Object of the Day: Hoyt’s German Cologne

I’ve several trade cards in my collection for Hoyt’s German Cologne. Each of these cards were scented with the cologne to give customers and potential customers a chance to be reminded of the fragrance’s light aroma.

Often, the Hoyt’s cards were printed with handy calendars. This encouraged a lady to keep the card in her reticule, and, at the same time scent the items she carried with her each day. The other cards, meant to be collected in scrapbooks, boasted handsome and romantic images like those we see on this example.

This one features a whole gaggle (flock? coven? Or is it a murder, like crows?) of putti, flitting around a giant atomizer atop a bottle of the cologne. Well, maybe it’s a normal size bottle and the putti are really small. It’s hard to say—perspective in Victorian advertising imagery was always wonky anyway.  In any event, they're trying to wrap the thing in floral garlands for some reason.  I suppose, perhaps, it is to reinforce the notion that the stuff smells good.

Oh, and did I mention that they’re in a swamp? An acid green swamp of cologne.

The obverse reminds us that the card is:

PERFUMED
WITH

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE 

TRIAL SIZE
25 CTS
MEDIUM SIZE
50 CTS
LARGE BOTTLES
$1.00

FRAGRANT
& LASTING 

E.W. HOYT & CO., 
PROPRIETORS, LOWELL, MASS.



The reverse tells us:

THIS CARD IS PERFUMED WITH 
Hoyt’s German Cologne. 
FRAGRANT AND LASTING.
This is the most delightful perfume known. 

----------------

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE is the best Handkerchief odor
     made. It possesses qualities that place it beyond compe-
     tition, and is reliable.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE is indispensible when attend-
     ing the Theatre, Ball-room or Opera. It is delicious.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE overcomes any disagreeable
     odor about the clothes. It is so pure.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE imparts to the toilet and bath
     a fragrance and freshness that render it a true cosmetic.
     It beautifies the skin.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE used in the sick-room is very
     refreshing. Invalids find it an invigorating and restor-
     ing influence.
   To avoid imitations when buying, observe that the name is
blown in the bottle that our signature is printed in red ink
across the label and that our monogram cap over the cork is
not broken. All others are worthless. 
Trial Size, Price 25 Cents; Medium Size, 50 Cents; 
Large Bottles, $1.00. 
The genuine is never sold in bulk or by the ounce. Sold by Druggists and Dealers everywhere. 
E.W. HOYT & CO., PROPRIETORS, 
LOWELL, MASS., U.S.A. 
FOR SALE BY 
E.S. HERNDON, -- Herndon, Mo.,
DEALER IN
Groceries, Patent Medicines, &c.

Object of the Day: A Trade Card Advertising Hoyt’s German Cologne

I’ve several trade cards in my collection for Hoyt’s German Cologne. Each of these cards were scented with the cologne to give customers and potential customers a chance to be reminded of the fragrance’s light aroma.

Often, the Hoyt’s cards were printed with handy calendars. This encouraged a lady to keep the card in her reticule, and, at the same time scent the items she carried with her each day. The other cards, meant to be collected in scrapbooks, boasted handsome and romantic images like those we see on this example.

This one features a whole gaggle (flock? coven? Or is it a murder, like crows?) of putti, flitting around a giant atomizer atop a bottle of the cologne. Well, maybe it’s a normal size bottle and the putti are really small. It’s hard to say—perspective in Victorian advertising imagery was always wonky anyway.  In any event, they're trying to wrap the thing in floral garlands for some reason.  I suppose, perhaps, it is to reinforce the notion that the stuff smells good.

Oh, and did I mention that they’re in a swamp? An acid green swamp of cologne.

The obverse reminds us that the card is:

PERFUMED
WITH

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE 

TRIAL SIZE
25 CTS
MEDIUM SIZE
50 CTS
LARGE BOTTLES
$1.00

FRAGRANT
& LASTING 

E.W. HOYT & CO., 
PROPRIETORS, LOWELL, MASS.



The reverse tells us:

THIS CARD IS PERFUMED WITH 
Hoyt’s German Cologne. 
FRAGRANT AND LASTING.
This is the most delightful perfume known. 

