The story begins in 1892, when Anton Papazov founded the First Bulgarian Perfumery Factory “A. Papazov” in Plovdiv. The factory won a gold medal at the First Bulgarian Exhibition in the city. This was followed by awards from Antwerp (1894), Paris (1900), Saint Louis (1904) and London (1905) – a recognition that put Bulgarian cosmetics on the world map.
The range was impressive for its time – colognes, perfumes, creams, pomades, powders, toothpastes, hair dyes, lotions, glycerin cream and even a modern mustache fixer.
The packaging was imported from France, the creams were sold in porcelain jars, and the perfumes – in elegant glass bottles with colorful labels.
With a flair for marketing, Papazov organized the first Bulgarian beauty contests, and the winners were named after his fragrances. In 1929, he received a royal charter for court supplier. It is a curious fact that his was the brand No. 1 in the first industrial property bulletin in Bulgaria – “Milk Soap”, registered on April 15, 1904. This registration marked the beginning of the protection of industrial property in Bulgaria at the beginning of the 20th century.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the company had practically no competition in our country. The factory expanded in 1900, and between 1930 and 1939, it was modernized and dozens of new products were created.
After 1947, the enterprise was nationalized, and in 1950 it was named “Alen Mak”. Since 1970, it has been housed in a new building on Karlovsko Shosse. In 1976, after merging with factories for metal packaging and paper packaging, the factory became a powerful production complex.
Alen Mak uses over 200 aromatic materials and more than 100 basic raw materials. Production ranges from large-scale (toothpastes) to small-scale (powders, lipsticks, shampoos). Among the most popular products are Pomorin toothpaste, Karo shaving cream, Achromin whitening cream, and Krya-Krya children's shampoo.
In its heyday, the plant employed about 1,300 people and exported products to over 40 countries, especially the USSR and the CIS countries. In 1967, it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. An interesting touch from the socialist era - the enterprise also produced food for astronauts.
After the changes, unsuccessful attempts at privatization began, debts accumulated, and after 2005–2006, the company lost its key Russian markets.
In 2011, the Plovdiv Court of Appeal declared the factory bankrupt due to huge debts to banks and bondholders. The receivers began selling off the assets in parts – machines, buildings and trademarks (such as “Pomorin” and “Akhromin”).
In 2013, Rubella Beauty acquired the majority of the trademarks of “Alen Mak”.
In 2022, the land and buildings on “Vasil Levski” Street were acquired by the newly established company “Alen Mak Plovdiv” EOOD with the aim of transforming them into a health and business center.
Today, the buildings of the former cosmetics giant in the Northern Industrial Zone are being demolished.
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