Juan Famenias Floris came to England in 1730 from his native island of Menorca via Montepellier in France, where he had learned to mix scented essences, and settled in Jermyn Street, near the Royal Court of St. James and in the heart of gentleman's "club land" as a "barber" and "comb-maker", where he soon became the talk of London society with his products and succeeded. He created individual fragrances for his customers, the recipes for which he carefully stored so that he could supply them again when needed. He married Elizabeth Hodgkiss, with whom he had seven children.
The current company is run by the eighth generation, John Bodenham and Christopher Marsh, who are both great-great-grandchildren of Mary Anne Floris, herself a great-granddaughter of Juan, the founder. Mary Anne Floris had married James Bodenham, hence the change of family name. Over sixteen times the company has been awarded the title of Purveyor to the Court, and is now Perfumers to HM The Queen Elizabeth II and Manufacturers of Toilet Preparations to HRH The Prince of Wales.
