Caswell-Massey

Caswell-Massey is the oldest American fragrance and personal care product company. Caswell-Massey started as an apothecary shop founded in 1752 in Newport, Rhode Island, by a Scotland-born doctor named William Hunter.[1] The main product categories it sells are soaps, fragrances, lotions, shaving products and toiletries, other apothecary-style personal care accessories, and bath- and fragrance-related products for domestic use.

1752-1755

Originally called Dr. Hunter’s Dispensary, it began as an apothecary shop selling medical supplies. Hunter gave the first lectures on anatomy and surgery in the Colonies in 1755. During that time, he also invented orange soda to help his customers take the medicines sold in his apothecary shop.

1789-1800

Newport, Rhode Island, at the time, was a destination for the social elite to buy European-style luxuries. While selling medical products, Dr. Hunter also began selling cosmetic, personal care and hygiene products and developed a business in medicinal essential oils and florals such as Lavender and Verbena. He also imported fragrances from Europe, and blended 20 of his own different colognes, numbered One through Twenty; Dr. Hunter's Cologne Number Six was often purchased by George Washington and was given as a gift by the President to the Marquis de Lafayette, and thereby became very popular among many politicians and intellectuals in early American society after Independence. During the same time, White Rose Perfume was introduced for women, and became a favorite of Dolly Madison, who was rumored to use the perfume in her bath. The shop was also known for its very high-quality Castille Soap, which was purchased by Lewis and Clark for their Western expedition.

1800-1840

For approximately the first three quarters of a century the apothecary shop changed owners in the tradition of each retiring pharmacist handing over the keys to his apprentice. Dr. William Hunter was followed by his son, also William Hunter; then followed by Charles Feke, who in turn was followed by Rowland Hazard in 1822. Hazard took Philip Caswell into partnership and the name became Hazard & Caswell. In 1833 following Rowland Hazard’s death the company became Caswell & Hazard. In the same year the first Caswell-Hazard branch opened in New York City.

1840-1906

A fragrance called Jockey Club was introduced in 1840. The company during that time also continued to expand its line to include other apothecary products including cucumber night cream, oatmeal soaps, goats milk soaps, and other items. The company took its present name Caswell-Massey when then-owner John Rose Caswell formed a partnership with New York businessman William Massey in 1876. In that year the company operated two stores, one in Newport and one in New York City. Over the next 30 years Caswell-Massey grew to 10 stores in New York City, but closed its Newport store in 1906.

1906-1936

During the early-to-mid 1900s, the apothecary business expanded its service to providing 'custom' perfumes and fragrances as private stock for its most notable customers. Customers who used this service were interviewed on their tastes in food, music, and lifestyle, and given five fragrances to try. After a period of time, their favorite fragrance was selected and five variants of that fragrance were created. After a final period of wearing these, the customer's signature fragrance was refined and bottled and could be ordered on demand. This was an expensive service at the time, costing customers up to $200 per ounce.

Customers to the Caswell-Massey stores during this time included many notable New Yorkers, as well as Broadway stars such as Alla Nazimova, and New York elite such as the Astors and Vanderbilts;[2] Edgar Allan Poe, George Gershwin, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn and Greta Garbo.[3] In 1926 a store was opened on Lexington (the 48th in New York City), in what was then the Barclay Hotel, later InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel. ( It remained the company’s flagship store until 2010, when the Barclay's Hotel was closed for renovations).

In 1936, Ralph Taylor and his younger brother Milton Taylor bought the company. Ralph had been working for Caswell-Massey for twnety years since 1916 when a 13-year-old Ralph Taylor was hired to sweep the shop and clean bottles in the basement. Unlike the previous owners, the Taylors retained the name Caswell-Massey, which had acquired a worldwide reputation during the 60 years under Caswell as one of the most important fragrance and soap brands in the world.

1940-1953

In 1941, Caswell-Massey introduced Tricorn Cologne, and expanded its notoriety among the New York elite. The company's Cold Cream was a popular product for many broadway stars, and luminaries such as Cole Porter wore the new Tricorn cologne. The

1960-1988

During the second half of the century, customers also included John F Kennedy, who wore Caswell Massey's Number Six Cologne; Jacqueline Onassis (who bought avocado oil), and pop culture figures who shopped from the company's famously hand-illustrated direct mail catalog andwho frequented the company's Lexington Avenue Store including everyone from Debbie Harry to Joni MItchell, John Denver, and the Rolling Stones. in the 1980s, the company expanded to many more stores across the United States and added several overseas stores[3]. Greenbriar Cologne was introduced in 1984.

1988-2007

The Taylors sold the company to private owners in 1988; at the time, the company had over 28 stores in the US; the company continued with modest growth under new owners for several years before taking a downturn due to rising competition from Mall competitors such as Crabtree & Evelyn (founded in 1972) and Bath & Body Works (Founded in 1990) who offered similar products. In 1999, after struggling for several years, Anne Robinson lead an buyout of the company. Under Anne Robinson's leadership, the company experienced a brief turnaround and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2002. Modest growth and international business continued for the company. Anne Robinson departed the company in 2003. After trading hands between various investors, the company was purchased by its current ownership in 2007.

2007-Present

As of 2017, the company remains privately owned and operated in America, headquartered in Edison, NJ and New York City. The company underwent a rebranding effort in 2017 which included the launch of a new website and new catalog, the relaunch of its essential oils business, as well as product introductions that include new fragrances and the commercial release of some of its private stock fragrances. All of its fragrance and personal care items are still made in America, many using the original formulations. The company is regarded as the fourth oldest continuously operating company in America and the oldest consumer brand in operation. The current motto of Caswell-Massey is 'America's Original'.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ “Caswell-Massey Timetable”, by Wermuth/Reed Associates; part of company archives.
  2. ↑ Caswell-Massey products can be found on display in the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, New York
  3. 1 2 “The Amazing World of Caswell-Massey”, Cosmopolitan Magazine, 1977
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.