A family of perfumers on Jermyn Street
Juan Famenias Floris opened his shop in the St James's neighborhood together with his wife Elizabeth. The first Royal Warrant came in 1820, as comb maker to King George IV, and the shop's archive holds a thank-you letter from Florence Nightingale dated 1863 and receipts from customers such as Winston Churchill. Since the founder's day, the formulas have been recorded in a large leather-bound book. Today the head of the perfumery is Edward Bodenham, the ninth generation of the family, who works with a small team of perfumers. The soaps are still wrapped by hand at the Devon facility, opened in 1989.
The house classics
N.89, Elite and Santal: the English gentleman's tradition
N.89 takes its name from the shop's street number. It is a classic cologne with orange, bergamot, lavender and neroli plus a touch of nutmeg, and among its admirers was Ian Fleming, himself a client of the house. Elite was created in 1979 by Michael Bodenham and pairs grapefruit and bergamot leaf in the top with a base of sandalwood, vetiver and oakmoss. Santal, finally, is inspired by a sandalwood the house composed in the nineteenth century, refreshed with bergamot, lemon and spices.
Cefiro and Limes: citrus scents for men and women
Among the citrus fragrances is Cefiro, which combines lemon, lime and woods and is dedicated to the founder's journey from Minorca to London. Limes, on the other hand, is one of the house's earliest creations and smells of lemon leaves and linden blossom.
White Rose, Lily, Night Scented Jasmine and Chypress: the florals
White Rose is a velvety rose with a touch of iris, amber and musk. Lily is built around lily of the valley, together with Egyptian jasmine, Bulgarian rose and white tea. The house's evening floral is Night Scented Jasmine, based on white jasmine and neroli, which the brand describes as the founder's love letter to the summers he spent in Minorca with his wife. Chypress, finally, is a floral chypre with bergamot, orange blossom and moss.
The Private Collection: the eaux de parfum
The Private Collection brings together eaux de parfum often built around a single central note, such as oud or bergamot. Honey Oud combines rose, English honey and oud oil, while Leather Oud pairs leather with oud, geranium and vetiver. Jermyn Street is a tribute to the shop's street and recalls gin, with juniper, coriander and vetiver. Tuberose in Silk is devoted to tuberose. Then there is 1927, a unisex eau de parfum with bergamot, basil and mint, a heart of cypress and jasmine and a cedar base. Outside this line you will find Wilde, inspired by Oscar Wilde, and Purple Mémoire, which evokes Ivy Lodge, the Bodenham family home, with lavender, jasmine and sandalwood.
Shaving, body and home
Elite and N.89 have a complete shaving line, with witch hazel splash aftershave, alcohol-free aftershave balm, shower gel and deodorant stick. There is also the N.89 shaving soap in a bowl, formulated with shea butter and presented in a wooden bowl, and Santal has its own splash aftershave. For the body, Cefiro comes as lotion, shampoo and scented powder, White Rose and Honey Oud have matching shower gel and lotion, and Night Scented Jasmine has its own body lotion. The Cefiro line also includes the liquid hand soap, rich in plant oils such as coconut and olive, and the hand lotion with sweet almond and jojoba oils and vitamin E. The rose mouthwash is made with rose water and is used by diluting a few drops in water. For the home there is the Sandalwood & Patchouli candle, with a diffuser and room spray in the same accord; Grapefruit & Rosemary is fresh, citrusy and herbal.
How to choose a Floris fragrance
For a gift, you can choose the Perfumer's Trilogy for Her set, with White Rose, Lily and Bouquet de la Reine, or pair the eau de toilette and aftershave of the same fragrance.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Floris London?
Floris London was founded in 1730 by Juan Famenias Floris, who came to London from Minorca, together with his wife Elizabeth, and in their Jermyn Street shop they sold perfumes, combs and shaving goods. Today the perfumery is headed by Edward Bodenham, the ninth generation of the family, and the house remains English, based in the same London shop.
What is the difference between the Floris Signature Collection and Private Collection?
The Signature Collection gathers the house classics, almost all in eau de toilette, such as N.89, Elite, Cefiro, Limes, Santal, White Rose and Night Scented Jasmine. The Private Collection, instead, holds the eaux de parfum, including Honey Oud, Leather Oud, Jermyn Street, Bergamotto di Positano and Tuberose in Silk.
Which Floris fragrances are unisex?
Cefiro and Limes are two citrus scents the house offers for both men and women: the first has lemon and lime, while the second smells of lemon leaves and linden blossom. In the Private Collection, too, several eaux de parfum are meant for everyone, such as Honey Oud, Jermyn Street, Bergamotto di Positano, Mulberry Fig and Golden Amber.
Which Floris perfume for women should I choose?
White Rose is a velvety rose with iris and amber, while Lily is devoted to lily of the valley, with jasmine and white tea. Night Scented Jasmine is an evening jasmine with neroli. Then there is Chypress, a floral chypre with orange blossom, and Tuberose in Silk, a floral eau de parfum.
What shaving products does Floris make?
For Elite and N.89, the house offers complete shaving lines, with witch hazel splash aftershave, alcohol-free aftershave balm, shower gel and deodorant stick. N.89 also has the shaving soap in a wooden bowl, formulated with shea butter for a rich, creamy lather, and Santal has its own splash aftershave.
What is the Floris rose mouthwash like?
The Floris Rose mouthwash is a concentrated formula based on rose water and aromatic rose oils, designed as an alternative to mint flavor, and it is used by diluting a few drops in lukewarm water. The house was already selling toothbrushes and mouthwashes at the time of its first Royal Warrant, in 1820.
What is the difference between Floris Honey Oud and Leather Oud?
They are two eaux de parfum from the Private Collection that both contain oud oil but have a different character. Honey Oud combines oud with English honey and a heart of rose. In Leather Oud, on the other hand, the oud is paired with leather and geranium over a base of vetiver and amber.
Does Floris make candles and home fragrances?
Yes. Sandalwood & Patchouli is a woody amber with rose, jasmine, cinnamon and vanilla, available as a scented candle, reed diffuser and room spray. Grapefruit & Rosemary features grapefruit, rosemary, jasmine and melon over a sandalwood base, and comes as a room spray.
