Floris Collection from early 1900s

[worthy_sam]

I recently stumbled upon a Floris catalog from early 1900s (100+ years' old) and I was surprised to see their extensive collection of perfumes, toilet water, shave soaps etc. and I thought to share with you.

It was humbling to see such decadent collection from Floris.

Even Perfume Intelligence doesn't mention most of these fragrances.

So here goes.

Perfumes & Toilet Waters
1. Amber
2. Bean Blossom
3. By Request
4. Chypre
5. Cuir de Russie
6. Cynthia
7. Damask Rose
8. English Violets
9. Freesia
10. Gardenia Flora
11. Gloxinia
12. Heliotrope
13. Honeysuckle
14. Imperial Violets
15. Jasmine
16. Jockey Club
17. Lilies
18. Malmasion
19. Mauve Lilac
20. Mimosa
21. Narcisse
22. New Mown Hay
23. Night Scented Stock
24. Oriental Bouquet
25. Red Rose
26. Roman Hyacinth
27. Rose Geranium
28. Royal Arms
29. Sandalwood
30. Solo
31. Special No. 89
32. Special No. 127
33. Stephanotis
34. Sweet Briar
35. Sweet Pea
36. Syringa
37. Tantivy
38. Tea Rose
39. Tuberose
40. Verveine
41. Violette de Parme
42. Wallflower
43. White Iris
44. White Lilac
45. White Violets
46. White Rose
47. Wild Cyclamen
48. Wood Violets

Shaving soaps in bowls or sticks
1. Carnation
2. Jasmine
3. Lavender
4. Lemon Thyme
5. Roman Hyacinth
6. Rose Geranium
7. Savon Floris
8. Verbena
9. Violet

[Squire]

Wow, five different versions of violet. Yet when you consider all the horse poop in the streets . . .

[brothers]

In addition, I have read that personal bathing habits did not include access to facilities conducive to frequent showers or bathtubs for most people, and washing machines for everyone's clothing.

[Squire]

They had human washing machines who worked for cheap.

[worthy_sam]

I guess the clients of Floris at that time were only the well to do people.

I don't see Vetiver & Bay Rum in this Floris collection. Also, there is a mention of Floris Special No. 89.

[Squire]

Admittedly true, Trumpers and others were not for the hoi polloi, yet in the class conscious restrictive environment of Edwardian England those who aspired to any higher position copied those further up in rank.

Pretentious certainly, but I'm old enough to remember when a well dressed man didn't leave home without wearing a hat.

[worthy_sam]

Jasmine and Carnation were still in masculine territory for their scent to be used in shave soaps. I don't remember any maker even Floris or Trumper to have offered a straight up Jasmine or Carnation shave soap in the past decade or so.

[Ouchmychin]

I'll bet those old scents were extracted from the various flowers and not chemical imitations which were invented about the turn of the century. In any case, I purchased a large batch of Floris samples over a year ago and gave every one away because I didn't find anything special about them.

[Squire]

I'm sure they were the real deal Pete, nothing like that today or at least none available to me.