The Floris Story

Arriving in London in 1730 from Menorca, Juan Famenias Floris began trading at No89 Jermyn Street, in the elegant quarter of St James’s. Using skills learnt in Montpellier which, at the time, vied with Grasse as the capital of French perfumery, Juan Floris began blending individual fragrances for the fashionable society of London.

In 1820 the first Royal Warrant was granted to J.Floris Ltd by King George IV. Today this first Royal warrant is still on display at 89 Jermyn Street together with no less than sixteen others. Ever since that first auspicious day Floris has always held at least one Royal Warrant, and today hold two.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, where the Court shopped, the gentry followed and the Floris ledgers of this period detail accounts held by an incredible array of public figures, including practically every European Royal.

Floris is now run by the eighth generation descendants of its founder, Juan Famenias Floris. Soon after his arrival in England, Juan Floris married an Englishwoman, Elizabeth Hodgkiss, and they had seven children. The current Floris generation, Directors John Bodenham and Christopher Marsh are both great great grandsons of Mary Anne Floris - who in turn was the great granddaughter of Juan. Mary Anne Floris married James Radford Dutton Bodenham and together they handled the family business, eventually handing it on to their sons - hence the family name changed.

Ever since Juan Floris first purchased 89 Jermyn Street it has been the centre of the Floris business empire. Until the late 1960's the entire Floris operation was run from the premises: products were hand-crafted in the basement, then beautifully packaged by hand before being brought upstairs to the shop shelves.

The Jermyn Street shop is fitted with Spanish mahogany showcases acquired from the great show of prosperity - the 1851 Great Exhibition. These showcases remain in place today. Also, the Floris family through the years have consistently kept examples of their products which now form the extensive private Floris family museum.

Floris is so steeped in history that staff continue to use many unique practices without a second thought. One of the most endearing of these stems back to the late 19th century when Floris began to accept cash payments as well as account customers. It was considered extremely ill-form to give customers dirty or crumpled change, so all coins were taken downstairs and scrubbed clean and notes were pressed flat. The customer`s change would then be produced clean and sparkling on a velvet covered mahogany change-pad - thus ensuring that neither staff nor customer would suffer the embarrassment of their hands touching or that ladies dirty their gloves. Today, the velvet mahogany change-pads remain and customers are still handed their change in this manner although rather necessarily the practice of `laundering` money has disappeared!

The very first Floris products were the individually tailored fragrances made by Juan Famenias Floris in the back room of the shop. The Floris range rapidly expanded and at one point there were well over 100 fragrances on sale including the many made to measure fragrances. Throughout, the Floris name has been synonymous with desirable, superior products where craftsmanship and quality is paramount.

The origins of some of Floris's best loved fragrances have very particular stories, for example: Special 127 was produced especially for Russia's Grand Duke Orloff in 1890 and following his death took its name from the page number of the 'Specials' formula book which it occupied. The gentleman's fragrance, No 89, simply takes it name from Floris's Jermyn Street premises.

Since opening in 1730, Floris has provided fragrance, fine toiletries and accessories to an incredibly loyal customer base. The Floris archives hold reams of treasured letters from customers detailing their preferences and their thanks, examples include:

• Florence Nightingale: 25th July 1863 - thanking Mr.Floris for his 'sweet-smelling nosegay' and giving news of the Army's sickness record in India.
• Mary Shelley, who whilst abroad sent friends clear instructions on where to purchase her favourite combs: Floris.
• Beau Brummell, the dandy of his day in the early 19th century, would discuss his current fragrances at length with Mr.Floris.
• Floris is even a fictional character's choice! Ian Fleming's James Bond always wore Floris No.89, while Al Pacino's character in Scent of a Woman famously declared he knew the woman in his 'sights' (sic) was wearing Floris fragrance.

Today, Floris customers are those with an individual nature who have the same desire for quality and luxury, the only difference is that now they are able to obtain Floris products internationally.