OE wyrtig, adj: Garden-like, full of plants;
On anum wyrtige hamme, Homl. Skt. ii. 30:312.
Early gardens
Herbal Elixir
and Fine Cologne
Chartreuse
and 4711
The ascetic Carthusians, who continue today a tradition of solitary contemplation that began in France more than 900 years ago, are responsible for two of modern life's more pleasant luxuries, Chartreuse Liqueur and 4711 Cologne.
Chartreuse Liqueur was first made in the 18th century at Grande Chartreuse, the mother house of the Carthusian Order. It originated as a medicinal elixir, compounded from 130 different herbs and flowers. Today, three types of Chartreuse are sold -- a green, which gives the color chartreuse its name; a yellow; and a third whose color falls somewhere in between.
Sometime in the 17th century a member of this order concocted the world's oldest commercially produced fragrance, 4711 Cologne. This monk was given shelter by the Mulhouse family in Cologne, and in gratitude gave them the recipe for this scent, which they later developed, marketed, and named for the street number of their home.
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The medieval garden at Mt. Grace Carthusian gardeners at Mt. Grace
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