Richard Hudnut, Violet Sec, 'Dry Violet', 30 ml. or 1 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1896, 1930, Paris, France ..

Richard Alexander Hudnut lived from June 2, 1855- October 30, 1928, and was an American businessman recognized as the first American to achieve international success in cosmetics manufacturing. The company once maintained separate US and European headquarters on Fifth Avenue in New York City and on the Rue de la Paix in Paris, respectively.

Although his fortune had been built around cosmetics and beauty products, he preferred to be known as a "perfumer”. Hudnut's father Alexander was a pharmacist with a store at Broadway and Ann Street in New York City. The name Hudnut derives from Hodnet, from Shropshire in England. After graduating from Princeton University, Richard Hudnut toured France and returned with the idea of introducing French-style perfumes and cosmetics to American women. In 1880 he registered his name as a trademark in both France and the United States.

Early Richard Hudnut fragrances included Queen Anne Cologne in 1880, Violet Sec in 1896, Aimée, DuBarry, Vanity, and Three Flowers, all of which were produced in the early 1900’s. Product lines include Violet Sec Toilet Water, DuBarry Beauty Products, Yankee Clover products, Three Flowers products, and a highly successful line of hair care products.

"I'm oddly thrilled to find a mention of this perfume, even though it's no longer made. This clear, fresh, real violet scent was the only fragrance my grandmother, a pastor's wife born in 1889, ever wore or realistically, ever could wear, except maybe rose or lavender water. To my great delight as a child, the juice was purple; even better, Gran would sometimes let me put a little on. Thanks for a great memory!"

While there are no notes remaining on Hudnut's Violet Sec, it is a simply preparation of Violet Flower, Violet Leaf, and perhaps some Heliotrope, Honeysuckle, Lilac, and Lily of the Valley

Offered here is a charming bottle of this lovely old fashioned perfume. It is quite full and the label is silk screened around the top of the bottle. Highly collectible flacon with adorable bouchon ..

"The sweetness of the violet’s deep blue eyes, Kissed by the breath of heaven, Seems color’d by its skies." Byron