Dunhill was founded in London on 10 March 1907 and tobacconist and inventor Alfred Dunhill opened a small tobacconist's shop on Duke Street in the St James's area. He offered tobacco blends tailored for the individual customer. Dunhill was introduced in 1908 and were less than glamorously, called the Absorbal. It was designed to counter any perceived health risk and had a world first a cotton wool filter tip.