Napoleon I Eau de Cologne
100% Original Formula — Certified by the Osmothèque
4.5/5 (17 avis)
Free delivery / Shipped within 24h
- Collector's box + Osmothèque certificate of authenticity included
- Formula certified authentic by the Osmothèque · Made in France
- 100% secure payment — Card, PayPal, Apple Pay
Napoleon Bonaparte had one quiet obsession: his Eau de Cologne. Discovered during the Italian campaigns, it followed him everywhere — rubbed generously over his body every day after bathing, at a rate of up to sixty bottles a month.
On Saint Helena, in exile, the Cologne ran short: impossible to find on the island, too slow to ship from Europe. So his second valet de chambre, Ali the Mameluke — Louis-Étienne Saint-Denis — recreated it by hand, from the island's citrus fruits, rosemary and cloves, blended with a spirit of wine distilled on site. He wrote the recipe down in 1819.
"The only olfactory memory of the Emperor that could have survived." — Maître André Damien, member of the Institut de France
Preserved in the Damien family papers, the formula was entrusted in 1991 to Jean Kerleo, founder of the Osmothèque, the International Perfume Archive in Versailles — the only institution in the world authorised to authenticate a historic fragrance.
The bottle is made by hand today in Fouras, Île d'Aix — the last French soil Napoleon set foot on before his exile — under the supervision of the Osmothèque.
A fresh, citrus Eau de Cologne, faithful to Ali's method at Longwood: citrus peel expressed by sponge, rosemary and clove distilled, the whole dissolved in spirit of wine. No synthetic notes, nothing added since 1819.
Composition : Citrus fruits, Rosemary, Clove
Four guarantees of authenticity.
These are certifications granted by France's most exacting institutions.
No.1 – The Osmothèque — International Fragrance Conservatory
Founded in 1990 in Versailles, the Osmothèque preserves more than 3,200 fragrances, 400 of which no longer exist elsewhere. Ali's formula is held there thanks to Maître André Damien, who entrusted it in 1991 to Jean Kerleo, founder and perfumer of the Osmothèque, the only institution in the world authorized to authenticate a historic fragrance.
No.2 – The Institut de France — Maître André Damien
“The only olfactory keepsake that has been preserved of the Emperor.” A public statement from a member of the national Academy, France's highest academic body.
No.3 – Made in Fouras — Napoleon's Last French Soil
The Île d'Aix is the last place where Napoleon set foot on French soil, on 8 July 1815. Made here by hand, and nowhere else.
No.4 – Formula Unchanged Since 1819
At Saint Helena, Ali had only the island's resources: citrus expressed by sponge, rosemary and clove distilled, spirit of wine redistilled to 90° to dissolve the oils. We still honour this process of necessity today in Fouras.
Delivery within France — free
3 to 5 working days. Shipped within 24h on business days. Colissimo tracking included. No extra charges.
International delivery
5 to 10 days depending on destination. Variable charges shown at checkout. Free within Europe from €88.
100% secure payment
Card, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay. SSL-encrypted data. No banking details stored.
A Formula Unchanged Since 1819
Conçue par le Mamelouk Ali, certifiée par l'Osmothèque(Conservatoire International des Parfums)
Authentic Original Formula
Unchanged for more than 200 years. Certified by the Osmothèque, the only institution authorized to validate the authenticity of a historic fragrance.
Coffret collector
125 ml bottle + presentation box + certificate of authenticity on heavyweight paper. Perfect as a gift, at no extra cost to your order.
Natural Essential Oils
Natural essential oils of citrus fruits and spices. No synthetic ingredients. Exactly the same proportions as in 1819.
Fabriqué à Fouras
The last French soil Napoleon set foot on before his exile. Produced by hand on this historic site, and nowhere else.
85 £
The Formula Unchanged Since 1819
Designed at a time when synthetic chemistry did not yet exist, Ali's formula relies entirely on natural essential oils of citrus fruits and spices. Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, Grasse neroli, Provençal rosemary and lavender.
Nôtes de tête
BergamoteCitronNéroli
Nôtes de coeur
RomarinLavandeThym
Notes de fonds
VétiverMousseMusc
Passing Through Fouras?
Come and enjoy a unique sensory experience: discover our workshop, the story of the 1819 formula, and the raw ingredients that make up our Eau de Cologne, facing the Île d'Aix.
They've Lived It. Here's What They Say
Customers who ordered, opened the box, and smelled what Napoleon smelled. Their words, not ours.
He Ordered 60 a Month
This Eau de Cologne, created by his faithful servant the Mamelouk Ali, has remained unchanged since 1819. Today it is the only one certified authentic by the Osmothèque, the International Fragrance Conservatory, and made in the very place where Napoleon set foot on French soil for the last time: Fouras.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before ordering. We're transparent about every aspect of our product.
Yes, this Eau de Cologne was created specially for the Emperor during his exile at Saint Helena. The formula is held at the Osmothèque in Versailles, the international fragrance conservatory. It has remained unchanged since it was created in 1819.
This Eau de Cologne is fresh, light, and subtle. Made exclusively from natural ingredients, including essential oils of citrus fruits and spices.
This formula was discovered at an auction in Versailles, among documents and objects that had belonged to Louis-Étienne Saint-Denis, the Mamelouk Ali.