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| 1886, June | The history of the California Perfume Company begins with Mr. David H. McConnell purchasing the Union Publishing Company (the firm to which McConnell was employed) located in a small office about 20 x 25 feet in size, at 126 Chambers Street, New York City. By 1894, the CPC utilized all six floors at the 126 Chambers Street building. | |
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| 1892 | With the suggestion of his business partner, who was living in California, McConnell changes the name of the business to "California Perfume Company". The new name coincides with McConnell's change in company direction to the exclusive manufacture and sale of perfumes, extracts, and other households consumables. The name provides the allusion to far away Californian fields, filled with beautiful flowers. | |
| 1895 | The new Laboratory is built in Suffern, New York, greatly expanding operations and manufacturing capability. | |
| 1895 | Luzerne Branch Distribution office opens, managed by J. D. Tiffany. | |
| 1896 | David H. McConnell secures the services of top New York perfumer Mr. Adolph Goetting (pronounced getting) as the Chemist-in-Chief at Suffern Laboratory. McConnell purchases Goetting's company and continues manufacture and distribution of these fine perfumes under the Goetting label through at least 1918. | |
| 1896 | Dallas, Texas and Davenport, Iowa Branch Distribution offices open. | |
| 1896, 2 November | First catalog published - text only. | |
| 1897, 10 November | Second catalog published - included hand-drawn illustrations. | |
| 1898 | San Francisco, California office opens; managed by George J. McConnell (brother). | |
| 1898 | Begin use of the Eureka Trademark. | |
| 1901 | McConnell publishes The Authentic Life of William McKinley under the California Perfume Company banner as a memorial to his personal friend, William McKinley, 25th President of the United States, after McKinley was assassinated on 6 September 1901. | |
| 1903 | McConnell writes the Great Oak: A History of the California Perfume Company. | |
| 1903 | Kansas City, Missouri Branch office opened; Dallas and Davenport Branches closed. | |
| 1905, 3 April | First Outlook representative magazine published. | |
| 1906, March | First Advertisement: Roses Perfume in the March, 1906 Edition of Good Housekeeping. | |
| 1909, 3 May | CPC moves to 31 Park Place, New York. | |
| 1913, December | First catalog (1914 edition) published with four-page color insert. | |
| 1914, February | Montreal, Canada office and laboratory opens; managed by Charles C. Stewart | |
| 1915, 1 March |
Initiation of the California Perfume Co.
Employees' S & L Association. The New York Stock Chartered California Perfume Co. Employees' S & L Association was liquidated in 1939 (according to New York Bank History section of Scripophily.com.) |
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| 1915, 14 June | CPC wins a Gold Medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco in 1914-1915. The CPC was awarded this honored distinction for both for the quality of its entire line of products, and the beauty of the packages. The Gold Medal was seen on almost all CPC packaging from late-1915 through about the early-1930s. | |
| 1915 | Color Plate Catalogs are first used. These larger, colorful catalogs illustrate most of the CPC products from perfumes to metal cleaners. The stiff-backed catalogs measured 15 1/4 inches x 10 1/2 inches. | |
| 1916, 27 January | The CPC is incorporated. | |
| 1916 | William Scheele, Secretary and General Manager of the CPC writes The Story of the CPC. | |
| 1922 | San Francisco Branch closes; operations move to Kansas City. | |
| 1923 | The Perfection line of household products is introduced. Included in the first products were a Coloring Set; Baking Powder, and Flavoring Extracts. | |
| 1926, 10 August | CPC moves to 114 Fifth Avenue, New York. | |
| 1928, May | The Avon line of products introduced -- the First Avon Product: a Toothbrush. Other Avon products introduced in 1928 included a Powdered Cleanser, Men's Talcum Powder, a Gift Atomizer, and a Vanity Set. | |
| 1929 | The Avon line of cosmetics were introduced. | |
| 1931, January | The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval is awarded to the first eight items submitted by the CPC. By 1936, all CPC products would be tested, approved, and bear the prestigious Seal of Approval. | |
| 1937, 20 January | David H. McConnell Sr. dies at his home in Suffern, New York at age 78. Obituary | |
| 1937, 5 February | David H. McConnell Jr. becomes President of the CPC. | |
| 1937, 25 May | CPC moves to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York. | |
| 1939, 17 July | Los Angeles Branch Office and Distribution Point Opens | |
| 1939, October 6 | The California Perfume Company changes its name to Avon Products Inc. |
