Many British brands have a history that goes back a long way. This is of course true in the field of tailoring, where several brands founded in the 19th century are still around today. These include Henry Poole, who was instrumental in creating the first modern tuxedo. Here we’ve collected all the classic british perfume brands you need to know.
But it is at least as true of the barber tradition, where many of the brands founded in the 19th century are still in existence today. Several British brands have managed to keep the barbering tradition alive from generation to generation while maintaining the original recipes for the fragrances of the 19th century.
Classic British perfume brands
Here are the Classic British perfume brands you need to know:
Floris London & Geo F. Trumper – The Bond favourites
It is well known that the customer list of companies like Floris London is filled with celebrities who have used their products. We have already written about celebrities’ favourite perfumes and the fragrance Floris no. 89 which was one of Bond author Ian Fleming’s personal favourites. The Floris brand was also featured in the Bond books Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever and Dr.No.
As for several other British perfume brands, their customer records are not as well known to the general public. Instead, the literature may give some clues as to who were among the customers. Looking a little closer in the books about James Bond, one finds another fragrance that has become synonymous with the English gentleman thanks to its scent qualities.
Geo F. Trumper Eucris – Classic British perfume brand
Floris was not the only brand used by Ian Fleming, nor was it the only classic London brand mentioned in the James Bond books. In the 1963 book On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the Eucris EdT fragrance by the venerable Geo F. Trumper is mentioned in the following sentence when James Bond visits Marc-Ange Draco in Marseille and finds Eucris in his bathroom:
“Bond thought it time to make some show of independence. He said firmly, ‘Un moment, je vous en prie,’ and went into the bathroom and cleaned himself up – amused to notice that the soap was that most English of soaps, Pears Transparent, and that there was a bottle of Mr Trumper’s ‘Eucris’ beside the very masculine brush and comb by Kent. Marc-Ange was indeed making his English guest feel at home!”
Ian Fleming himself is said to have been very familiar with the Geo F. Trumper brand and was one of many customers from the British Secret Service who frequently visited their barbershop at 9 Curzon Street. This was because the British Secret Service was located on the same street.
Eucris was launched back in 1912 and has since become one of Geo F. Trumper’s most popular fragrances on the market. Now, for the first time, Geo F. Trumper has also launched the fragrance as Eau de Parfum.
This perfume contains a higher concentration of perfume oil than the Eau de Toilette version.
Geo F. Trumper’s elegant store at 97 Jermyn Street. However, their flagship store is still at the same address as when the company was founded in 1875, at 9 Curzon Street.
Over the years, Geo F. Trumper has been honoured with the Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria, which in plain English means that the company is a British court supplier.
Truefitt & Hill – the celebrity perfume
Truefitt & Hill is the oldest barbershop in the world and is actually in the Guinness Book of World Records for this feat. The year was 1805 when W.F Truefitt opened his first barbershop in Mayfair, England. To this day, there is an entire line of Truefitt & Hill shaves and columns of classic fragrance notes that are the epitome of a British gentleman.
Famous clients of Truefitt & Hill include Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, Frank Sinatra and Alfred Hitchcock. Not a bad client list!
One of the oldest perfumes in the Truefitt & Hill range, Spanish Leather Cologne was launched in 1814 and is one of the most masculine fragrances on the market with its strong leather notes.
Penhaligon’s – the fragrance for the aristocrat
When talking about classic British perfume brands, you can’t leave out Penhaligon’s, of course. In 1872, Penhaligon’s first fragrance Hamam Bouquet was launched, created by William Penhaligon after being inspired by the fumes and aromas of the local Turkish baths that he often visited.
Many of Penhaligon’s most classic perfumes are still on the market today, including Blenheim Bouquet, created as early as 1902. Among the customers who have used this fragrance are Winston Churchill and the Duke of Marlborough. This is a classic fragrance that manages its venerable name very well. Blenheim Palace was and still is the home of one of England’s most famous families, the Marlboroughs. The Plateau was also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Other classic British perfume brands
In the classic English shaving tradition, people often talk about the three “T’s” and by this they refer to Taylor of Old Bond Street in addition to Truefitt & Hill, Geo F. Trumper. This brand was already founded in 1854 by Jeremiah Taylor and he was the great grandfather of the current chairman. In other words, it is one of the classic British brands that has managed to maintain ownership within the family.
Taylor of Old Bond Street is known for its products with botanical qualities, which are based on herbs. The range includes everything from shaving creams and lotions to after shaves and colognes.
A classic men’s fragrance from Taylor of Old Bond Street is Sandalwood Cologne, which starts with fresh notes of lemon and herbs balanced by sweet floral notes and finishes with a base of sandalwood, oakmoss and amber. A fragrance fit for a true gentleman no matter the season.
