ÇaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery: Tyler DeLaBar Kraemer of Blocki Perfumes + An American Legacy Draw

JohnBlocki_lowres

John Blocki. Image courtesy Chicago Veteran Druggists' Association records, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, Special Collections and Archives.

Profile: Blocki represents three generations of American perfumers. The Blocki family immigrated to America in 1850 when John Blocki was only 5 years old. They left a hard-earned but privileged life in Prussian Pomerania to become part of the great American experiment. They were not idle in Europe or in America. John started his own business in 1865 at the age of twenty, already trained as a chemist and specializing in high quality chemicals, perfumes, and essential oils.

Sketch of Frederick Blocki in Chicagoans As We See 'Em Cartoons and Caricatures by the Newspaper Cartoonists' Association 1904

Sketch of Frederick Blocki in Chicagoans As We See 'Em Cartoons and Caricatures by the Newspaper Cartoonists' Association 1904

His son Frederick familiarized himself with all aspects of fine perfumery and was soon actively managing the business. The success of the perfumery allowed Frederick to also engage in public affairs where he supervised some of Chicago’s greatest public improvements during the city’s formative years.

Blocki illustration on cover of American Perfumer, Dec. 1910

Blocki illustration on cover of American Perfumer, Dec. 1910

Growing up I heard these and many other stories of the Blocki family involving entrepreneurship, innovation, adventure, art, writing, conservation and civic service. Their diverse experiences and full lives made me feel anything was possible. I remember a 1905 political poster of Frederick Blocki hanging in my childhood house. Today that same poster, along with a 1910 cover of the American Perfumer featuring Blocki perfumes, hangs in our house. I also remember leafing through a tattered veteran druggist association book that talks of the successful perfumery of John Blocki. This history was always in the back of my mind and I’ve never been shy about my interest in fragrance.

After graduating with a degree in engineering, I left for Europe to live with an uncle in Berlin, study language and visit the places of my ancestry. I returned to the US for graduate school where I met my wife Tammy. Soon after we were married we began importing and blending Bulgarian essential oils and floral waters and really fell in love with the Damask rose. It was a time of privatization in the Bulgarian fragrance industry and we were fortunate to have direct access to the rose and lavender fields and distillery. This experience planted the seed of reviving the Blocki perfumery and set an expectation for using the best natural ingredients.

In 2013 we met award winning American perfumer Kevin Verspoor who shares our passion for fine fragrance and the history of American perfumery. We are hands-on with every aspect of Blocki perfumes and work with a very talented (and patient) team. We are inspired by the vintage Blocki creations but do not want to be limited by them, so there is a lot of creative freedom to layer in elements from the past and add something new.

Tyler &Tammy DeLaBar Kraemer 1996

Wedding Painting of Tyler &Tammy Kraemer 1996

On American Perfumery: The success of American perfumery was hard-won. It cannot claim a royal heritage; there were no heralds proclaiming its legitimacy. Early American perfumers had to overcome a strongly held public perception that French perfumes were superior. Many French perfume houses deserved this high regard but there bad perfumes on both sides and there were early American houses creating truly fine fragrance. By the end of WW1 American perfumery was seeing success, but then the Great Depression hit. Very few of that first generation of perfumers made it through the depression. Fortunately, Blocki did and continued into the late 1940s until it ran out of family members interested in keeping it going.

landscape architecht  jens jensen  water cascades

Photo: Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune/MCT Water cascades through Columbus Park in River Forest,  designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen

Favorite American Artist:  Landscape architect Jens Jensen’s work with indigenous plants and materials; finding beauty in your own backyard is timeless.

