William H. Brown & Bros. Perfumery

William H. Brown & Bros, also called Brown & Brothers, (originally a druggist company) perfumery was located in Baltimore, Md. Earliest mention I found for the name is from 1852.





Their bottles are hard to find and I have named all of those I could find in advertisements of the era, so they may have been originally launched years before. I am sure there are more, so if you know of any, please let me know. 

As early as 1867, WM . H. BROWN & BRO , Wholesale Druggists , NO . 25 SOUTH SHARP STREET , BALTIMORE , Importers and Jobbers of Drugs , Medicines , Chemicals , ESSENTIAL OILS , CORKS , SPONGES , Fancy Goods , Perfumery and Druggists ' Sundries .

In 1903, the William H. Brown & Brother Company was incorporated for manufacturing perfumery, toilet articles, etc, with a proposed capital stock of $15,000 by Frederick A. Ohrenschall, Adolph C. Meyer, Clinton L. Crawford, Alfred S. Niles and Oscar Wolff. In 1925, the company was listed at 830 North Howard Street, Baltimore, MD, and its capital stock was increased from $15,000 to $100,000.

George K. Drexel and Frank F. Drexel (died 1917) both served as their perfumers.

 In 1871, their warehouse was destroyed by a storm.

By 1879, William H. Brown & Bro., Baltimore, displayed a full line of their perfumes, sachets and sachet powders, and toilet boxes. They trademarked a perfume called Violet Simplicity in 1900. Any perfume label marked "Triple" means that the fragrance had been triple distilled for a stronger scent.

William H Brown of Baltimore, Md., died in November 1889 after an illness of three months from Bright's disease. His long connection with the drug business of Baltimore was the statement of an honorable career and a reputation unsullied with any stain of a business or moral character. In 1815, he established himself in business in that city and under the firm name of William H. Brown & Bro., it continued until 1888 when it became the Winkelmann Brown Co. Socially and in business he was highly esteemed for his manly qualities and genial character.  

Thursday November 21st William H Brown, a widely known and highly respected member of the whole sale drug trade of Baltimore, Md, died at his home in that city at age of sixty five. He was the last one of the firm Wm H. Brown & Bro which was established in 1815 to conduct the drug and importing business. This firm, consisting of Alex E. Brown, Wm H. Brown and John E. Morrison, became known all over the West and South, not only for the magnitude of business, but also for their high standard of commercial rectitude. After the death of Alex. Brown, Mr Morrison, the conduct of the business devolved on Mr. W.H. Brown, who carried it on until it was merged into the large business of JH Winkelman & Co., about ten months ago, under style of the Winkelman & Brown Drug Co., since which time until his death, Mr Brown was the treasurer of the new organization. Mr Brown was 65 years of age and died honored and respected by the whole mercantile community and letters of condolence and regret are still being received by his company from his friends all over the country.

In 1904, a fire raged through the business section of Baltimore, destroying many of those engaged in the wholesale and drug trade. The bukding occupied by the William H. Brown & Bro. Perfumery Company was gutted. 

In 1917, William H Brown & Bro of 417 West Franklin Street, Baltimore, MD., leased the building at 860 North Howard street, that city, and equipped it to manufacture perfumery.

The perfumes of Brown & Brothers:

• 1880s Indian Queen
• 1894 Jockey Club
• 1894 Blue Bells
• 1894 Crabapple Blossom
• 1894 Japonita
• 1894 Lilioptus
• 1894 Peau d'Espagne
• 1894 Violet
• 1894 Violette de France
• 1894 White Heliotrope
• 1894 White Lilac
• 1894 White Rose
• 1894 Wood Violet
• 1895 Pearls of Violets
• 1896 Bon Selene Rose
• 1896 Sweet Lilac
• 1896 Easter Lily
• 1896 Violily
• 1898 Pearls of Hyacinth
• 1898 Pearls of Lilacs
• 1898 Pearls of Roses
• 1898 Pearls of Lilies
• 1898 Snow Violet
• 1898 Lily of the Valley
• 1898 Carnation Pink
• 1898 Heliotrope Blossoms
• 1898 White Rose Buds
• 1898 Marguerites
• 1900 Violet Simplicity
• 1900 Heliotrope
• 1900 Colonial Rose
• 1900 Duval Perfume
• 1900 Absolute Violet
• 1900 Arbutus
• 1900 Magenet
• 1900 Marie Stuart
• 1903 Orchard Blossoms
• 1903 Ninon
• 1903 Fresh Violets
• 1903 Easter Blossoms
• 1903 Derby Club
• 1903 Crimson Rose
• 1903 Pearl Flower
• 1903 Pink Carnation
• 1903 Purple Lilac
• 1903 Rosemary
• 1903 Royal Tulip
• 1903 Sweet Marie
• 1903 Sweet Pea Blossoms
• 1903 Clover Imperial
• 1903 Violet Glory
• 1903 Violet Simplicity
• 1903 Chypre
• 1903 Highland Clover
• 1903 Bouquet Angelus
• 1903 Apple Bloom
• 1903 American Flowers
• 1903 Dresden Face Powder
• 1903 Flowers of Japan
• 1903 Heliotrope Glory
• 1907 Pocahontas
• 1908 Apple Blossom
• 1912 Garden of Allah
• 1912 Jap-O-Nita
• 1913 Dixie Blossoms
• 1917 Boomerang
• 1918 Japanese Incense
• 1918 Garden of Roses
• 1918 Siren Lilac
• 1918 Jess
• 1918 Eileen
• 1918 American Lilac
• 1918 Trailing Arbutus
• 1919 Garden of Lilies
• 1919 Heliotrope Glory
• 1919 Oriental Body Sachet
• 1922 Dream Violet
• 1922 Desiree
• 1922 English Jasmin
• 1923 Dreamerie
• 1926 Narcissus