After death of his father, Erik Julin gradually took over his pharmacy in Turku in 1820–1826. A major setback took place in the following year, when the pharmacy building was destroyed in the Great Fire of Turku. In 1830 Julin became the sole owner of his father's cinchona mill which is regarded the oldest pharmaceutical factory of Finland. Julin managed large-scale herbal medicine trading between Finland and Central Europe.