An enemy of “modernity” and civil rights; an admirer of the Confederate States of America (and correspondent of Jefferson Davis); a man who once proclaimed Roman Jews to be “dogs” and who said he would confine them to their “hole” — the Jewish Ghetto — if they didn’t behave according to his wishes (they didn’t, he did); one who felt, and had himself declared, infallible, Pope Pius IX (born Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti, 1792-1878) is the troublesome “image” behind The Pope’s Cologne. (I guess this is niche perfumery at its zenith…or nadir.)
Several years ago, Dr. Fred Hass of Excelsis Fine Fragrances in San Rafael, California, came across a 19th century recipe for a cologne that was supposedly worn by Pope Pius IX, and Hass decided to re-create the scent and sell it…