In 1695 Giovanni Paolo Feminis (Jean-Paul Feminis), an Italian descent grocer-druggist had formulated aqua mirabilis, also known as "Eau Admirable" and "Aqua de Regina," who said he got the recipe from an Oriental monk. Although some accounts mention that the fragrance was already known to the Italian, since the XIVth century, the formula was prepared at the convent of Santa Maria Novellia in Florence of whom Giovanni was a patron of the church located there and must have learned of or experimented to recreate the formula.
In 1725, he then moved to Cologne, Germany and the Aqua Coloniensis, "Eau de Cologne" as it was named, became very successful all over Europe. In 1760, it was introduced to France. Madame Du Barry introduced it to the French court as a toilet perfume. Jean-Paul was succeeded by three nephews, the Farina brothers. It was promoted as medicinal and was drunk as a tonic well as worn as a fragrance.
When ingested it was supposed to cure nausea, vomiting, difficult digestion and dyspepsia; ulcer and gastric hyperacidity; hepatic insufficiencies; fever; rheumatisms; scurvy; spasms, colics and intestinal infections; even against intestinal parasites ... and impotence. Essential oils that compose it are effectively powerful recognized antiseptics.
When applied to the body it was supposed to work as an antiseptic, healing and anti-pruriginous remedy; as muscular stimulant and venous tonic; against insects bites and disagreeable effects of the perspiration. Equally, as antiseptic of respiratory tracts by inhalation of essential oils volatilized at the contact of the skin. The "Eau de Cologne" was then, much more than a simple perfume, the basic component of a personal pharmacy.
In 1806, a descendant, Johann Maria Farina (Jean-Marie Farina) inherits formula and opened the Jean Marie Farina perfumery in rue du Faubourg-St-Honore, Paris. The fragrance was now being promoted as a personal fragrance rather than a medicinal tonic.
In 1840 sells business to Leonce Collas of Goet et Rifflard, who in 1862 transfers it to his two cousins, Armand Roger and Charles Gallet.
In 1725, he then moved to Cologne, Germany and the Aqua Coloniensis, "Eau de Cologne" as it was named, became very successful all over Europe. In 1760, it was introduced to France. Madame Du Barry introduced it to the French court as a toilet perfume. Jean-Paul was succeeded by three nephews, the Farina brothers. It was promoted as medicinal and was drunk as a tonic well as worn as a fragrance.
When ingested it was supposed to cure nausea, vomiting, difficult digestion and dyspepsia; ulcer and gastric hyperacidity; hepatic insufficiencies; fever; rheumatisms; scurvy; spasms, colics and intestinal infections; even against intestinal parasites ... and impotence. Essential oils that compose it are effectively powerful recognized antiseptics.
When applied to the body it was supposed to work as an antiseptic, healing and anti-pruriginous remedy; as muscular stimulant and venous tonic; against insects bites and disagreeable effects of the perspiration. Equally, as antiseptic of respiratory tracts by inhalation of essential oils volatilized at the contact of the skin. The "Eau de Cologne" was then, much more than a simple perfume, the basic component of a personal pharmacy.
In 1806, a descendant, Johann Maria Farina (Jean-Marie Farina) inherits formula and opened the Jean Marie Farina perfumery in rue du Faubourg-St-Honore, Paris. The fragrance was now being promoted as a personal fragrance rather than a medicinal tonic.
Roger & Gallet has an impressive roster of former fans, including Napoleon and Queen Victoria. The notoriously vain emperor commissioned a tall, slender bottle of the Jean Marie Farina scent—still a company best-seller—to slip inside his boots during battle.
In 1840 sells business to Leonce Collas of Goet et Rifflard, who in 1862 transfers it to his two cousins, Armand Roger and Charles Gallet.
Changed company name to Roger et Gallet. Always innovative, Roger & Gallet invented a soap-making technique called the cauldron method, which ensures soaps are perfumed all the way through. With this, it became a brand known for all-around exceptional quality.
CONCENTRATE MFG. CORPORATION, a New York corporation organized on March 20, 1933, all of whose shares were held by the well-known French company, Parfumerie Roger et Gallet. Its business is to manufacture perfumes and other toilet preparations according to the formulæ of the French company and to dispose of them as hereinafter stated. Between 1926 and 1933 the French company had done its American business, through the intervention of another New York corporation, Roger et Gallet, Inc., of whose shares it held 86 per cent., and to which it sent the concentrates or essences which were the foundation of its preparations, and which Roger et Gallet, Inc., compounded with alcohol, put into bottles or boxes, and sold under the trade-marks of the French company. Roger et Gallet, Inc., had a manufacturing plant for this purpose, including machinery and a staff of employees. After the incorporation of the plaintiff, Roger et Gallet, Inc., conveyed this plant to the French company in payment of some of its indebtedness to that company, and the French company at once transferred the plant to the plaintiff in consideration of all its shares. The ensuing practice was for the plaintiff to manufacture the toilet preparations in this country, including the essences or concentrates, and to sell finished products in bulk to Roger & Gallet, Inc., which put them up in bottles or boxes and sold them under the trademarks of the French company, which the plaintiff was not authorized to use. The plaintiff contracted with Roger et Gallet, Inc., not to sell to any one else, except with its consent; the prices at which it sells are more than the fair market price of similar products sold generally by other perfumers.
