CB Woodworth and Sons

In this guide I have listed the various perfumes presented by Chauncey B. Woodworth and Sons of Rochester, New York.

The CB Woodworth Sons Co. of  63-69 W. Main Street Rochester, NY.

Established 1855. Incorporated 1893.

• Frank E Woodworth, President and Treasurer 
• Harry S Woodworth, Secretary and General Manager 

Rochester and the Post Express, 1895:

"CHAUNCEY B WOODWORTH. Chauncey B. Woodworth, merchant and financier, is one of the leading citizens and business men of Rochester. His father, Spencer Woodworth, one of the pioneers of Monroe county, came from South Coventry in Tolland County, Connecticut, to the town of Gates in the Summer of 1819, he located about a mile and a half west of the city of Rochester on what is known as the Chili road. The family made its journey from Connecticut in one of the large covered wagons used in early days there being then no other means of travel to this section. On June 9, 1819, they arrived at the tavern of Oliver Culver in Brighton where they halted for the night. The whole of the following day was spent in reaching their new home so little had been done towards opening a road that they were obliged to travel by way of The Rapids, following as best they could, a line of marked trees.  

In the family of this pioneer, was his infant son Chauncey, who had been born on February 25, 1819, and was consequently about four months old at the time of the migration. The youth remained at the parental home, devoting a share of each year to the acquirement of such education as was available until he was twenty one years of age. He then engaged in the grocery business in Rochester, on the corner of East Main and North St Paul Streets, thus for the first time identifying himself with the interests of the city, which has since felt in so many ways the influence of his energies.  

About 1841, he abandoned the store, purchased a farm in Irondequoit, and established there a large saw mill, which he operated for several years, supplying the lumber for many of the buildings which were being erected in the rapidly growing city of Rochester. In 1853, in company with Jones & Osburn, he built the Crystal Palace block on East Main street. A few years later, he removed to his present place of residence on South Washington street. 

Down to this time success had crowned his efforts. He now engaged in the business that has ever since occupied a large share of his attention, and has made his name a household word throughout the length and breadth of the land. CB Woodworth's extracts and perfumes are known wherever such goods are in demand, and that is almost everywhere. To supply his great and growing industry with bottles, he in 1866, associated himself with Dr Frederick H James in the manufacture of glass. Three years later in 1869, Mr. Woodworth was succeeded in the manufacture of extracts and perfumes by his sons, Frank E and Harry S, who in the spring of 1894 organized and incorporated the CB Woodworth Sons Company, which still continues the business with the same high standard of influence and popularity.

 Not alone has Mr. Woodworth been content with his great and growing business. To him Rochester is in a great measure indebted for her great and successful street railroad system. In the year 1868, when the Rochester City 8 Brighton Railroad Company's property and franchise was sold under a mortgage foreclosure, Mr. Woodworth purchased it out and out. He then joined with others, reorganized the company extended the tracks and other facilities until there were few cities in the country more thoroughly and satisfactorily supplied with street car accommodations than Rochester. In 1889, Mr. Woodworth sold these interests to a syndicate which in turn has put in the electric system.  

Being one of the heaviest tax payers in the city he is largely interested in Rochester real estate, and intimately connected with the city's growth and prosperity. He has just completed the Woodworth building, corner of State and Platt streets, which is one of the finest and largest commercial structures in Rochester. It is of steel faced with brick and absolutely fireproof.  He also owns a number of buildings of equal prominence. 

 Mr. Woodworth is a strong man in party politics, but has never sought public office. In 1852, he was elected sheriff of Monroe county, and served faithfully and well. He was formerly a trustee of the Mechanics Saving Bank, and for many years has been a trustee of the Rochester Theological Seminary. From 1864 to 1894, he was a director of the Flour City National Bank, and for ten years its first vice president. He is a director and second vice president of the Rochester Trust and Safe Deposit Company, its largest individual stockholder and was foremost among its originators. He has been a member of the Second Baptist Church for more than forty years, and a trustee most of the time.  

