Imperial Leather: A Legacy of Luxurious Bath and Body Care Since the 1800s
Imperial Leather's story begins in the 1800s with Thomas Tomlinson Cussons, a qualified chemist born in Kingston-upon-Hull, England. Cussons created his own brand of products, primarily in medicine, including remedies like Cussons “Excelsior” Tic Mixture and Cussons Black Currant Cough Elixir. Cussons purchased an old bleach mill at Kersal Vale, Salford, which became the first Cussons factory, producing soap, glass bottles, and other products.
In the early 1900s, Cussons expanded into soap manufacturing, and in 1920, the factory at Kersal Vale became the first Cussons soap factory in the UK. In 1921, Cussons acquired London Perfumers, Bayley’s of Bond Street, obtaining unique fragrance formulas from hand-written journals dating back centuries.
In 1930, Cussons launched its first Imperial Leather soap, based on the original Bayley’s ‘Eau de Cologne Imperiale Russe’ fragrance from 1798. The brand quickly gained popularity, and by the 1950s, Imperial Leather became one of the first brands to invest in TV advertising during popular dramas, giving rise to the term 'soaps' for such shows in the UK.
Throughout the decades, Imperial Leather continued to innovate, launching famous "triple bath" TV ads in the 1980s and introducing the first shower gel in a can, ‘Foamburst,’ in 1998. These products, known for their luxurious lather and unique fragrances, left customers with silky, smooth skin and a desire to show it off.
Today, Imperial Leather remains committed to providing customers with luxurious and high-quality bath and body care products. With a rich history of innovation and a dedication to elegance and quality, Imperial Leather continues to delight customers worldwide with its unique and beloved products.
