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.
image from 1818 colorized by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir.
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.
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.
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's headquarters in Paris (1913), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
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| 39 Levallois-Perret, Roger & Gallet's factory in Paris (1912), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
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| Roger & Gallet's headquarters in Paris (1920s), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
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| Window display at Roger & Gallet's headquarters in Paris (1913), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
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| Window display at Roger & Gallet's headquarters in Paris (1913), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
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| Roger & Gallet's headquarters in London (1913), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
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| Roger & Gallet's headquarters in New York (1920s), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
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| Interior of the showroom at Roger & Gallet's headquarters in New York (1913), colorized & enhanced by Grace Hummel/Cleopatra's Boudoir. |
Roger & Gallet is a landmark French perfumery house with origins dating back more than a century prior to the early 1920s. Founded in 1862 by Armand Roger and Charles Gallet, two brothers-in-law, the company acquired the rights to the Jean-Marie Farina brand, the historic Eau de Cologne originally associated with Cologne, Germany. From the outset, Roger & Gallet distinguished itself by combining the technical traditions of cologne production with a broader range of toiletries and cosmetics, including soaps, powders, lotions, and creams, ultimately creating a full spectrum of personal beauty and hygiene products .
The house rapidly expanded internationally. Its first importations to America, occurring roughly fifty years after the company’s founding, met with immediate success, demonstrating the enduring appeal of French perfumery abroad. By 1910, Roger & Gallet had established its own American branch in New York City, enabling the company to oversee operations directly and cultivate relationships with American distributors and consumers. Under the management of Paul L. Depland, who had been with the firm since 1894 and led the American operations from 1920, the company strengthened its presence across the United States, maintaining personal contact with wholesale and retail partners through regular visits .
The product range of Roger & Gallet was notably diverse, balancing classical fragrance traditions with popular consumer appeal. Violet-scented products were among the firm’s signature offerings, including Violette de Parme, Vera Violetta, and Violette Merveille, appealing to consumers seeking soft, powdery, and romantic floral accords. The house also maintained enduring favorites such as Peau d’Espagne and Fleurs d’Amour, which were esteemed for their subtle elegance and classic French refinement. Newer launches, like Le Jade, exemplified the firm’s ability to refresh its line while maintaining the quality and breadth of its assortment, which included soaps, face powders, toilet waters, sachet powders, and lip pomades .
Roger & Gallet’s operations emphasized both scale and quality. The Paris factory, originally located in the Plaine-Monceau district, had been relocated to Levallois in 1872 due to expansion needs. By the 1920s, the facility occupied approximately 55,000 square meters, with 40,000 square meters of workshop space, and nearly 1,000 horsepower supplying power throughout the operations. This level of industrial sophistication allowed the company to produce consistently high-quality products while meeting domestic and international demand. Branches in New York, London, Brussels, and Bucharest supported the global network of distribution, while traveling representatives ensured that even the most remote regions were served efficiently .
Beyond production, Roger & Gallet invested heavily in social programs for its employees, reflecting the industrial paternalism of early twentieth-century France. The firm maintained a nursery, staff restaurant, cooperative store, and mutual aid fund, fostering long-term loyalty and skilled craftsmanship among its workforce. Leadership remained in the hands of the founding families’ descendants, ensuring that the brand’s traditions, quality standards, and reputation were carefully preserved while continuing to innovate in fragrance composition, packaging, and marketing.
Overall, Roger & Gallet represents a rare combination of heritage, technical mastery, and international reach. Its foundation in the historic Eau de Cologne tradition, complemented by expanded lines of toiletries and perfumes, positioned the house as a global ambassador of French perfumery. The firm’s emphasis on industrial efficiency, hygienic quality, employee welfare, and meticulous aesthetic presentation contributed to its enduring prestige and popularity, securing its status as a quintessentially French perfumery with worldwide recognition .
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.
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