Lance Carson
The Crown Perfumery was established in London in 1872, and its most famous customer, Queen Victoria, granted the company permission to use the image of her crown on its perfume bottles. The Crown Perfumery was a subsidiary of Thomson, Langdon and Co, and its clientele included the elite of London and Europe. The company's perfumes were complex and of high quality, and by 1879, it was exporting half a million bottles of 49 different scents to 47 countries worldwide. The Crown Perfumery's legacy continues today with the house of Clive Christian, which was inspired by the perfume principles of this pioneering Victorian company. Every bottle of Clive Christian perfume wears the crown of Queen Victoria, a symbol of timeless British excellence and elegance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Established | 1872 |
| Founder | William Sparks Thomson |
| Most Famous Customer | Queen Victoria |
| Perfume House | Clive Christian |
| Perfume Name | Crab Apple Blossom |
| Year Perfume was Created | 1865 or 1886 |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria granted permission for her crown to be used on the bottles
In 1872, The Crown Perfumery was established in London as a subsidiary of Thomson, Langdon and Co. The company's most famous patron, Queen Victoria, granted permission for her crown to be used on the bottles. This was a significant honour, as the crown was a highly recognisable symbol of Queen Victoria and her reign. The Crown Perfumery was already well-regarded, counting the high society of London and Europe among its clientele, but the royal endorsement elevated its status even further. The company's perfumes were soon present in the boudoirs of palaces and mansions, and owning a Crown Perfumery product became a marker of nobility and elevated social standing.
The Crown Perfumery had its roots in New York, where its founder, William Sparks Thomson, manufactured perfume and soap. Thomson later opened a corset business in London in 1840, catering to high society ladies including Queen Victoria herself. Thomson's son, also named William, was a chemist who developed the brand's first perfume, Crab Apple Blossom, in 1865. This was the first-ever perfume made from the blossoms of the crab apple tree, and it proved to be a delicate and delightful scent that could be worn alone or layered with other fragrances.
The Crown Perfumery's association with Queen Victoria and her beloved Prince Albert was a significant part of its identity. Thomson created custom-made, orange blossom-scented corsets for the Queen, reflecting her favourite scent and symbolising her deep love for her husband. The royal couple were among the Crown Perfumery's most renowned customers, even having perfumes created as gifts for one another.
The Crown Perfumery's legacy continues to inspire perfumers today, with the house of Clive Christian creating complex fragrances that pay homage to the brand's Victorian predecessors. The iconic crown that Queen Victoria permitted to be used on the bottles continues to adorn Clive Christian perfumes, a lasting memento of the brand's rich heritage.
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The Crown Perfumery was established in London in 1872
The Crown Perfumery built on this early success with the creation of Crab Apple Blossom in 1865, the first extra-concentrated perfume made from the blossoms of the crab apple tree. This was followed in 1886 by a highly concentrated perfume of the same name, marking the start of the company's perfume history. The Crown Perfumery's products quickly gained a reputation for high quality and prestige, counting the high society of London and Europe among its clientele. By 1879, the company was exporting half a million bottles of 49 different scents to 47 countries worldwide.
The Crown Perfumery's iconic crown logo, bestowed by Queen Victoria, remains a symbol of timeless British excellence and elegance. The company's legacy is carried on by Clive Christian, which was established after its founder, Clive Christian OBE, discovered the Crown Perfumery boutique in London and was inspired to revive the brand. The Crown Perfumery's original Victorian formulas continue to inspire new fragrances, with the house of Clive Christian adding complexity and concentration to create timelessly classic perfumes.
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The Crown Perfumery was a subsidiary of Thomson, Langdon and Co
The Crown Perfumery was established in 1872 as a subsidiary of Thomson, Langdon and Co. The company was founded by William Sparks Thomson, an American industrialist from Connecticut. Thomson initially made his name in the corset business, opening a shop in London in 1840. His "glove-fitting" corsets were a huge success, although some customers fainted due to their tightness. Thomson's son, a chemist, developed a lavender-based smelling salt to revive these customers, which would eventually become the basis for The Crown Perfumery.
Thomson's first foray into the world of fragrance came in 1865 with the launch of Crab Apple Blossom, the first-ever perfume made from crab apple blossoms. This was followed in 1872 by the establishment of The Crown Perfumery, with Thomson seeking to address the lack of popularity of English perfumes at the time. The Crown Perfumery's most famous customer was Queen Victoria, who granted the company permission to use the image of her crown on its perfume bottles.
