Contact: Frederick Hass, 888-357-3957, fredhass@comcast.net; www.thepopescologne.com

MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 6, 2010 /Christian Newswire/ -- Excelsis Fine Fragrances announced today that its flagship fragrance, The Pope's Cologne is now available in the National Shrine Bookstore at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. The basilica is the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America and is one of the ten largest in the world.

In 1847, at the petition of the bishops of the United States, Pope Pius IX named the Blessed Virgin Mary patroness of the United States under the title of The Immaculate Conception. In 1869 Pius IX convened the First Vatican Council at which he proclaimed the dogma of The Immaculate Conception . So it is eminently appropriate that this historic, authentic cologne of Pius IX should come to this shrine so many, many years later !

The first shipment has now arrived and is selling at the National Shrine Bookstore. The store provides an extensive selection of fine Catholic gifts from around the world.

The Pope's Cologne is an aristocratic, Old World cologne made in San Rafael, California from the private formula of Pope Pius IX (1792-1878). It has been described as "a fresh, new fragrance from the past with notes of violet and citrus." It is offered in a handsome two ounce, embossed flacon with a fine mist pump spray and gift-worthy carton. Sold worldwide, it has been featured on The CBS Sunday Morning television show and in "Inside the Vatican" magazine.