Bermuda Perfumery in Hamilton, Bermuda, Bermuda | Perfumery

Welcome to the Bermuda Perfumery, Hamilton, Bermuda. The Bermuda Perfumery is located in a 250-year-old house on the North Shore Road. It was established in 1929 and has become a prosperous cottage industry creating wonderful fragrances from the island's flowers, such as Easter lily, oleander, jasmine, passionflower and frangipani. These are cultivated on the grounds and manufactured into a selection of perfumes using the ancient enfleurage process. One can buy perfumes here or simply enjoy a stroll through the lush gardens and nature trails. The orchid house is also a must-see. Opening time: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm; Admission: Free. The Bermuda Perfumery was founded in 1928 by William Blackburn (W.B.) Smith and his daughter Madeline Scott. With the assistance of Eminent French Perfumers, Easter Lily Perfume was first produced experimentally in a small wooden building in Bailey's Bay. The family gradually acquired the surrounding properties to a total of six acres, which is immense toHamilton and Bermuda standards. New fragrances were added, such as Sweet Pea, Eve, Gardenia and Jonquil. Most were successful but not all. Jonquil was judged to be too sweet and heavy by the public and was dropped.
Bermuda and the Perfumery prospered, even during World War II. The Island was essentially insulated from the cataclysms that were shaking the rest of the world and there were enough visitors to sustain the Perfumery. The pace of life in Bailey's Bay was still determined by the clip-clop of the horses as the carriages moved, leisurely, over the powdery white coral roadways.
The war finally ended and tourism took off in Bermuda. The Perfumery was now an attraction, and, the carriage drivers started bringing visitors in large numbers- no doubt prompted by the silver theepence per load which W.B. cheerfully gave them. The gardens were coming into their own and traditions were being established. One was the decoration, in its entirety, of the screen at Holy Trinity Church with Easter Lilies from The Perfumery on Good Friday. Another was the sending of Easter lilies to the Queen Mother.