Tyler DeLaBar Kraemer, Co-founder of Blocki Perfumes

Editor’s Note: Blocki Perfumes can be found in New York at Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothocary. Kevin Verspoor is a former CaFleurebon Contributor and was the nose behind the Fragrance Foundation Award winning Odin Omanu 6 in the Indie category. The Blocki Pinterest Board can be found here

Thanks to the generosity of Tyler DeLaBar Kraemer and Blocki Perfume we have a draw for our registered  US, EU and Canada (you must do this folks and use your registered name) as follows:

blocki perfumes for walks in very season  the grand affair cafleurebon

Blocki Perfumes For Walks, In Every Season and This Grand Affair

For our US readers you have a choice of 50 ml For Walks, 50 ml In Every Season  or 50 ml This Grand Affair. If you prefer a sample set of all three or live in The EU or Canada, the draw for a sampler is open to all readers.  To be eligible please leave a comment with what you found fascinating about Blocki Perfumes and Tyler DeLaBar Kraemer. where you live and your choice of fragrance should you win (note country restrictions).   Draw closes October 9, 2015

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We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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30 comments

  • Very nice review. I really enjoyed to read it.
    And the pictures of the article are wonderful.
    I suppose that these perfumes are fabulous. I would very like to try them.
    I live in Europe.

  • It was fascinating to read that in the late 1940s there were no family members interested in keeping the perfume house going, and now with Tyler it’s back. If I win I would choose This Grand Affair. USA

  • And of course I liked CaFleureBon Profiles in American Perfumery on Facebook . Thanks for the draw!

  • I find it interesting that John trained as a chemist and became a perfumer. Was that typical for the time? Anyway, I’d love to try For Walks, and I live in the US. I’m a registered reader.

  • bunchofpants says:

    I know next to nothing about the history of American perfumery, so this series has been quit enlightening. I find it sad that the Blocki family ran out of interested family members to run their business, but I’m glad it has been revived! I would love to try For Walks. I’m in USA.

  • Fascinating read, I am not far from Chicago but have never heard of Blocki. I have not given much thought to American perfumers of the 19th century and the realization that there was no royal heritage is a startling one, in that one would be thought necessary or customary. I’m glad the Blocki perfumery is continuing and I would love to try This Grand Affair, I’m in the US. Thanks so much! The wedding portrait is beautiful.

  • Very nice piece of family history to have the magazine cover of 1910 and the caricature of Frederick Blocki. Wonderful to have the opportunity to live in Europe and visit the places of your ancestry Tyler. I would like to try the For Walks. 🙂 U.S.

  • I love this series! Always enjoyable. The Blocki story is interesting. I forget that there are older American perfumers. And yay for Kevin Verspoor!! Good article and I’m so happy I went to the Blocki website – it’s GORGEOUS!! I’d love to win them all, but would pick For Walks. In the US. Thank you for the lovely draw and story/review.

  • Good to know new houses, even if this one is actually not a new one in the market, a long history behind.
    I’m in Europe and I would like to discover the samples. Thanks.

  • fazalcheema says:

    this article reminds me how many brands used to be in older times, too. I have done quite a research on vintage brands but this is my introduction to Blocki. I have also developed a feel of German perfumery style and it is great to know Tyler imports ingredients from Bulgaria because one of my most favorite couples in real life is Bulgarian. Most Bulgarian are quite warm people. My choice will be This Grand Affair. thanks so much for the draw. I am in the US

  • MikasMinion says:

    I hadn’t heard of Blocki. I think the explosion in popularity of indie perfumers is great but I do forget that perfume in America has a history, even if it’s not as grand as others. I find it wonderful that the backstory here is true. Some of the invented “histories” used as marketing lately have really rubbed me wrong. I’m in the US and would love to try In Every Season. Thank you!

  • I found it really cool that John went from a chemist, to making perfumery. I will select the sample set and I’m in Canada. Thank you for the draw!

  • Profiles is always so enlightening! What a facinating heritage, Tyler. They say there is a time, season & reason for everything! Obviously, all of these were a perfect fit of the rebirth of Blocki with you and Tammy reviving your heritage. Your comment about finding beauty in your own backyard, says much about the person you are. I would love to try “Grand Affair” I must admit I was on a three way lopsided teeter… Wishing you and Blocki many years of continued success. I am a US registered reader.

