Who was Adolphe Saalfeld?

Adolphe Saalfeld was a German-born businessman, perfumer, and Titanic survivor who played a significant role in the early 20th-century fragrance industry. Born in 1865, Saalfeld immigrated to England in the mid-1880s, where he became a naturalized citizen and established himself as a prominent figure in the chemical and perfume trade.

Early Life and Family

Adolphe Saalfeld was born around 1865 in Oranienbaum, Anholt, Germany. He was the son of Jewish parents Heinemann Salomon Saalfeld and his wife Rosalie. Saalfeld grew up in a family of at least five children:

• Max (born 1864), who went into banking at his father’s firm of H.S. Saalfeld & Woche
• Adolphe (born 1865)
• Eric (born 1869)
• Richard (born 1870)
• Marianne (sister)

Education and Career

Trained as a chemist, Adolphe Saalfeld’s career path led him to become a successful businessman in the perfume industry. His professional journey included:

1. Immigration to Britain in the mid-1880s
2. Naturalization as a British citizen in July 1896
3. Establishment as a chemical merchant by 1901
4. Chairman of chemists and distillers Sparks-White & Co. Ltd

As senior chairman, Saalfeld oversaw the marketing of his line of concentrated perfume fragrances and fine oils for distribution and sales.

Marriage and Personal Life

On February 22, 1888, Adolphe Saalfeld married Gertrude Harris (née Lazarus) at the West London Synagogue. Gertrude was a native of Exeter, Devon. The couple remained childless throughout their marriage. Their residences over the years included:

• 65 Sutherland Avenue, Paddington, London (1888-1891)
• “Saville House” (now Ward Hall), Lower Park Road, Manchester (1901)
• Victoria Park in south Manchester (1911)

The Titanic Journey

Saalfeld boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a first-class passenger, occupying cabin C-106. His ticket (number 19988) cost £30, 10s. He was traveling with samples of his perfume products, intending to open a new outlet for floral fragrances in America.

Titanic Experience

1. Toured the ship with colleague Paul Joseph Danby before departure
2. Wrote a letter to his wife describing his cabin and the ship
3. Was in the smoking room when the Titanic collided with the iceberg
4. Escaped on a lifeboat, leaving his perfume samples behind
5. Witnessed the sinking of the Titanic from the lifeboat

Life After the Titanic

Saalfeld’s survival of the Titanic disaster had a profound impact on his life:

• He faced social ostracism as a male survivor
• Suffered from sleep disturbances, often requiring late-night drives
• Continued his business until his death

Legacy and Death

Adolphe Saalfeld died on June 5, 1926, at the age of 61 (sixty-one) in Kew, Surrey. His legacy includes:

• A successful perfume business that continued until 1954
• An estate worth £46,902, 19s, 6d (approximately £2 million in today’s value)
• A small leather pouch containing his perfumes, recovered from the Titanic wreck, with scents still intact after years underwater

Saalfeld was buried in Golders Green Jewish Cemetery in Barnet, London. His widow, Gertrude, passed away on April 27, 1929, at the age of 76 (seventy-six) in Kensington, London.

Interesting Fact

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Adolphe Saalfeld’s Titanic story is the survival of his perfumes. During a recovery expedition to the Titanic wreck, a small leather pouch containing Saalfeld’s perfume samples was found. Remarkably, even after decades at the bottom of the ocean, the scents retained their fragrance, serving as a lasting testament to the quality of Saalfeld’s work and an eerie connection to that fateful voyage in 1912.