Grossmith

Grossmith is a historic English perfume house founded by John Grossmith in London's City in 1835, now owned and operated by the Brooke family, descendants of the founder. The house became an influential and popular perfume house, operating from 29 Newgate Street (known as The Laboratory of Flowers) and maintaining a factory in Grasse, France. By the early 1900s, Grossmith's formula books contained over 300 products including perfumes, oils, soaps, and cosmetics. Grossmith received a prize medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and exhibited at the Brussels International Exhibition in 1897. The house began its foray into perfumery by following the Victorian craze for Eastern-inspired everything, producing an inaugural line of perfumes featuring exotic names and unusual blends: Hasu-no-Hana, Shem-el-Nessim, and Phul-Nana (created in 1891, meaning lovely flower, presented to Queen Alexandra then Princess of Wales, marking the beginning of a long association with royalty). The company held Royal Warrants from the courts of Greece, Spain, and British royalty during the 1920s. The Brooke family revived the brand in 2006 and reintroduced the original three fragrances, tweaked for modern wearers by Robertet perfumer Trevor Nicholl (2011 update).