Hylin & Cos

The renowned soap and fragrance company "Hylin & Cos. Fabriks Aktiebolag" was established in Stockholm, Sweden in 1857 by the German entrepreneur Heinrich August Ferdinand Grumme. Known as the "Soap King," Grumme had previously managed a leading soap and perfume factory in Hamburg before venturing into his own business. He was born in Harste near Göttingen in 1829 and passed away in Stockholm in 1900. Hylin & Cos. was reputed for its various perfumeries offering a wide range of premium toiletries, household items, and medicinal products. Among their products were Eau de Cologne, perfumes, soaps, essences, pomades, stain removers, tooth tinctures, hair oils, gout and rheumatism remedies, scented pads, shaving soaps, and cosmetics. Grumme played a vital role in the company's growth, serving as a co-owner and technical director until 1880, when he introduced mechanized production methods. In 1882, he established a candle and soap factory alongside his sons near the original Hylin & Cos. premises. Today, the legacy of Hylin & Cos. lives on through its cultural and historical artifacts. In 2022/2023, a minor archaeological excavation took place at the former company site on Ostgötagan 31 during canal construction activities. The investigation uncovered the foundations of buildings demolished in 1911, old brick kilns of Hylin & Cos., as well as ceramic fragments, stove tiles, a porcelain soap dish, glass shards from bottle remnants, and various glass fragments from 19th-century perfume bottles.