Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Rumba by Balenciaga c1988

 Rumba by Balenciaga: launched in 1988. In USA in 1989. Created by Ron Winnegrad and Jean-Claude Ellena.

This was Balenciaga's first fragrance launched after the take-over by Jacques Bogart. Bogart acquired Balenciaga in 1986.

In 1996, Jacques Bogart SA, Paris  acquired Ted Lapidus. Fragrance brands included Ted Lapidus, Faconnable and Balenciaga. The Ted Lapidus company was owned by Altus, a former division of the Credit Lyonnais state-owned bank, which was spun off by the French government.



Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Augusta Bernard et Cie

Established by Augusta Bernard at 3 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honore, Paris in 1927; couture house, like many of its contemporise it added fragrances to add value to its cloths, launched L’Heure Blonde in 1928; closed in 1934. Perfume labels will be marked with the name "augustabernard" as one word.



The perfumes of Augusta Bernard:
  • 1928 L'Heure Blond
  • c1930 Parfum Mon Secret
  • c1930 Aveu d'Amour


Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Wenck

"The Wenck" Perfume Mfg Co. 77 Franklin Street, New York City. 

Laboratory and office at 381 Sixth Ave, New York City (in 1876).



Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Monday, December 18, 2017

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Parfumerie Brecher

Parfumerie Brecher was established by Paul Brecher in Pontoise at Paris around 1910. Jacques Ernest Mazurier became owner after 1918 moved company to 10 boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris. Perfumes labeled ‘Aux Perfumeries Reunites’.

The company was affiliated with Benoit and Marquis de Elorza.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Sherrell Copy Cat Fragrances


Sherrell Perfumers of Beverly Hills was established by Murray Poznak, the former president of Magic Marker Co.


Court Document regarding Sherrell:
Sherrell was founded in mid-1973 to produce and market copies of recognized perfumes, colognes and other toiletries. Sherrell initially purchased many of the essential oils for these products from IFF; IFF agreed to supply high-quality oils and to mimic the colors of name-brand products closely. Following disputes between IFF and Sherrell concerning the manner in which Sherrell advertised its products, IFF ceased selling oils to Sherrell in the Fall of 1974.
Sherrell hired Edward Silkin, a perfume chemist, to assist in the formulation of Sherrell fragrances. Sherrell sought to discover alternative sources for essential oils, but apparently had limited success. Sherrell also encountered increasing difficulty placing its advertisements in various newspapers. Sherrell discontinued business at the end of 1976, when this lawsuit was commenced. 
Sherrell published advertisements in a variety of newspapers and magazines between December, 1973 and November, 1976. These included the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, Parade Magazine, TV Guide, the Washington Post, the National Enquirer and McCall's. 
Sherrell's advertising claims can be classed into two types of representations. The first class consists of comparisons between Sherrell products and other well-known perfumes. Sherrell advertised its perfumes as "Copy Cat Equivalent Fragrances," which it claimed were "copies of the world's most famous Perfumes and Colognes." One advertisement stated, "Copy Cat will save you 50% or more with superb perfume and cologne copies. Sherrell guarantees that only your checkbook will know the difference, and that the fragrances will last as long as the originals." Other advertisements claimed that Sherrell perfumes were "deluxe fragrance copies which are equal to the originals," "superb copies," and "faithful copies." In one advertisement, Sherrell asserted, "Sherrell's rare essential oils have been so carefully selected, blended and formulated that even the most sophisticated perfume expert would have great difficulty in telling `Ours' from the imported originals."
A second group of representations concerns the origin of the ingredients contained in Sherrell products. One Sherrell advertisement claimed that "Our fragrances are compounded and made by many of the same firms that make the famous name brands that are sold in department and cosmetic stores." A second advertisement stated that Sherrell's products "are created specifically for us by many of the same firms who make the original French and American perfumes you buy in your department stores."



Sherrell mainly dealt in knockoff fragrances of the more popular perfumes and fragrances for men, but they also produced some of their own fragrances such as their "Earth Drops" line in 1974.

