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A Mayfair businessman has revived the fortunes of London's oldest perfume house after discovering it was founded by his great-great grandfather.
Simon Brooke had no idea of his link with Grossmith perfumers, which made scent for Queen Victoria, when he began researching his family tree six years ago.
But after tracking down the name of an ancestor inscribed on a childhood storybook, he found he was related to the perfume empire founded by John Grossmith in 1835. Now he is relaunching the company with the original scents, selling them through Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Les Senteurs.
The chartered surveyor, 57, from Highgate, found the company's formula books at the house of a long-lost relative. He said: "The books are the Holy Grail for us. I couldn't believe my good fortune in finding them.
"We want to replicate them using the best natural ingredients. There are obviously some we can't reproduce like civet, from wild cats. But there is a growing trend in classic perfume which is original and authentic." Mr Brooke added that he wanted the scents to provide a traditional alternative to perfumes from celebrities.
Grossmith played a significant role in the development of modern perfume but its fortunes declined in the Forties. The brand was sold to a retired businessman but stopped making perfume in 1980.
Mr Brooke said: "I had always thought the family were social reformers but I kept getting all these references to perfume on the internet."
The formula books have "recipes" for more than 300 products including 96 perfumes, 23 eaux de toilette and colognes, 10 essential oil blends and 82 soaps.
Mr Grossmith has joined forces with perfumer Roja Dove, who worked for Guerlain, to produce the new range.
Reader views (2)
I am wondering if Grossmith is going to revive my own favourite White Fire which was produced certainly up until the mid to late 1900's and was contained in a beautiful red bottle with gold pointed cap?
Can anyone tell me if they have and, if so, where I can obtain it?
- Marion Skillicorn, Montaverner, Valencia, Spain
How wonderful that Mr. Brooke has chosen to revive the Grossmith perfume range from so long ago. This would bring such nostalgia to those who actually remember their favourite scent. I am fortunate in that I have an original boxed, 'Phul Nana'perfume by Grossmith and it still smells fabulous after such long time.
- Jean Maria Martin, Yarm .. UK
