The Stories Behind Our Iconic Formularies
At C.O. Bigelow, history isn’t tucked away behind glass. It’s still sitting on our shelves.
Buried deep within the archives of hundreds of old prescription books, Ian Ginsberg uncovered three extraordinary formulary volumes. Handwritten, worn with age, and filled with carefully documented remedies, these books connected us directly back to old New York and the generations of pharmacists, physicians, and customers who shaped the apothecary over nearly two centuries.
Inside were hundreds of formulas developed right here in our Greenwich Village shop. Some were created for neighborhood doctors. Others were commissioned by loyal customers searching for remedies that simply worked. Many were named after the physicians, pharmacists, and creators behind them.
These formularies became the foundation of what would eventually become the modern C.O. Bigelow collection. Some formulas have been faithfully recreated. Others inspired entirely new products built from the same apothecary philosophy: proven ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and everyday usefulness.
1838: The Beginning of the Village Apothecary
In 1838, Dr. Galen Hunter founded The Village Apothecary Shoppe at 102 Sixth Avenue in New York City.
Long before skincare routines and wellness trends, neighborhood apothecaries served as gathering places for remedies, advice, and trusted formulations. Customers came in looking for solutions tailored to their everyday needs — dry skin, sore throats, burns, fatigue, headaches.
One of the formulas inspired by our earliest records is:
Dr. Galen Herbal Skin Tonic No. 010
Named after our founder, Dr. Galen Herbal Skin Tonic No. 010 blends purifying extracts with exfoliating Salicylic Acid to create a refreshing skin tonic that helps neutralize excess oil and environmental pollutants while leaving skin feeling balanced and clean.
Even now, it feels surprisingly modern — proof that good formulas tend to outlive trends.
Dr. Hiosous Quince Hand Lotion No. 007
One of the most beloved stories from our archives begins with a neighborhood physician named Dr. Hiosous.
He commissioned C.O. Bigelow to create a hand treatment that would deeply soften and protect dry skin without feeling heavy. The result became No. 007 Quince Hand Lotion, formulated with moisture-retaining quince fruit extract and antioxidant-rich carrot oil. The texture leaves behind what customers still describe today as a soft, glove-like barrier on the hands.
Nearly two centuries later, it remains a customer favorite.
Dr. Keightley’s Mouthwash Concentrate No. 117
Before modern oral care aisles existed, apothecaries often worked directly with local dentists to formulate specialized treatments.
Dr. Keightley’s Mouthwash Concentrate No. 117 was developed as a powerful oral rinse designed to freshen breath while supporting oral hygiene. Natural flavors help combat odor-causing bacteria, leaving the mouth feeling cool and refreshed.
True to its original preparation, the concentrate is still diluted before use.
Formula 005: The Lemon Body Cream
In 1870, an employee named George Hooper — who had purchased the shop from Dr. Hunter fifteen years earlier — developed what would become one of the apothecary’s enduring classics: Formula 005 Lemon Body Cream.
Bright, clean, and unmistakably nostalgic, the formula remains one of our most recognizable products today. Generations of customers have associated the scent with the shop itself.
Salves, Remedies, and Apothecary Lore
The formulary books also contain the kinds of stories that could only come from an old New York apothecary.
Legend says that Thomas Edison used our salves to soothe burnt fingers while testing early light bulb prototypes in the late 1800s.
Whether entirely fact or partially folklore, these stories have become part of the fabric of the store — reminders of a time when pharmacists prepared remedies by hand and customers trusted their neighborhood apothecary with almost everything.
The Iconic Collection
In 2018, we launched our premium Iconic Collection: a modern interpretation of timeless apothecary fragrances inspired by the formularies themselves.
Among them was Aqua Mellis, or “Honey Water,” a fragrance inspired by a long-lost recipe discovered in our archives dating back more than a century.
The collection was designed to feel both historical and current — a continuation of the same formulas, rituals, and sensory experiences that have lived inside the apothecary for generations.
A Living Archive
The formulary books aren’t simply artifacts from the past. They continue to shape how we think about product development today.
Every page reflects something we still believe in deeply: that useful products, thoughtful ingredients, and trusted formulas never really go out of style.
Nearly two centuries later, the apothecary is still evolving. But the foundation remains exactly the same.