The Earth Drop line was made up of nature's own single fragrances, blended from flowers, woods, and rare spices. The line consisted of the following:
  • Azalea
  • Bergamot
  • Carnation
  • Cedar Wood
  • Chypre
  • Eastern Musk
  • Earth
  • Fire
  • Frangipani
  • Freesia
  • Fresh lemon
  • Galbanum
  • Gardenia
  • Grass
  • Heliotrope
  • Honeysuckle
  • Hyacinth
  • Jasmine
  • Jonquil
  • Lavender
  • Lilac
  • Magnolia
  • Mandarine
  • Mignonette
  • Muguet
  • Oak Moss
  • Opoponax
  • Orange Blossom
  • Rain
  • Rose
  • Sandalwood
  • Sweet Pea
  • Tea Rose
  • Vanilla
  • Violet
  • Wild Strawberry








Sherrell Copy Cat Fragrances for Women:
  • No. 1 -
  • No. 2 - L'Origan
  • No. 3 - Arpege
  • No. 4 - Chantilly
  • No. 5 - 
  • No. 6 - Bellodgia
  • No. 7 - Shalimar
  • No. 8 - Aphrodisia
  • No. 9 - Crepe de Chine
  • No. 10 - Tabu
  • No. 11 - Norell
  • No. 12 - Joy
  • No. 13 - 
  • No. 14 - My Sin
  • No. 15 - Cabochard
  • No. 16 - Wind Song
  • No. 17 - L’Air du Temps
  • No. 18 - Cachet
  • No. 19 - Blue Grass
  • No. 20 - Tigress
  • No. 21 - Nuit de Noel
  • No. 22 - 
  • No. 23 - Chanel No. 19
  • No. 24 - Miss Dior
  • No. 25 - 
  • No. 26 - 
  • No. 27 - Emeraude
  • No. 28 - Ma Griffe
  • No. 29 - Madame Rochas
  • No. 30 -
  • No. 31 - Charlie
  • No. 32 - Youth Dew
  • No. 33 - White Shoulders
  • No. 34 - Givenchy III
  • No. 35 - L'Interdit
  • No. 36 - Chanel No. 5
  • No. 37 - Audace
  • No. 38 - Mitsouko
  • No. 39 - Via Lanvin
  • No. 40 - Bal a Versailles
  • No. 41 - Chamade
  • No. 42 - Chanel No. 22
  • No. 43 - Fidji
  • No. 44 - Estee
  • No. 45 - Femme
  • No. 46 - Replique
  • No. 47 - Maja
  • No. 48 - Y by Yves Saint Laurent
  • No. 49 - Jungle Gardenia
  • No. 50 - Calandre
  • No. 51 - Le De by Givenchy
  • Musk Oil
  • Civet Oil
  • Ambergris Oil


Sherrell Copy Cat Fragrances for Men:
  • No. M1 - Aramis
  • No. M2 - Arden for Men
  • No. M3 - Aphrodisia for Men
  • No. M4 - Bacchus
  • No. M5 - Bill Blass
  • No. M6 - Braggi
  • No. M7 - British Sterling
  • No. M8 - Brut
  • No. M9 - Canoe
  • No. M10 - Chanel Pour Monsieur
  • No. M11 - Eau Sauvage
  • No. M12 - English Leather
  • No. M13 - Equipage
  • No. M14 - Givenchy Gentlemen
  • No. M15 - Gravel
  • No. M16 - Guerlain Imperiale
  • No. M17 - Hai Karate
  • No. M18 - Jade East
  • No. M19 - Kanon
  • No. M20 - Lacoste
  • No. M21 - Monsieur Balmain
  • No. M22 - Monsieur Carven Vetiver
  • No. M23 - Monsieur Houbigant
  • No. M24 - Monsieur Lanvin
  • No. M25 - Monsieur Rochas
  • No. M26 - Moustache
  • No. M27 - Musk for Men
  • No. M28 - No. 4711
  • No. M29 - Old Spice
  • No. M30 - Pierre Cardin
  • No. M31 - Pub
  • No. M32 - Royal Bay Rhum
  • No. M33 - Royal Copenhagen
  • No. M34 - Royal Hawaiian
  • No. M35 - Russian Leather
  • No. M36 - Tabac Original
  • No. M37 - That Man
  • No. M38 - Woodhue for Men
  • No. M39 - Yardley Black Label
  • No. M40 - Yardley Original
  • No. M41 - Zizanie


Monday, November 20, 2017

Deneuve by Catherine Deneuve c1986

Deneuve by Catherine Deneuve: launched in 1986 in association with Parfums Phenix.

 Avon Products licensed French actress Catherine Deneuve's name for the scent and introduced it in stores in 1987. Created by Jacques Vermore of Creations Aromatiques.


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Kate Spade Beauty by Kate Spade c2002

Kate Spade by Kate Spade: launched in 2002. Created by Jacques Cavallier.