Mr. Woodworth is a direct descendant of Walter Woodworth, who came to America in 1648 from Kent County, England. Several of his early ancestors were prominent in the Revolutionary War, notably his maternal grandfather John Clark, who served for seven years in that struggle. On the 5th of January 1841, Mr. Woodworth was married to Miss Martha Smith, daughter of Clark Smith of Boston, Mass. They have had five children: Chauncey C, Frank E, Harry S, Helen A (Mrs Elmer C Smith) and Lillie (deceased)."

Timeline of Events:

• 1819 - Chauncey B. Woodworth born. Married Martha Smith in 1841. Died in 1923.
• 1843 - Chauncey Clark Woodworth born. Dies in 1901.
• 1854 - Established as Woodworth and Bunnel as a company that sold perfumes, cosmetics and toiletries at Fifth Ave, New York.
• 1854 - Lillie J Woodworth, daughter of CB Woodworth dies.
• 1855 - Established as CB Woodworth and Sons Company.
• 1856 - Frank E. Woodworth born. Married in 1879.  Dies in 1934.
• 1867 - Chauncey C. Woodworth joins the firm. Leaves the firm in 1887.
• 1869 - Chauncey B Woodworth retires from his perfume business and was succeeded by his sons, Frank E and Henry (Harry) S. Woodworth.
• 1893 - Renamed Woodworth Inc.
• 1917 - John Alexander, the perfumer for Woodworth for 62 years, dies in November.
• 1922 - A branch was opened in France, named Parfums Woodworth SA., located at 44 rue de Lisbonne, Paris, which was owned by Woodworth Inc. New York.
• 1929 - Woodworth became a subsidary company of International Perfume Inc of New York and was marketed under its Bourjois Paris label.

Leslie's - Volumes 65-67, 1888:

"Messrs CB Woodworth and Sons acknowledge no superior in the manufacture of fine perfumes. For thirty years this concern has led the business in its line and the leading perfumes Lily of the Valley, Pearl of Savoy, and Blue Lilies are found everywhere." 

Annual Meeting of the Manufacturing Perfumers' Association, 1903:

"The CB Woodworth Sons Co.  63 69 W Main Street Rochester
Established 1855 Incorporated 1893
Frank E Woodworth President and Treasurer
Harry S Woodworth Secretary and General Manager"

The Pharmaceutical Era, 1914:

"Manufacturing Perfumers Association .. the other officers elected were ...executive board to fill out unexpired term of Edwin Ross, FK Woodworth of CB Woodworth's Sons Co Rochester to serve to 1917." 

Drug and Chemical Markets, Volume 10, 1922:

"Frank Woodworth of New York, has been elected managing director of the Manufacturing Perfumers Association. Owing to this new work Mr. Woodworth has found it necessary to resign as secretary of the Perfumery Soap and Allied Industries of New York.  Prior to becoming director for the Perfumers he was connected with Antoine Chiris Co New York, essential oil importers and manufacturers.... Owing to his having accepted the directorship of the Manufacturing Perfumers Assn, Frank Woodworth secretary of the Perfumery Soap and Allied Industries, tendered his resignation at the meeting. James Byrne was elected to succeed Mr. Woodworth...Frank K Woodworth, new managing director of the Manufacturing Perfumers Assn, is making his headquarters at the office of the association, 305 Broadway New York."

American Soap Journal and Manufacturing Chemist, Volumes 3-5, 1892:

"The C B. Woodworth Sons Company, Rochester, N. Y., has been organized for the purpose of manufacturing perfumes, flavoring extracts, toilet soaps and toilet waters. Capital $50,000 ; directors : Harry S. Woodworth, Helen A. Woodworth Smith and Frank E. Woodworth."

Their Blue Lilies perfume was a best seller from 1887-1921.

The company proved to be very successful even without the usage of extensive advertising until 1928.

Some of their French luxury presentations featured bottles by Julien Viard and Maurice Depinoix.

The two most popular scents were Fiancee and Karess. You might find the compacts online for Karess or the pretty frosted perfume bottles for Fiancee.

