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Imperial Leather
Imperial Leather is a British brand of soaps, toiletries and healthcare products manufactured by PZ Cussons. Its distinctive aroma is inspired by Russia leather.
The brand name had its origin in 1768 when Russian nobleman Count Grigory Orlov commissioned a brand of perfume from Bayleys of Bond Street in London. The perfume was called 'Eau de Cologne Imperiale Russe'. Russia leather was a high-quality leather exported widely from Russia and recognisable by a distinctive aroma from its birch oil tanning process. In 1921 Bayleys was acquired by Cussons Sons & Co, owned by Alexander Tom Cussons. It was not until some years later in 1938 that, using a version of the original perfume, the soap 'Imperial Leather' was created by Alexander Tom Cussons. The soap was initially called 'Russian Leather' but was soon renamed 'Imperial Leather'. In 1975 the Cussons Group was itself acquired by Paterson Zochonis, and renamed PZ Cussons in 2002.
In 1942 due to World War II all soaps were rationed in Britain. Imperial Leather soap was therefore marketed as being the best choice because it lasted longer than other soaps. The following is an extract from a World War II advertisement:
During the 1940s to late 1950s Cussons Sons and Company Ltd embarked upon a prolific printed advert campaign with a new theme for the advertising of Imperial Leather released every year. The advertising campaign was under the direction of Alexander Tom Cussons' daughter Marjorie Goodwin (née Cussons). The adverts have become collectable as vintage adverts. Below is a table of some of the advertising themes:
In 1988 Cussons selected French model Estelle Lefébure for their printed Imperial Leather advertisements.
In 2013 Cussons ran a series of printed adverts for the Imperial Leather Foamburst range with a genie theme and the tagline "release the lather, feel the magic".
Television has been an important part of Imperial Leather advertising for decades. Amongst the most popular Imperial Leather adverts were the ‘triple bath’ series. This series of adverts began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. The adverts featured a family of three, each in three separate baths, using Imperial Leather whilst travelling to an exotic location by train, plane or spacecraft.
Imperial Leather adverts have previously featured Richard Stapley, Paolo Di Canio, Ralph Ineson, Julie Walters and Paul Merton. The Julie Walters advert featured her singing, with the final line "Imperial Leather: our only comfort in life." The Paul Merton series of adverts included a commercial where he attempts to interview an unsuspecting man in the shower and a further commercial where he wears a lab coat and conducts an experiment on identical twins.
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Imperial Leather
Imperial Leather is a British brand of soaps, toiletries and healthcare products manufactured by PZ Cussons. Its distinctive aroma is inspired by Russia leather.
The brand name had its origin in 1768 when Russian nobleman Count Grigory Orlov commissioned a brand of perfume from Bayleys of Bond Street in London. The perfume was called 'Eau de Cologne Imperiale Russe'. Russia leather was a high-quality leather exported widely from Russia and recognisable by a distinctive aroma from its birch oil tanning process. In 1921 Bayleys was acquired by Cussons Sons & Co, owned by Alexander Tom Cussons. It was not until some years later in 1938 that, using a version of the original perfume, the soap 'Imperial Leather' was created by Alexander Tom Cussons. The soap was initially called 'Russian Leather' but was soon renamed 'Imperial Leather'. In 1975 the Cussons Group was itself acquired by Paterson Zochonis, and renamed PZ Cussons in 2002.
In 1942 due to World War II all soaps were rationed in Britain. Imperial Leather soap was therefore marketed as being the best choice because it lasted longer than other soaps. The following is an extract from a World War II advertisement:
During the 1940s to late 1950s Cussons Sons and Company Ltd embarked upon a prolific printed advert campaign with a new theme for the advertising of Imperial Leather released every year. The advertising campaign was under the direction of Alexander Tom Cussons' daughter Marjorie Goodwin (née Cussons). The adverts have become collectable as vintage adverts. Below is a table of some of the advertising themes:
In 1988 Cussons selected French model Estelle Lefébure for their printed Imperial Leather advertisements.
In 2013 Cussons ran a series of printed adverts for the Imperial Leather Foamburst range with a genie theme and the tagline "release the lather, feel the magic".
Television has been an important part of Imperial Leather advertising for decades. Amongst the most popular Imperial Leather adverts were the ‘triple bath’ series. This series of adverts began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. The adverts featured a family of three, each in three separate baths, using Imperial Leather whilst travelling to an exotic location by train, plane or spacecraft.
Imperial Leather adverts have previously featured Richard Stapley, Paolo Di Canio, Ralph Ineson, Julie Walters and Paul Merton. The Julie Walters advert featured her singing, with the final line "Imperial Leather: our only comfort in life." The Paul Merton series of adverts included a commercial where he attempts to interview an unsuspecting man in the shower and a further commercial where he wears a lab coat and conducts an experiment on identical twins.