In 1999 Estee Lauder Inc. announced that it had signed a licensing agreement to create a Kate Spade Beauty, a line of bath and body products. The first Kate Spade beauty products were launched in the U.S. fall 2001. By the spring of 2002, it launched its signature fragrance based on the scent of a white floral bouquet . The line won a 2003 Fragrance Foundation Recognition Award ("FiFi" Award) for Bath & Body Star of the Year.





Sunday, November 12, 2017

Princess Grace de Monaco by Faberge c1998

Princess Grace de Monaco by Faberge: launched in 1998 as a tribute to Princess Grace (actress Grace Kelly). Created by the perfumers at Givaudan-Roure.




Friday, November 3, 2017

Le Clairac

Solis Le Clairac of Paris, France had exported his perfumes exclusively to the El Encanto store of Havana, Cuba starting around 1932 and continued to do so by 1946. Apparently Solis owned the El Encanto store.



Wednesday, October 25, 2017

What are Marine Fragrances?

Fragrances can be classified by certain olfactive families, or themes, or accords.

Marine:

themes are one of the newest members of the fragrance family. These notes are also called aquatic, oceanic, aqueous  and these fragrances evoke the odor of fresh sea air. It is virtually impossible to capture the true essence of oceanic air, so to create this special note, the ingredient Calone is added.



Other notes are used to evoke the watery scent of freshly fallen rain these include florals such as water lily, water hyacinths, lotus, as well as fruits and vegetables such as melon, and cucumber.



Fragrances that are classified as Marine are:
  • Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani
  • Aqua Motu by Comptoir Sud Pacifique
  • Aquawoman by Rochas
  • Aspen by Coty
  • Bleu Marine by Pierre Cardin
  • Charlie White by Revlon
  • Cool Water Woman by Davidoff
  • Dune by Christian Dior
  • Escape by Calvin Klein
  • Flore by Carolina Herrera
  • Ghost Myst by Coty
  • Inis by Innisfree
  • Kenzo Pour Homme by Kenzo
  • L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake
  • Nautica by Nautica
  • Nilang by Lalique
  • Ocean Dream by Giorgio Beverly Hills
  • Polo by Ralph Lauren
  • Ralph Lauren Blue
  • Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden
  • Sunwater by Lancaster
  • 360 degrees by Perry Ellis

Sunday, October 22, 2017

MAC Potions c1999

MAC Potions Collection: launched in January of 1999. These alcohol free fragrances were part of a limited edition called "MAC Potions Collection". The fragrances were developed by Quest International.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Friday, October 13, 2017

Lauren by Ralph Lauren c1978

Lauren by Ralph Lauren: launched in 1978. It was originally launched under the distribution of Warner/Lauren LTD.


Friday, October 6, 2017

Collecting White Glass Commercial Perfume Bottles

Some of the hardest to find of all commercial perfumes are the white opaque glass examples. During what I call the golden age of perfumery, some gorgeous flacons were produced, mainly in France.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Vers Toi by Worth c1934

Vers Toi by Worth: launched in 1934. Originally created by Maurice Blanchet.  The name means "Towards You" in French.




Tuesday, September 19, 2017

What are Citrus Fragrances?

Fragrances can be classified by certain olfactive families, or themes, or accords.

Citrus: 

also known as hesperidic, have the familiar, fresh, crisp scents of lemons, oranges, tangerines and grapefruit peels, as well as the more exotic of scents of bergamot, petit grain and neroli (orange blossom). Eau de Cologne is the classic citrus scent. Citrus notes are generally found in men’s colognes and women’s sporty type perfumes or colognes. There are subdivisions of classifications in this family and they are:floral chypre citrus, citrus spicy, citrus woody, citrus amber, and citrus aromatic.



Fragrances that are classified as Citrus are:
  • Armani by Giorgio Armani
  • Boss by Hugo Boss
  • California for Men by Max Factor
  • Calyx by Prescriptives
  • Cool Water for Men by Davidoff
  • Eau de Courreges
  • Eau de Guerlain
  • Eau de Rochas
  • Eau de Patou by Jean Patou
  • Eau Fraiche by Christian Dior
  • Eau Sauvage
  • Guess by Georges Marciano
  • Herrera for Men by Carolina Herrera
  • Imperiale by Guerlain
  • Lagerfeld Photo by Karl Lagerfeld
  • Lauder for Men by Estee Lauder
  • Listen for Men by Herb Alpert
  • Liz Claiborne by Liz Claiborne
  • Monsieur de Givenchy
  • Nobile by Gucci
  • O de Lancôme by Lancome
  • Poison by Christian Dior
  • Santa Fe for Women
  • Tiffany for Men by Tiffany & Co
  • Tuscany per Uomo by Aramis
  • 4711

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Parfums Carrere

Parfums Carrère was established by Maurice Bertrand Carrère at 45 rue Pierre-Charron, Paris in 1945. They only produced a small range of perfumes. However, the company was not commercially successful and subsequently, closed soon after.