The perfumes of Woodworth:

• 1873 Centennial
• 1880 Amaryllis
• 1880 Cherub
• 1880 The Gem Perfume
• 1885 Pearl of Savoy
• 1887 Blue Lilies (still being sold in 1921)
• 1890 Niobe
• 1890 Rose of Sharon
• 1890 Spanish Lilac
• 1890 Stuart Bouquet
• 1890 West End
• 1891 Lady Gray
• 1891 Frangipanni
• 1891 Jasmine
• 1891 Lavender
• 1891 New Mown Hay
• 1893 Bouquet Regale
• 1893 Crab Apple Blossom
• 1893 German Cologne
• 1893 Home Sweet Home Bouquet
• 1893 Jockey Club
• 1893 Lilac Blossom
• 1893 Lily of the Valley
• 1893 Violet
• 1893 White Heliotrope
• 1893 White Rose
• 1893 Ylang Ylang
• 1894 Diana
• 1900 Nina (a line)
• 1900 Nina Violet
• 1900 Nina Jockey Club
• 1900 Nina Rose
• 1900 Nina Crab Apple Blossom
• 1900 Nina White Heliotrope
• 1900 Surprise Bouquet
• 1900 White Heliotrope
• 1902 Milan Lily
• 1902 Persian Flowers
• 1903 Blue Tulip
• 1903 Arabian Bouquet 
• 1903 Beau Ideal applied to Perfumes and Toilet Articles 
• 1903 Blue Lilies 
• 1903 Blue Tulips 
• 1903 Clito 
• 1903 Delores 
• 1903 Dentolio 
• 1903 Diana 
• 1903 Ferna 
• 1903 Ihlang Blossoms
• 1903 Kerma as applied to Perfumes and Toilet Articles 
• 1903 Lucille 
• 1903 Musidora 
• 1903 Nina 
• 1903 Pearl of Savoy 
• 1903 Persian Lilacs
• 1903 Princessa 
• 1903 Rose Geranium
• 1903 Rose Imperiale 
• 1903 Rose of Sharon 
• 1903 Spanish Lilac 
• 1903 Tresa 
• 1903 Violets of Sicily 
• 1903 White Lilacs
• 1903 Zora 
• 1905 Amorosa
• 1905 Anona
• 1905 Apollo Rose
• 1905 Apollo Violet
• 1905 Carmencita
• 1905 De Veaux Premier
• 1905 Directoire
• 1905 Nillsin Bouquet
• 1905 Premier
• 1905 Premier Violette
• 1905 Premier White Heliotrope
• 1905 Premier White Rose
• 1905 Rose Apollo
• 1905 Roses of Sicily
• 1905 Violets of Sicily (still being sold in 1921)
• 1905 White Iris Imperiale
• 1905 White Violet Imperiale
• 1906 Golden Lily of Japan
• 1906 Royal Fern
• 1907 Easter Lily
• 1907 Meadow Blossom
• 1909 Conceit
• 1910 Apple Bouquet
• 1910 Amaryllis Bouquet
• 1910 Bouquet Select
• 1910 Carnation Pink
• 1910 Clove Pink
• 1910 Heliotrope
• 1910 Hyacinth
• 1910 Magnolia
• 1910 Mignonette
• 1910 Musk
• 1910 Night Blooming Cereus
• 1910 Ocean Spray
• 1910 Patchouli
• 1910 Pond Lily
• 1910 Stephanotis
• 1910 Supreme Lily of the Valley
• 1910 Sweet Briar
• 1910 Sweet Opoponax
• 1910 Violet Apollo
• 1910 White Rose
• 1910 Wild Irish Rose
• 1910 Wild Olive
• 1910 Wild Rose Buds
• 1910 Ylang-Ylang
• 1912 Fiancée (was a line of perfume and toiletries)
• 1912 Santana Cosmetics line
• 1913 Mandarin Rose
• 1914 La Dansante
• 1914 Trailing Arbutus
• 1915 La Nocturne
• 1916 d'Arlene Lilac
• 1916 Garden Fragrance
• 1917 Karess (a floral bouquet perfume)
• 1919 Many Violets (presented in bottle by Illinois Glass)
• 1923 Tous Les Bouquets (presented in a bottle made by Verrières Viard)
• 1925 Serenade (presented in bottle made by Verrières Viard)
• 1925 Viegay (an oriental floral perfume)
• 1929 Vivace
• 1931 Lucille (named after the actress)
• Pride of the Mountain Cologne

Bottles:

The ads below are from an 1893 Marshall Field's catalog.