----------------

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE is the best Handkerchief odor
     made. It possesses qualities that place it beyond compe-
     tition, and is reliable.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE is indispensible when attend-
     ing the Theatre, Ball-room or Opera. It is delicious.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE overcomes any disagreeable
     odor about the clothes. It is so pure.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE imparts to the toilet and bath
     a fragrance and freshness that render it a true cosmetic.
     It beautifies the skin.
HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE used in the sick-room is very
     refreshing. Invalids find it an invigorating and restor-
     ing influence.
   To avoid imitations when buying, observe that the name is
blown in the bottle that our signature is printed in red ink
across the label and that our monogram cap over the cork is
not broken. All others are worthless. 
Trial Size, Price 25 Cents; Medium Size, 50 Cents; 
Large Bottles, $1.00. 
The genuine is never sold in bulk or by the ounce. Sold by Druggists and Dealers everywhere. 
E.W. HOYT & CO., PROPRIETORS, 
LOWELL, MASS., U.S.A. 
FOR SALE BY 
E.S. HERNDON, -- Herndon, Mo.,
DEALER IN
Groceries, Patent Medicines, &c.

Object of the Day: A Trade Card for Hoyt's German Cologne, 1890

Nestled amongst the blooms in a bouquet of tea roses, lilies of the valley and lavender are twelve small panels each marking the months of the year of 1890.  This trade card is entitled:

LADIES PERFUMED CALENDAR 1890

I can only assume that it was sprayed with scent—an aroma long-ago replaced with the aromas of must and a faint whiff of ancient cigarette smoke.

On the bottom of the card, in pink, it reads:

Compliments of

E.W. Hoyt & Co.

       Lowell, Mass.

Proprietors of

Hoyt’s German Cologne

And RUBIFOAM

Let’s take a look at the reverse.

In presenting our PERFUMED CALENDAR for 1890, we do so with the assurance that it will not only be found useful and worthy of preservation, but a constant reminder throughout the year that

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE

Is the most

Fragrant and Lasting of all Perfumes.

     This perfection of colognes has been described as the “Imprisoned Breath of Blossoms,” a pleasing compliment to the combination of odors that serve this exquisite perfume.  The most fragrant and costly extracts from flowers are used in its manufacture, making it a delightful, refreshing, and agreeable perfume, unrivaled for the toilet, complexion, and the bath.  Adds comfort to the invalid.  A refined and pleasing odor for the handkerchief.

     In purchasing, care should be taken to obtain the genuine.  BEWARE of worthless substitutes offered for greater profit.  Three  sizes of HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE are sold:

Trial Size, 25 Cents; Medium Size, 50 cents; Large Bottles, $1.00.

------

RUBIFOAM for the TEETH. 

Deliciously Flavored.  A Perfect Liquid Dentifrice.

It’s use insures white teeth, sweet breath, healthy gums,

BEAUTIFULLY PUT UP.  Price, 25 Cents. 

------

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE and RUBIFOAM are sold by

All druggists and Dealers in Toilet Articles.

E.W. HOYT & CO., Lowell, Mass., U.S.A.,

Sole Manufacturers

 ------

FOR SALE BY

T.S. Baker – Norwich, N.Y.

DEALER IN

Dry Goods, Groceries, Drugs, Medicines, Boots

and Shoes, hardware, Crockery, etc.

Object of the Day: Another Trade Card for German Cologne

Yesterday, we looked at a trade card for Hoyt’s German Cologne which dated to 1890.  Well, here’s another one.  On this example, we have a beautifully-colored, pastoral scene of a young lady picking flowers in a bucolic meadow.  Two happy butterflies follow her about as she shields her eyes from the sun.  It is, entirely, a scene which suggests things that smell good.  And, despite the fact that the card itself, after a century smells like dust and cigarette smoke, the image still evokes good olfactory thoughts.

The front of the card indicates that at one point, it had been sprayed with scent—making this bit of advertising doubly appealing.

It reads:

PERFUMED WITH 

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE

THE MOST FRAGRANT and LASTING of all PERFUMES.

PRICE

TRIAL SIZE 25 cts

MEDIUM SIZE 50 cts.

LARGE BOTTLES $1.00

And it continues…

Use RUBIFOAM 

FOR THE TEETH

DELICIOUSLY FLAVORED

PRICE 25cts A BOTTLE

The reverse reads:

Hoyt’s German Cologne.

THE MOST 

FRAGRANT and LASTING

OF ALL PERFUMES

Unrivaled for the toilet, complexion and the bath.  Refreshing and agreeable to the invalid.  Unequalled as a handkerchief perfume.  It’s high standard of excellence is always maintained.  The odors that are combined to make this delightful perfume are selected with the greatest care.  Appearance of bottle and label are imitated, quality and odor never.  BEWARE of IMITATIONS under whatever name they may be sold.