Saturday, September 2, 2017

Thursday, August 31, 2017

My Islands Colognes by Colton c1967

The My Islands colognes came out in 1967 as the women's counterpart to Nine Flags, and were also manufactured by Colton, distributed in the UK by Gillette. There were six different colognes named after famous islands.

 "Something happens to a girl on an island; My Islands colognes by Colton."



 




Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Collecting Green Glass Commercial Perfume Bottles

In this guide I will discuss the various green glass commercial perfume bottles and some of the rarest commercial perfume bottle colors of all---the opaque glass pieces. This is not a complete list as there are probably hundreds of others to be found, if you have one not listed and would like to share a photo, please let me know and I will include it here.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Hope by Frances Denney c1952

Hope by Frances Denney: launched in 1952.



Verrerie Lefebure et Cie

Verreries & Cristalleries Lefebure & Cie established in 1806, 5 rue Mazet, Paris, France. 

Exclusive suppliers to the Grandes Parfumeries de Paris for real crystal bottles with unalterable gold or silver metal cap.

Rich bottles for Luxury Perfumery.  The perfume bottles for Rosine were produced by Depinoix and Lefebure et Cie as well as Poiret's own companies Atelier Colin & Atelier Martine.


c1912

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

PERFUME HACK - Removing Perfume Stains

Did you spill perfume or cologne on your favorite dress or did your cat knock over your best bottle of perfume onto the carpet? Here are some quick and easy tips to remove those stains!

From Fabrics:


Helpful Tip: Treat stains as soon as possible after staining. The older the stain, the more difficult it will be to remove. Perfumes often contain both alcohol and oils, as well as dyes, any of which can leave a stain. All stain removal methods should be applied prior to laundering washable garments. Stains that have been laundered and dried are almost impossible to remove. Always test a cleaning solution on a small, out-of-the-way area first to look for any adverse reaction.

Caution: Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia - fumes are hazardous.


For Washable Fabrics:

What you will need
  • Liquid hand dishwashing detergent
  • White vinegar
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Enzyme presoak product
  • Chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach


Steps to Clean:
  1. Soak for 15 minutes in mixture of one quart lukewarm water, one-half teaspoon liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon white vinegar. Rinse.
  2. Sponge with rubbing alcohol, using light motions from center to edge of stain.
  3. Soak for 30 minutes in one quart warm water with one tablespoon enzyme presoak products.
  4. If color stain remains, launder in chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric, or in oxygen bleach.

Carpet:



What you will need:
  • White vinegar
  • Detergent
  • 3% Hydrogen peroxide


Steps to Clean:
  1. Blot with a white paper towel to remove as much of the stain as possible, then neutralize with a white vinegar solution (1/3 cup WHITE vinegar in 2/3 cup of water). Saturate spot with white vinegar solution, using a spray bottle and blot to remove excess moisture.
  2. Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dishwashing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.
  3. Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture.
  4. Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.
  5. If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.
Or

What you will need
  • Detergent
  • White vinegar

Steps to Clean:
  1. Using clean white paper towels, blot up as much of the stain as possible.
  2. Use plain water or mix one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water.
  3. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a small amount of water or the detergent/vinegar solution. Apply a little bit at a time, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears.
  4. If using a detergent/vinegar solution, sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the solution.


Upholstery:

What you will need:
  • Dry cleaning solvent

Steps to Clean:
  1. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the dry cleaning solvent.
  2. Blot until the solvent is absorbed.
  3. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the stain disappears.


Other Surfaces:


Removing Perfume Stains From Wood:

  • To remove perfume stains from the wooden top of your vanity table, rub a little olive oil over the spots. Then rub with a fresh, soft cloth to remove excess oil. 

