Parfumerie Scherk

 Parfumerie Scherk/Ludwig Scherk, Inc. of New York City & Berlin Germany.

Ludwig Scherk established his perfumery in 1906 at Berlin. His company first produced face powders and then moved onto perfume. Some of the perfume labels of Scherk featured the star of David, an allusion to his Jewish heritage. In 1924, a New York factory was opened to produce perfumes and powders in America. In 1938, his business in Berlin was closed due to the new rules of the Nazi party. Ludwig fled to London during the same year to escape persecution from the Nazis and died in 1946.


Harper's Bazaar, 1942:

"Scherk, which is cooperating in te-total war with non-alcoholic perfumes, now gives us four of the famous Scherk fragrances, Renaissance, Arabian Nights, Mystikum and Apple Blossom  in an extra light brillantine, each fifty cents a bottle."

The perfumes of Scherk:

• 1910 Mystikum (Mysticum) (an oriental perfume)
• 1913 Trisena
• 1913 Tarsia
• 1918 Briza (a woody-mossy-leafy perfume)
• 1919 Arabian Nights (Arabische Nachte) (a woody-mossy-leafy-amber/sandalwood perfume)
• 1920 Purple Rose
• 1920 Renaissance (a line) (an aldehydic perfume)
• 1925 Carnation
• 1925 Heliotrope
• 1925 Lily of the Valley
• 1925 Lotus Flower
• 1925 Jasmine
• 1925 Violet
• 1925 Spanish Leather
• 1925 White Lilac
• 1926 Mimikri (an aldehydic perfume)
• 1929 Intermezzo (an aldehydic perfume)
• 1930 Garten Vielchen
• 1930 Parfume Flieder
• 1930 Peru Heliotrope
• 1930 Weisser Flieder
• 1931 Tarr (shaving lotion for men)
• 1953 Royal Purple Rose
• Scherk Lotion Faciale

Arabian Nights perfume was one of their best selling, it was woody-mossy-leafy, and described as the "Perfume of Enchantment. Blended from amber and sandalwood. Lingering and Luring, Warm and Heady - so subtle and distinctively you." This perfume was sold until around 1951.

Mystikum was a rosy, oriental fougère, sweetened with labdanum and spiked with incense. "The House of Scherk's most famous creation ... a skillful blend of twenty eight precious flower oils producing a rare fragrance that is strangely different on every woman."

This bottle was used by Scherk to hold Renaissance perfume starting in 1934, it is sometimes mistaken for an antique Victorian or Czech perfume bottle. Photo from ruby lane seller California Girls.

Clear, molded glass cologne flacon, bottle has applied gilded (or silvery) metal cage work filigree which is studded with faux turquoise (or other colors) glass cabochon “jewels”. Bottle is finished with a gilded metal screw cap with filigree and matching faux turquoise glass “jewel“. The design of the bottle was filed for patent on April 28, 1934 by Walter R. Leach of Baltimore, Maryland. The bottle design was granted a US Design Patent on June 1934 and assigned the design patent number of 92,542.These bottles were distributed by Irving Rice (Irice), a major importer of perfume bottles who supplied many a department store and dime store with his finds.The base embossed with Pat D92542. Measurements: 2.5" wide x 4.25" tall x 1.5" deep



Here is a lovely email I received this year:

"Hello- My name is Irene -Alice Scherk from Berlin. I just posted a small comment to your picture of one of my grandfather's perfume collection. My grandfather was Ludwig Scherk ,who established the SCHERK COSMETICS in Germany and other countries all over the world.. After the 2nd WW my father, Fritz Scherk rebuilt the factory in Berlin and started the business again until the 1960 years. September 2010, I did an exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and then I donated all the items I had to the Museum. This lovely bottle I have never seen before. But I am happy, you posted it at your blog. I am sure, there are more in any places of collectors..
Best regards
Irene -Alice Scherk
Berlin"

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