   When purchasing , see that words “HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE, E.W. HOYT & Co., Lowell Mass,” are blown in the bottle, also that monogram cap over cork is not broken.

Trial Size 25 Cents; Medium Size 50 Cents; Large Bottles $1.00

THE GENUINE IS NEVER SOLD IN BULK OR BY MEASURE.

-------

DELICIOUSLY FLAVORED

Rubifoam for the Teeth

--------

The most delightful, refreshing, agreeable and beneficial dentifrice ever placed before the public.  GUARANTEED to contain no grit, no acid, nor anything injurious.  RUBIFOAM keeps the teeth pearly white, the breath sweet, the gums healthy, and prevents decay.  RUBIFOAM is elegantly put up, presenting an attractive appearance on the toilet table. Superior in quality to the higher-priced dentifrices.

LARGE BOTTLES 25 Cents.

REFUSE SUBSTITUTES.  Insist upon HAVING RUBIFOAM.

--------

HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE and RUBIFOAM are sold by all Druggists and Dealers in Toilet Articles.

E.W. HOYT & CO., Lowell, Mass., U.S.A.,

SOLE MANUFACTURERS

Object of the Day: Ladies Perfumed Calendar, 1894

Click image to enlarge.

Nothing says, “Smellin’ Good” like a bird sitting on your shoulder. At least that’s what this young lady seems to think. She’s not the slighted bit concerned. I would be. I like birds. I feed birds. I even allow birds to make their homes in various odd places along the exterior of my house. However, I have to draw the line somewhere, and that moment comes when they want to sit on me. Nothing good can come of that. Still, this lass is not bothered, and I suppose I shouldn’t be either.

The young lady comes from the wonderful fictional Nineteenth Century world of cherubic advertising tots. She’s rosy-cheeked and scrofula free, and, she’s smart enough to have developed a skill—in this case, bird wrangling and flower picking. And, there’s the key. The flowers.

This is another Ladies Perfumed Calendar from our friendly Victorian chums at the Hoyt’s Perfume Company of Lowell, Mass. The folks at Hoyt’s sprayed their wares on all manner of trade cards and calendars which they had commissioned. This was actually a very good idea as it allowed a lady to keep the item in her reticule—thus making it smell better than the street—and, in the case of a calendar such as this one, it was a handy thing which reminded her of Hoyt’s every day. Plus, it had a pretty picture! Everyone wins!

This particular example, one of many in my collection of ephemera, comes to us from 1894. The calendar for the year IS printed on the back, but we can’t see it. All we can see is the back of the scrap book page to which this had been glued, likely in 1895 when the calendar was no longer useful.

As was usually the case, the clever people at Hoyt’s German Cologne also used this opportunity to hawk their dentifrice—Rubifoam For the Teeth. That just doesn’t sound too good to me. But, what do I know?

Object of the Day: Palmers Perfumes

Could this die-cut trade card be any more adorable? First of all, this is a perfect example of the richness of Victorian printing. The colors are amazing even after a century. It’s just so perfectly Victorian that I almost can’t stand it.

The card dates to 1904 and serves as an interesting counterpoint to the more overblown trade cards for Hoyt’s German Cologne. These cards were often large and printed on the reverse with calendars and other things deemed helpful to ladies. They were also scented. Meanwhile, the Palmers card is quiet and understated.

Let’s take a look at the reverse. While it’s understated in size and use, it still makes the same confident Victorian claims.

PALMER’S PERFUMES 

From 1847 to 1904 

For a Period of over FIFTY YEARS we have 

studied quality, the outcome if which has 

been the highest grade of goods produced 

either in this or any other country. 

SPECIAL ODORS 

Ariston, Garland of Roses, 

Garland of Violets, Fashion, 

Gem Violet, Frangipanni, 

American Carnation Pink, 

Apple Leaves, Our Jack, 

Violet Leaves, 

Rose Leaves, 

Violet Bloom, Red Clover, 

May Bloom, Rob Roy, 

Lilac Sweets. 

SOLON PALMER Perfumer, N.Y. 

FOR SALE BY DRUGGISTS ONLY 

ESTABLISHED 

FIFTY SEVEN YEARS 

AVOID CHEAP 

PERFUMES 

The last bit is good advice.

I wonder what Our Jack smells like.