Elizabeth Arden Inc., an international, multimillion-dollar corporation, was founded by Florence Nightingale Graham in the early part of the twentieth century when female entrepreneurs were a rare commodity. Small but indomitable, with luxurious red-gold hair, Graham was a connoisseur of fashion with flawless taste and exacting standards from which she never wavered.

Born in Woodbridge, Ontario, in 1884, Graham was inspired by her namesake to study nursing. As a student she recognized the link between physical health, massage, and the maintenance of healthy-looking skin. At age 24, Graham immigrated to New York. By 1910 she had opened a small Fifth Avenue Salon, creating her own skin treatment preparations and giving facials. During this early period Graham chose Elizabeth Arden as her professional name. Soon christened the “little Canadian woman with the magic hands,” Arden easily established a loyal clientele.

As the salons with their famous red doors opened throughout the United States, Europe and the Far East, Arden’s commitment to perfection in formulas, packaging and services established her company as a leader in the beauty business.

As Chairman of the Board and Director of all Arden Enterprises, Elizabeth Arden continued to supervise the production process and, until her death on October 18, 1966, inspired such new ideas as the first brown-toned (Burnt Sugar) and blue-toned (Cyclamen) lipsticks and the use of lightwear plastic jars as packages for skin cream.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Elizabeth Arden Research Laboratory continued to produce landmark products. In 1974, Visible Difference Refining Moisture-Creme Complex, the first of what the New York Times called the “super creams” appeared on the market. Visible Difference was the first product in the cosmetics industry to actually document skin penetration. Following four years of research, the Millenium line of cell renewal products was introduced. Millenium products work on and within the epidermis to accelerate the natural cell renewal process.
 

Sunflowers. Elizabeth Arden's newest fragrance. an exhilirating fragrance that recharges the senses, renews the spirit and creates a mood all its own.

Scientific breakthroughs continue at Elizabeth Arden during the 1990s. Ceramide Time Complex Capsules and Ceramide Eyes Time Complex Capsules work to retexturize the skin, making it firmer, smoother and softer. The revolutionary, biodegradable, single-dose gelatin capsules offer easy application for the consumer. The make-up category has also continued to grow with the launch of such products as the Flawless Finish Foundation Collection, and Lip Spa, the first lipstick ever to contain water.

The fragrance category represents an enormous source of prestige for Elizabeth Arden. In addition to Blue Grass, which has maintained steady sales since its 1936 launch, Red door was added to the Elizabeth Arden fragrances in 1989. With the development of a fine fragrance division, Parfums International, the company is represented on fragrance counters worldwide with such leading brands as Chloé, Lagerfeld for Men, Fendi, Fendi Uomo, Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion for Men, Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds, and the Elizabeth Taylor Jewel Collection.

Treatment, makeup and fragrance. In all categories the “little woman with the magic hands” has made a lasting mark and has left an unprecedented legacy to be carried well into the twenty-first century and beyond.