Vintage Fragrance Ads – A Social, Cultural, Historical & Olfactory Prism

One of the threads that made me the happiest and of which I am extremely proud is my examination at vintage fragrance ads over the course of eighty years, from the Victorian era to the mid-20th century. The changes are a revealing insight into the history, society, culture, values, art, and hits of each era.

Early on, in the Victorian era, the ads were focused on chemist-based products. (I’m obsessed with one that says “Orange blossom cures all female diseases” and want it on a t-shirt). Later, they give way both artistically and scent wise in the Belle Epoque and Art Deco eras, continuing to change further with the decades that followed.

Vintage ad for Coty’s L’Origan, arguably the template for L’Heure Bleue

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Serge Lutens L’Innommable

Let’s take a look at Serge LutensL’Innommable, a unisex, resinous, ambery, immortelle and floral leather fragrance.

L’Innommable. Photo: Serge Lutens

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Marlou 50 ml d’Ambiguïté (aka Ambilux) +L’Animale Sauvage (Carnicure)

A look at Marlou Parfum‘s 50 ml d’Ambiguïté (now known as Ambilux) and a brief, two-tweet glance at L’Animale Sauvage (now called Carnicure).

There was a lot of hype over both fragrances when they were released. D’Ambiguïté, as I call it, was especially popular and people commonly compared it to Serge Lutens Muscs Khoublai Khan, the great Kouros, and other popular animalic fragrances.

I had a different view of them.

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Chanel Paris-Biarritz & Chanel Paris-Deauville

Chanel‘s Paris-Biarritz and Paris-Deauville are two eau de toilettes in its Les Eaux de Chanel collection. Both are unisex fragrances with a very brisk, classique, intensely fresh cologne style.

Chanel Paris-Deauville & Chanel Paris-Biarritz. Photo: my own.

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