioned that he washed frequently, incorporating cologne into his routine. He also took pride in his natural hair, styling it to resemble a wig rather than wearing one, reflecting his attention to personal grooming.

He washed a lot, so that would be his opportunity to include the use of cologne in his routine.

— Margaret NewellProfessor of history at Ohio State University, discussing Washington's personal hygiene habits.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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