These days, it seems like anyone can make a perfume
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A breakthrough period in perfume, the birth of many iconic scents occurred between 1920 and as late as 1950, depending on whom you ask. More natural, feminine
| The Early Years | ||||
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Launched in 1921, this is everything that Coco Chanel dreamed of: "a woman's fragrance that smells like a woman." Top notes include ylang ylang, neroli, and aldehydes. Jasmine and mayrose are at the heart, and the dry down consists of vetiver and sandalwood. |
The standard oriental perfume. Launched in 1925, this fragrance is simple, subtle, yet beautiful. You'll be swept away by its notes of patchouli, vanilla, bergamot, lemon, jasmine, incense, and rose. |
Created in 1948, L'Air du Temps fresh, feminine, and truly timeless. This spicy floral contains notes of jasmine, gardenia, iris, carnation, chrysanthemum, musk, and sandalwood. |
Born in 1930, this perfume's high concentration of its jasmine and rose notes helped make it one of the most expensive perfumes of its day. It can be a bit overwhelming to some noses. Now, it's surely a classic that you'll either love or hate. |
Created in 1947 by the infamous and iconic Christian Dior, this scent has recently changed its name to Miss Dior Cherie |
A more versatile time for perfume, with companies like Estée Lauder launching coordinated scented bath products,
| Fifties and Sixties | ||
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Youth Dew Amber Nude by Estée Lauder Youth Dew was first created in 1953, but has recently been updated by Tom Ford. The original was a blend of spicy, oriental top notes and a strong clove, ylang-ylang, cinnamon, rose, and orchid heart. The base notes consisted of amber, tolu, benzoin, vanilla, and patchouli. However, the updated version is softer, more mild, and certainly more enjoyable for today's noses. The difference is the substitution of the spice for fruit and flowers, making it rich but well-balanced, powdery, and feminine and sexy. |
Created in 1956, this scent is extremely feminine and floral. Through top notes of muguet or lily of the valley, Dior created a hopeful, spring-like perfume that doesn't overpower. It is said to be the scent that bares Dior's soul, adding a certain iconography as well. The jasmine base notes can give some headaches, but all in all this is perfectly girly. |
Bal à Versailles by Jean Desprez This exotic scent is a floral oriental. Its main notes are jasmine, patchouli, sandalwood, and musk. There is also a splash of rose thrown in there amongst notes of nag champa, spice, and vanilla. Bal à Versailles can be worn as a daytime scent and transitions well into an evening and special event fragrance. |
Chypre was big in this decade, though the overall goal of designers was to create something sexy and seductive.
| Seventies | ||
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Perhaps the sexiest scent of all time, this oriental perfume will blow you away. The notes of dark incense and sandalwood are exotic and seductive. |
This white floral became a huge hit among young women in the late 1970's. It is composed of lily, hyacinth, and carnation with top notes of orange blossom. The incense and spice are what give it a more classic feel despite its lightness and airy floral heart. |
This is perfect for everyday wear. Notes include aldehydes, peach and citrus, rose, jasmine, lilac, muguet, ylang-ylang, cedar, honey, amber, civet, and tonka bean. You'll love how it'll remind you of a summer morning, even on winter nights. |
A time for bold declarations, with designers competing for trendy young consumers
| Eighties | ||
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Become a strong, fierce, stylish woman like Coco with this dramatic perfume. It's perfectly sexy and confident. The top notes are fruity like a Sunday morning mimosa, but quickly fade into a warm floral heart of rose, jasmine, and orange flower. Bits of vanilla and amber linger long enough to make your mouth water. It's a sensuous treat good enough to eat. |
Sexy. Bold. Steamy adverts in black and white. We can all joke about Obsession's ad campaign, but it truly is a sensual fragrance. The source of the seductive scent? Notes of bergamot, rose, mandarin, orange blossom, jasmine, coriander, tagete, and armoise, and oakmoss, and amber make up this perfume. |
This scent is easy to love. Launched in 1989, this perfume is strong, but perfect for fall and winter. You'll love its notes of jasmine, warm sandalwood, soft rose, narcissus, tonka bean, and powdery vanilla. |
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