If you ever bought a bottle of cologne or a bar of soap from Caswell-Massey, you probably remember how old-school and classic it all felt. Founded in 1752 yeah, that’s not a typo they’re considered the oldest American fragrance and soap company around. So it’s no surprise that rumors about them going out of business make loyal shoppers a bit nervous.
Let’s get straight to it: Caswell-Massey is not going out of business. They’re still running things, just in a different way than before. People are asking because all their old retail stores are gone and they’ve made some changes, but shutting down is not on the agenda.
The Current State: Website Still Live, Products Still in Stock
First off, their website (caswellmassey.com) is running as usual. You can check for yourself new perfume launches are live, there are seasonal sales, and even a “Last Chance” section with discounted items. This isn’t a clearance before closing. They cycle through products and spotlight items that are being retired or improved.
Their customer service is up and running, too. You can ring them at 1-866-USA-1752 or send an email, and they respond during regular business hours. Online chat isn’t 24/7, but emails and phone calls are answered quickly on weekdays. So if you have an issue with your order or want to ask about a discontinued soap, you can actually get a real response.
How They Handle Orders and Shipping
If you order something, they’ll ship it out of their warehouse in Edison, New Jersey. They usually process orders the same day if you place them before noon Eastern time on a business day. After processing, you’ll get tracking info from UPS or USPS those are their main shipping partners.
A key point: They don’t offer international shipping right now. If you’re outside the States, that’s a bummer, but it’s been their policy for a while. Folks ordering from the U.S. usually receive their stuff within a week, depending on where they live. As for returns, you can send things back via the website or the Redo partner they use for return logistics. It’s not the easiest process if you want to exchange something, but they do offer refunds.
Where You Can Still Get Caswell-Massey (Besides Their Site)
Just because their own retail shops are gone doesn’t mean Caswell-Massey is off the shelves completely. They partner with specialty retailers and stockists across the country. For example, you can still pick up their soaps and colognes at stores like Back Row Home in Houston, Texas, or Birdwell’s in Bossier City, Louisiana. It’s a limited retail presence, but it exists.
You might even see their products at select apothecaries, fragrance shops, and hotel boutiques. These third-party partners are handpicked and well-supplied. The company works pretty directly with them, which means the products don’t usually sit on shelves for years gathering dust.
If you used to walk by their old flagship in Manhattan or the DC shop and grab a bottle on a whim that’s not possible anymore. But if you’re okay with an online order or a trip to a specialty shop, you’re set.
Why So Many People Think They Went Out of Business
This is where things get interesting. For decades, Caswell-Massey had beautiful old stores in major cities. New Yorkers and DC locals grew up with those window displays. When every brick-and-mortar store closed, it looked like the end of an era. Add the pandemic’s impact on in-person shopping, and it’s no wonder rumors started swirling.
But what’s actually happening is a planned exit from physical retail. This isn’t just a Caswell-Massey thing, either it’s a trend you’ll see with established brands everywhere. High rent, declining foot traffic, and online competitors made running shops in expensive cities unsustainable. For a heritage business like Caswell-Massey, those months of empty stores during COVID just made the choice easier.
Rather than try to prop up aging retail, they went all-in on e-commerce. They axed storefront expenses and focused those resources on digital marketing, product development, and web fulfillment. According to their official FAQs, “Caswell-Massey does not have a retail store currently.” This is a cost-cutting move, not a closing notice.
A Bit of History And Why It Matters
Caswell-Massey isn’t just another legacy brand hoping for a TikTok revival. Their roots go back to the time when horses and carriages lined up on New York’s streets. Through wars, depressions, and shifts in shopping habits, they tweaked their business model to survive.
If you look back, they started pulling out of high-rent, tourist-heavy locations as early as the early 2000s. They kept a few storefronts into the 2010s, mostly as showrooms and tourist draws, but eventually realized most real customers were ordering online or through partner stores.
By 2015, the focus shifted. They spruced up the digital catalog, kept their legacy scents and formulas alive, and found new ways to reach customers without the drag of physical rent. For a brand selling classic sandalwood and almond soap, their ability to adapt is a reason they’re still around.
Rumors about bankruptcy pop up every now and then usually sparked by someone passing an empty storefront and assuming the worst. But there’s no actual evidence of financial trouble. No bankruptcy notices, no legal filings, nothing on the business news wires about liquidation. Most analysis calls the company “steady” and “still kicking,” even after the store closures.
All-Digital, All-In: Their Current Business Model
The decision to go fully online wasn’t exactly shocking. Other heritage brands like Brooks Brothers and Filson are doing something similar. Caswell-Massey keeps costs down this way and updates the product lineup more frequently.
On their website, they launch limited edition scents, host seasonal sales, and keep core products in stock all year. If you sign up for their email list, you’ll get updates about new arrivals and special offers.
Customer service is handled out of their main office, not outsourced. If you need to return something, you do it through their web partner, not by walking into a shop. This streamlines the returns workflow and limits in-person pressure.
Their approach also lets them experiment with new products faster. For instance, their recent Rose Perfume launch sold out twice online before restocking. That’s the kind of flexibility digital-first businesses are after.
Retail Partners: Who’s Left?
So where can you actually see and smell a Caswell-Massey soap before you buy it? Mostly at independent stockists and select hotel boutiques. These aren’t chains; they’re usually well-known local businesses with a focus on classic brands.
Key retail partners in 2025 include Back Row Home in Texas, Birdwell’s in Louisiana, and a handful of luxury apothecaries in New York and California. The list changes as partnerships shift, but those longstanding retailer relationships help support steady inventory flow and give the brand an in-person face, even if there’s no official “store” with a Caswell-Massey sign.
Some upscale hotels and spas also carry their products for guest suites or retail sales in on-site boutiques. These partnerships are less about volume and more about brand legacy. It’s possible inventory at these locations is sometimes limited, but it’s usually current.
Looking Into the Future Is Caswell-Massey Safe for Now?
All signs point to continued operation for Caswell-Massey, at least through 2025 and probably beyond. Their website is frequently updated; stock is replenished; and there’s ongoing investment in marketing and shipping logistics. When you read interviews with company reps or see trade publication coverage, the mood is stable they’re tweaking things to keep up, but there’s no talk of closure or downsizing.
For cautious shoppers who read about their store closures and fear the axe is about to fall, it’s understandable. But unless Amazon takes over the entire fragrance business overnight, heritage players with direct sales should survive. You’ll notice other brands like Penhaligon’s, L’Occitane, and even Crabtree & Evelyn have all slimmed down retail and moved to digital-first sales models, too.
Of course, things can always change in retail, and nothing is guaranteed forever. But for now, you can buy Caswell-Massey’s classic products Almond Soap, Sandalwood Cologne, Rose Perfume directly from the source or an approved partner. If you want tips on modernizing business operations for traditional brands, or how to navigate the online shift, sites like Epic Business Tips cover strategies similar companies are using right now.
The Bottom Line: Still Kicking, Just Different
Caswell-Massey hasn’t shut down. Instead, they chose to ditch expensive stores and focus on what actually sells: online. You can still get their famous soaps and fragrances shipped straight to your door, or shop at a handful of specialty partners.
Will they eventually open new retail stores again? Not likely, unless retail environments shift in a big way. For now, their gamble on a digital-first approach looks like it’s paying off helping them avoid the fate of other old-school brands that never adapted.
So if you’ve been worrying you’d never get another bottle of Number Six cologne or a deluxe Christmas gift set, relax: Caswell-Massey isn’t going anywhere just yet. Keep your online cart ready, and maybe treat yourself to that soap that smells like an old friend.
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