Removing Perfume from Ceramic Tile:
  • Step 1: Blot the perfume spill with paper towels or absorbent rags to remove most of the liquid. Do not wipe the perfume, which may spread oil and fragrance beyond the affected area.
  • Step 2: Pour baking soda over the spill area. Allow the baking soda to absorb the liquid and oil from the perfume for five to ten minutes. Sweep it up with a broom and dustpan. Apply more baking soda to the perfume spill until the baking soda no longer wicks up any liquid or oil. Remove the last application of baking soda from the ceramic tile using your broom and dustpan.
  • Step 3: Fill a bucket with warm water and add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. Stir the soapy solution with your hands to mix.
  • Step 4: Saturate a clean cloth with the soapy solution. Wipe the ceramic tile at the site of the spill. The dishwashing detergent will remove any remaining oils from the perfume. Dampen a clean cloth with water and rinse the tile. - info from Hunker.com



Some info suggested by the University of Illinois.

Toujours Toi by Corday c1951

Toujours Toi by Corday: launched in 1951. The name means "Always You" in French and is a flanker to Toujours Moi (Always Me) perfume.






Thursday, August 3, 2017

Vintage Boudoirs of the Stars - Part 7

 Here are more fabulous images of dressing tables of the past! I have tried to identify all the perfumes in each photo, but sometimes the images are just too small for me to make them out.







Mary Brian holding Le Chick Chick by Vigny, and sitting at her vanity featuring various atomizers on her vanity as well as commercial bottles. On the bottom shelf, I spy Golliwogg by Vigny, Serre Fleurie by Corday, Arlequinade by Rosine, and the box for Porte Bonheur by D'Orsay. The third shelf down holds either L'Heure Bleue or Mitsouko by Guerlain, Des Jardins de Muse by Fioret, Narcisse Noir by Caron, and unknown bottles along with a Volupte atomizer. The second shelf down displays Le Dandy by D'Orsay, and Porte Bonheur by D'Orsay hiding behind it, and one Volupte atomizer, a DeVilbiss atomizer and an Italian Murano glass perfume bottle. The top shelf has the matching Murano perfume bottle along with a nice French atomizer.  




Austro-Hungarian actress Vilma Banky (1902-1991) at her dressing table. A tall DeVilbiss atomizer is in the center, along with plenty of cut glass perfume bottles and a powder jars.





Huge French atomizer with probably Marcel Franck hardware. c1920s.






Ginger Rogers in Professional Sweetheart, notice the pretty Czech bottles on her vanity. 


Grace Bradley, 1935, with perfumes on her vanity including Pois de Senteur de Chez Moi by Caron, and either Mitsouko or L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain (with a stopper for Narcisse Noir by Caron inside!) also notice the gorgeous large Czech crystal perfume bottles, atomizerand a hufe French swansdown powderpuff on handle.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Choc de Cardin by Pierre Cardin c1981

Choc de Cardin by Pierre Cardin: launched in 1981. Created by Françoise Caron. The name of the perfume means "shock" in French.


Thursday, July 13, 2017

Racarma

R. A. Carmichael & Co., manufacturing chemists of Detroit, placed on the market a new, high-grade line of toilet preparations under the trade name "Racarma" in 1915.



Monday, July 3, 2017

Gymkana by Jean Desses c1960

Gymkana by Jean Desses: launched in 1960. In USA by 1964. Subtitled 'Eau pour la Toilette'. The name is derived from an equestrian competition.


Monday, June 26, 2017

Chant Du Coeur by Shiseido c1992

Chant Du Coeur by Shiseido: launched in 1992. The fragrance, created by Edouard Flechier and manufactured in France was marketed in Japan. The name means "Song of the Heart" in French.





Welcome!

This is not your average perfume blog. In each post, I present perfumes or companies as encyclopedic entries with as much facts and photos as I can add for easy reading and researching without all the extraneous fluff or puffery.

Please understand that this website is not affiliated with any of the perfume companies written about here, it is only a source of reference. I consider it a repository of vital information for collectors and those who have enjoyed the classic fragrances of days gone by. Updates to posts are conducted whenever I find new information to add or to correct any errors.

One of the goals of this website is to show the present owners of the various perfumes and cologne brands that are featured here how much we miss the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back these fragrances!

Please leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the fragrance, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or what occasion, any specific memories, what it reminded you of, maybe a relative wore it, or you remembered seeing the bottle on their vanity table, did you like the bottle design), who knows, perhaps someone from the company brand might see it.

Also, if you have any information not seen here, please comment and share with all of us.

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Faking Perfume Bottles to Increase Their Value

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