Napoleon is widely reported to have been genuinely devoted to eau de cologne, reportedly getting through significant quantities of it — likely valuing it for the sense of freshness and invigoration it offered at a time when regular bathing was far less routine than it is today.

A Habit Rooted in the Era, Not Just the Man

Eau de cologne in this period was often marketed and used almost as much for its perceived tonic and reviving properties as for pure fragrance — splashed on generously rather than dabbed sparingly, treated a little like a bracing everyday ritual rather than an occasional luxury. Napoleon’s reported enthusiasm fits a broader pattern of how cologne was used at the time, rather than being an entirely unique personal quirk.

A Legacy That Outlasted Him

Whatever the exact detail of his personal habits, the association between Napoleon and lavish cologne use has become part of perfume folklore, and it says something genuine about how central eau de cologne was to European daily life long before it became just one style among many. Our history of perfume guide, part of the complete guide to perfume, has more on cologne’s origins.