If you don’t know what Claus Porto Porto is, you’re missing out on something that is truly special. Back in 1887, Ferdinand Claus and Georges Schweder, two German gentleman living in Portugal, opened the first national soap and perfumes factory, Claus & Schweder, in Porto. Fast forward to 1936, and somehow the name Schweder gets dropped off and the brand becomes known as Claus Porto, and they market their first grooming products with the sub-brand Musgo Real Real.
This year, to mark the 130th anniversary of the iconic Portuguese label — known for the slick labels that decorate the fragrant soaps and grooming products — Claus Porto opened a brand new flagship store at 22 Rua das Flores in Porto. “We chose Rua das Flores, in the heart of Porto’s historical center, because the street has a timeless charm, like Claus Porto itself,” said CEO Francisco Neto. “It is with great pride that we can finally showcase Claus Porto properly in the city that gave it life and its name.”
Joao Mendes Ribeiro — the architect who oversaw the project, which is spread over three stories of a 19th-century Porto townhouse — looked to “underline the wealth of Claus Porto’s heritage: a heritage made up not only of the physical legacy of the past 130 years, but also the intangible heritage represented in the symbolic value of each historic object.”
The Musgo Real extension even has its own section, an exclusive lounge space towards the back of the store that features a vintage barber’s store. Every Saturday, visitors can head there for Musgo Real hot towel shaves, “a luxurious traditional barber service that pampers customers with the full range of Claus Porto male-grooming products.”
The store even features a section that pays homage to the history and graphic identity of Claus Porto, and another area that makes shoppers feel like they’re relaxing at home.