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Violette de Parme was launched in 1880 and is one of Roger et Gallet's most beloved fragrances. It is a violet soliflore which made use of the newly discovered ionones by Tiemann & Kruger after many years of research. The ionones generated an odor of iris and violet. The fragrance raw material supplier, Societe de Laire bought Tiemann's French patents for the synthesis of the ionones and Roger et Gallet successfully negotiated exclusive rights to the product in return for buying minimum annual quantities of the compound. The ionones were first used commercially in Roger et Gallet's Vera Violetta, the scent of the true violet, fresh and green. Previously, the very expensive Parma violet absolute and the orris butter from the Florentine iris were used in the composition of the perfumes.
The Pharmaceutical Era, 1924:
CONCENTRATE MFG. CORPORATION, a New York corporation organized on March 20, 1933, all of whose shares were held by the well-known French company, Parfumerie Roger et Gallet. Its business is to manufacture perfumes and other toilet preparations according to the formulæ of the French company and to dispose of them as hereinafter stated. Between 1926 and 1933 the French company had done its American business, through the intervention of another New York corporation, Roger et Gallet, Inc., of whose shares it held 86 per cent., and to which it sent the concentrates or essences which were the foundation of its preparations, and which Roger et Gallet, Inc., compounded with alcohol, put into bottles or boxes, and sold under the trade-marks of the French company. Roger et Gallet, Inc., had a manufacturing plant for this purpose, including machinery and a staff of employees. After the incorporation of the plaintiff, Roger et Gallet, Inc., conveyed this plant to the French company in payment of some of its indebtedness to that company, and the French company at once transferred the plant to the plaintiff in consideration of all its shares. The ensuing practice was for the plaintiff to manufacture the toilet preparations in this country, including the essences or concentrates, and to sell finished products in bulk to Roger & Gallet, Inc., which put them up in bottles or boxes and sold them under the trademarks of the French company, which the plaintiff was not authorized to use. The plaintiff contracted with Roger et Gallet, Inc., not to sell to any one else, except with its consent; the prices at which it sells are more than the fair market price of similar products sold generally by other perfumers.
Roger & Gallet show room at the Universal Exhibition of Bruxelles 1910. "Exposition universelle de Bruxelles 1910". Bulletin scientifique et industriel de la Maison Roure-Bertrand fils de Grasse. Grasse: impr. E. Imbert, 1910.
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"Roger & Gallet. More than a century ago the perfumery house of Roger & Gallet was founded in France. Backed by the traditions of years the first importations to America of their famed products about 50 years ago found a ready market in this country. For several years the business was cared for by an American importing house, but in 1910 an American branch of the Paris home was opened in New York City.In Paris in 1862 Armand Roger and Charles Gallet, who had been married to sisters, purchased from their father in law, the sole right to use the French trade mark 'Eau de Cologne, Jean Marie Farina' to the manufacture and sale of which they soon added soap and perfumery. The active management of the house remains in the hands of the grandsons of its founders.Violet odors are among the favorite scents featured by the house of Roger & Gallet. Among the lines produced are Violette de Parme, Vera Violetta and Violette Merveille.One of the favorites of the past which retains its exclusive admirers is Peau d'Espagne. Another old favorite is Fleurs d'Amour.Le Jade, is the name of the new perfume now being placed before the trade by Roger & Gallet. The line is complete. including soap. face powder. toilet water. sachet powder and lip pomades.Paul L. Depland is the general manager of Roger & Gallet in America. He has been with the company since 1894 and in charge of the American house since 1920. Depland has seen his firm's business increase largely during the last four years. He is widely known in the jobbing and wholesale trade as he maintains personal contact by occasional trips over the country."
Back in the 1930s, the company’s designers worked with the best Art Deco artists of the day to create glamorous packaging. Today’s bottles and wrappers stay true to the original style but have a more streamlined, contemporary look.
The company became part of Sanofi Beauté in 1975. Products were then sold as 'Roger & Gallet'.
L'Oréal finalized the sale of Roger & Gallet to Impala Clichy, on 29 June 2020.
A fascinating and well researched history.
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