Stop and Smell the Roses
A fitting start to Spring, today is National Fragrance Day!
Whether captured in a bottle or existing in nature, fragrances have the ability to spark memories. Perhaps a whiff of freshly cut grass reminds one of warm summer days, or a specific scent brings one back to Sundays spent in grandma’s cozy kitchen. Scents can transport us to the past, and is perhaps one of the reasons that bottled scents are so popular!
This clear glass perfume bottle features a “thumbprint” pattern and a ball type stopper. Etched across the front is “To Grandmother 1876” above a laurel wreath. This bottle belonged to Fall Riverite Mrs. Henry Hudson Fish (Eliza Ann Glazier) and was a souvenir Centennial Exhibition of 1876. By 1876, Eliza had several grandchildren who could have given this bottle as a gift to their beloved grandmother. We do not know what perfume was kept by Eliza, but this bottle likely had a special place on her vanity and in her heart.
Fruity, floral, spicey, or sweet, there are perfumes/colognes designed for everyone! For thousands of years, perfumes have been used for a variety of purposes: from enticing others to covering offending odors to simply adding a touch of joy to one’s outfit.
Synthetic ingredients allowed for the expansion of scents by the late 19th century, and brands such as Hoyt’s German Cologne and Austen’s Forest Flower Cologne became popular. The 1920s brought with it bold new fragrances designed for the modern woman. Coco Chanel’s No. 5 burst onto the scene with bright floral notes and is still a popular perfume today!