OUR FOUNDER

DR. WILLIAM HUNTER

In 1752, Dr. William Hunter establishes Dr. Hunter’s Apothecary.

A immigrant from Scotland, Dr. Hunter's medical practice, shop and formulary is set up in Newport, Rhode Island, just a few blocks west of where the current Newport Colony House stands today, at the Old Rodman House at the Corner of Touro and Thames Street.

He offered medical and formulary services, including his own proprietary formulations; as well as medicinal items, oils, and remedies imported from Europe.

b. 1730 d.1777

Birth of Number six

A SCENT FOR AMERICA

Dr. Hunter would soon create a uniquely American fragrance that would gain almost instant popularity among the newly forming nation's elites: Number Six Eau de Parfum. Debuting in 1772, the new fragrance was bold yet sophisticated—resonated with the emerging American spirit.

Number Six achieved legendary status when soon-to-be first president George Washington discovered and purchased the fragrance for his personal use when visiting Newport in 1781.

BIRTH OF A NATION

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

A group of visionary and spirited revolutionaries write The Declaration of Independence, perhaps the greatest piece of legislature ever created, and declare war against the English Crown for their independence.

After eight years of conflict, and with help from the French in the final hours, the colonists defeat the British in 1783 and The United States of America is officially recognized as a sovereign nation.

Enduring the war and the transition of power, Caswell-Massey's flagship store in Newport, Rhode Island is visited by the first President of the United States of America, George Washington. He purchases a case of Number Six Cologne as a gift to the Marquis de Lafayette, whose role in leading and fighting against the British was crucial to the American victory.

HERE TO STAY

A LEGACY OF STEWARDSHIP

Enduring the American Revolutionary war, and after Dr. Hunter’s passing in 1777, the business passed through the hands of various loyal stewards. Notably: Williams Hunter Jr., Charles Feke, William S.N. Allen, Dr. Rowland Hazard, Henry Quincy Mack, and a young Phillip Caswell.

A NOTABLE EDITION

JOCKEY CLUB COLOGNE

Another notable fragrance is introduced, ‘Jockey Club’. An early bottle of Jockey Club is shown as part of the Smithsonian Collection. You can still visit and see the bottle at the Smithsonian today.

The same fragrance, Caswell-Massey Jockey Club, would become a favorite of John F. Kennedy 100 years later.

AN HOMAGE

NEWPORT COLOGNE

Caswell & Massey introduce their ‘Newport’ Cologne as a tribute to the people of Newport, Rhode Island.

"Newport" is known as America's first "seaside" cologne and grew in popularity quickly. We still offer the original cologne on our website here.

Leaders in Design

Heritage Artisanship

Caswell-Massey was well situated in New England where a majority of the best artistic talent resided. Our vintage labels showcase some of the most intricate and beautiful designs from the turn of the century.

THE 20TH CENTURY

Broadway, New York

Caswell-Massey becomes well-established as a popular destination in New York City.

Product services include bespoke perfume service, cucumber cold cream, shaving implements, powders and pot-pourri are popular with many notable New Yorkers, Broadway stars, and celebrities converged.

Birth of a Star

Marem perfume is introduced

Silent film star Alla Nazimova (born Marem-Ides Leventon) partners with Caswell-Massey to create a personal fragrance that only she would have.

The result is a mysterious and deep floral scent that was never released to the public until 2018 when it was revived from the archival recipe books. See Marem

The Roaring Twenties

Casma Perfume

Casma (a contraction of the company name) launches in 1922. Casma had notes of rose, jasmine, magnolia, vanilla, musk, ginger, and bergamot, and was a favorite of Carole Lombard.

Casma, sold in the iconic and then controversial glass-foot-in-slipper bottle, becomes a long time best-seller and synonymous with the brand and the roaring twenties.

Widley Recognized

Toast of the Town

Caswell-Massey continues to attract notable New Yorkers as loyal clientele, including musicians like Cole Porter and George Gershwin, and film stars John Barrymore, Errol Flynn, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn, and Greta Garbo.

The Bicentenial

Celebrating 200 Years

In 1952, the Company celebrates its 200th anniversary and is honored by the City of New York as one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the country.

Presidential Favorites

Almond Cold Cream

President and Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower brought Caswell-Massey’s Almond Cold Cream soap to the White House. It would remain the company's best-selling soap for to this day.

Try our modern Almond Soap today.

Presidential Favorites

JFK & Jockey Club

Favored by JFK, Jockey Club is equal parts clubhouse polish and East‑Coast swagger. Sold today in the official White House store, Jockey Club sealed its status as a presidential favorite with one of the most charismatic presidents in American history.

Learn more about Jockey Club

The Official White House Gift Shop

notable mentions

Cosmo, Vogue and more

Notably mentioned by Cosmopolitan and Vogue, Caswell-Massey continues to be heralded and revered across America.

A legacy spanning

Ten Generations

Reviving and reformulating popular fragrance recipes, Caswell-Massey now offers a complete line of modern-classic fragrances, bath soaps, body-care, and men's grooming essentials. Continuing to offer the most popular and the storied scents like Number Six and Jockey Club in their classic forms from the 1900's, Caswell-Massey serves some of the most loyal legacy customers of any American brand.

Spanning ten generations, Caswell-Massey continues to curate the American luxury dream through the experience of scents found nowhere else.

a new way to make fragrances

sustainability & luxury

In an effort to introduce more sustainable practices in the production of fragrances, Caswell-Massey converts to completely biodegradable packaging and begins to utilize a cutting-edge Fragrance Capture Technology which allows fragrances to be made without crushing the flowers for their oils. This process is used to create all of the floral NYBG Scents.

Learn more about the fragrance capture technology here.