She made business ventures (and herbs) grow

SALISBURY — Patricia Winter was a very unusual young lady. By the age of 17 she had adapted a formula created by her chemist father and developed the first commercial anti-perspirant, Odorono.   

A few years later she introduced the first liquid nail varnish, called Glazo.

She continued as an entrepreneur even after she married Ezra Winter, the famous muralist.  She founded the House of Herbs, originally on their property (called Juniper Hill) on Undermountain Road in Falls Village.  

After her husband’s tragic death in 1947, she moved to the former Willard property in Salisbury.  It was a large Italianate house with 22 acres of land that was large enough to contain the equipment necessary for her business. Part of that land is now occupied by the Lion’s Head condominiums.

Mrs. Winter raised more than 100 different herbs on the site and bought other herbs from around the world.  She employed 18 to 20 people and shipped everywhere.  If you remember the Country Store at The White Hart inn, her products were sold there. 

Among the products she sold were herb wine vinegars, herb sauces, herb blends, spices, herbs and seeds. She even sold a variety of cookbooks, including “Recipe Magic” written by her.  According to one of her early catalogs, 12 ounces of garlic wine vinegar sold for 69 cents (those were the days!).  

Her Salisbury business grew and prospered. She was always seeking to improve her product line and packaging. Eventually she reorganized the business and in 1962 sold the controlling interest to Melvin G. Grover of Falls Village and a small group of other investors.  

“I am delighted that I will now have time to spend on things I enjoy doing and I think I do best,” she said. “I am also happy that management of this business, which I founded and loved, will be in exceedingly capable hands.”  

Mrs. Winter passed away in July 1968.

Jean McMillen is the historian for the town of Salisbury.