The Crown Perfumery quickly gained a reputation for high-quality perfumes, counting the high society of London and Europe among its clients. By 1879, the company was exporting half a million bottles of 49 different scents to 47 countries worldwide. The Crown Perfumery's products were even noted in the ship's log of the First Class cabins of the Titanic in 1912.
Despite its early success, The Crown Perfumery's fortunes began to decline after the death of Thomson Sr. and the outbreak of World War I. The company was sold to Lever Brothers (now Unilever) in 1930, and production of its perfumes ceased in 1937. However, the brand was revived in the early 1990s, with a Crown Perfumery boutique opening in London in 1993. The company changed hands several times before being acquired by English millionaire Clive Christian in 1999. Christian closed down the boutiques and discontinued the Crown line, using the brand's history and bottle design as inspiration for his own perfumes.
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The Crown Perfumery ceased manufacturing in 1937
The Crown Perfumery was established in London in 1872 by William S. (Sparks) Thomson, an American industrialist from Connecticut. Thomson had previously manufactured perfume and soap in New York and had opened a corset business in London in 1840. Thomson's son, a chemist, created a lavender-based smelling salt to revive women who fainted due to the tightness of their corsets. This venture into the production of smelling salts was followed by the creation of the first extra concentrated perfume called Crab Apple Blossom in 1865.
In 1872, The Crown Perfumery was established as a subsidiary of Thomson, Langdon and Co. Queen Victoria, the company's most famous customer, granted the use of the image of her crown on the perfume bottles. The Crown Perfumery soon gained a reputation for its high-quality perfumes, counting the high society of London and Europe among its clientele. By 1879, the company was exporting half a million bottles of 49 different scents to 47 countries worldwide.
The Crown Perfumery's perfumes were so sought-after that they were even noted in the ship's log of the First Class cabins of the Titanic in 1912. By the 1920s, the company had won over twenty medals for its products. However, despite its success, The Crown Perfumery Company ceased manufacturing and supply of its products on December 31, 1937.
In 1930, The Crown Perfumery's parent company, The Lever Brothers, had merged with a Dutch company to form Unilever. Unilever sold The Crown Perfumery in 1989, and in 1993, the company's best-selling perfumes were revived, and a boutique was opened in London. The Crown Perfumery was resurrected as Clive Christian Perfume in 1999, launching its inaugural Original Collection of perfumes.
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The Crown Perfumery was sold by Unilever in 1989
The Crown Perfumery was established in London in 1872 by William S. Thomson, an American industrialist from Connecticut. Thomson was the first to manufacture crinolines in the United States and the first to produce corsets by machine. His "Thomson's Glove-Fitting Corset" was a huge success on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Crown Perfumery's most famous customer was Queen Victoria, who granted the company permission to use the image of her crown on its perfume bottles. By 1879, the company was exporting half a million bottles of 49 different scents to 47 countries worldwide. Crown Perfumery became the most fashionable perfumery among the elite, and its products were noted in the ship's log of the First Class cabins of the Titanic in 1912.
In 1921, the Crown Perfumery Company was purchased by William Gossage & Sons Ltd, a subsidiary of The Lever Brothers Soap manufacturers. In 1930, The Lever Brothers merged with a Dutch company, forming Unilever. However, in 1937, the Crown Perfumery Company ceased manufacturing and supplying its products.
On 20 June 1989, Unilever sold The Crown Perfumery Company. In 1993, Crown Perfumery's best-selling perfumes were revived, and a boutique was opened in London. The brand was purchased by Clive Christian, who focused on creating perfumes that embodied luxury and utilised the original Victorian bottle designs.
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Frequently asked questions
Perfumes from The Crown Perfumery came in bottles adorned with the image of Queen Victoria's crown. The Crown Perfumery was established in 1872 in London and was granted permission to use the image of the Queen's crown on its bottles.
The Crown Perfumery was established by William Sparks Thomson, who first manufactured perfume and soap in New York before opening a corset business in London in 1840. Thomson's son, a chemist, created the first extra concentrated perfume called Crab Apple Blossom in 1865, which was the first perfume derived from crab apple blossoms.
The crown on the perfume bottle is a symbol of Queen Victoria, the most famous patron of The Crown Perfumery. The crown is a symbol of timeless British excellence and elegance, and it continues to adorn every bottle of Clive Christian perfume, the successor of The Crown Perfumery.
In addition to perfumes, The Crown Perfumery created lavender salts, which were used by Amelia Earhart to aid her concentration and avoid fatigue during her solo flight across the Atlantic. The company also created corsets for Queen Victoria, which were perfumed with her favourite scent, orange blossom.