  • Elizabeth T says:

    What a generous draw! I love Profiles in American Perfumery. This house has an especially rich history. I also love that Tyler’s favorite American Artist is Jens Jensen. We used to go for walks through a neighborhood with a grand old house sitting on grounds designed by Jens Jensen. I, too, am a huge admirer of him. I would choose This Grand Affair. Thank you for the lovely draw and for bringing this house to our attention! (USA)

  • I HAD never heard of the Blocki brand but it is an interesting story. I like when older brands are revived. And I love that Tyler picked a landscape architect as his inspiration. I think I would choose This Grand Affair because I love orientals. Thanks you for the article and the draw! USA

  • Very interesting article! It’s for the very first time that I read something about the American perfumers of the 19th century… about Blocki – with such a rich history…
    Tyler DeLaBar’s background makes me even more curious about this perfumes house.
    A sample set would be just perfect to discover it. 😉

    I’m in the EU.
    Thanks for the draw!

  • Iuno Feronia says:

    Fascinating success of immigrants, I love entrepreneural spirit – it should be much more in Europe. Thanks to Tyler delabar this House is still successful. I live in Europe and I would like to smell all samples.

  • I loved the fact that although the Blocki family were immigrants that were from another land they tried to reform and improve social structures while engaging themselves in public affairs in the town where they were living once immigrating to the USA meaning Chicago.
    And I enjoyed the fact that Tyler took over this perfume enterprise and tried to revive it with respect to tradition and with an eye to future development.
    I am a registered reader in EU and would love to experience the sample set.

  • I was intrigued by this story. Love hearing how the family business was brought back to life! I live in the US and would love to try This Grand Affair as I love citrus!

  • I have never heard of Blocki, but this house sounds very classic and elegant. I love how it’s a family run business, with each generation bringing their own style to the house. I would love to win the sampler set and I live in Canada. Thanks!

  • The whole journey and history of the Blocki family is fascinating. The fascinating part is how everything was like a puzzle in the revival of Blocki Perfumes. The love for history and rose oil brought back scent that seemed to be forgotten.

    I would really love to try the sampler.

    I am a registered reader from the EU.

    Thank you very much! Wish you all the best!

  • What really resonated with me was "The success of American perfumery was hard-won. It cannot claim a royal heritage; there were no heralds proclaiming its legitimacy. Early American perfumers had to overcome a strongly held public perception that French perfumes were superior". That is what I love about this CaFleureBon series, it really shows how fantastic American perfumers are. I was on the Blocki site, so beautiful and filled with great information. I think it is commendable that Tyler is keeping the family heritage alive, because you never hear of old American Houses just European ones being revived. My choice is For Walks orThis Grand Affair, they both sound like I would love each, so you can choose. Happy 150 anniversary too

  • I found Tyler DeLaBar Kraemer fascinating and applaud his restoration of Blocki Perfumes. I appreciate his philosophy that “We are inspired by the vintage Blocki creations but do not want to be limited by them, so there is a lot of creative freedom to layer in elements from the past and add something new”. I live in the US and my choice of fragrance would be the sample set of all three.

  • I’m learning American Sign Language and I’ve been telling people it’s like traveling to another culture while staying at home, so the quote about finding beauty in your own backyard really resonated with me.

    With all the talk of rose, I must choose In Every Season for my selection should I win the drawing. I’m registered and in the USA, thanks for this special opportunity!

  • girasole638 says:

    Part of my family emigrated from the same region to Chicago also, about two or three decades after the Blocki family, so it was interesting to read their experience and relate it a little to that of my own family (our history is much less well documented and, sadly, doesn’t involve perfume!). It’s wonderful that the family business still continues after all this time!
    All three of the fragrances sound lovely. really. Although I love violets (so For Walks is tempting!), I think I’d have to go for the oriental at this time of year, so This Grand Affair. Thanks for the opportunity! I’m in the US and already a Facebook fan of the series.

  • I am in the US Midwest and enjoyed reading bout the Blocki family history in Chicago and the perfumery that was there. It is also interesting to me to learn about how Tyler DeLaBar Kraemer came to be interested in the Blocki perfumes and then developed his own perfumes based on vintage ones by Blocki.

  • It’s amazing to me that Blocki survived the Depression when so many other companies did not. I’m in the US, and my choice would be This Grand Affair. Thanks!

  • I found the Blocki family story very interesting. I haven’t heard of them until now. I like how Bulgarian materials are used, I’ve visited there numerous times and it is an absolutely beautiful place. Thank you for the draw as well! I choose the sample set.

    Canada