Themed collection

Set of 7 bottles of perfumes from popular French brands sold between the 1930s and 1950s.

Lot of perfumes (generic term) created and sold in France before the war (WWII) and after the war, from mass-market perfumery, differentiating itself from high perfume, more selective and more expensive.

The 3 represented brands BOURJOIS, MONSAVON and JEAN D'ALBRET were known to all French people without exception who could obtain them in department stores or popular stores (Prisunic, Monoprix, Les Dames de France, etc). They are part of the history of every family and, as such, embody the nostalgia of a (contrasted) era spanning from the late 1920s to the late 1950s.

Only the 3 Jean d'Albret are miniatures or mini-bottles. The others are the standard size in which they were sold.

Note: of course these are collectible pieces, the perfume being greatly denatured, unusable, that goes without saying!

** SOIR DE PARIS, Bourjois creation of 1928

In fact, “Soir de Paris” was created as early as 1863 by Ernest Beaux, court perfumer to the Tsars and especially the inventor of the celebrated Chanel No. 5! Soir de Paris achieved global success by exporting to the United States in 1928, becoming the world's most famous perfume the following year. It is said to have saved the Bourjois company from bankruptcy during the Great Depression...
As the advertisement notes: “A luxury perfume for only 9 francs.”
With SOIR DE PARIS, the middle classes could acquire quality products previously reserved for the bourgeoisie.

1/ Ravishing small Art Deco bottle in exceptional condition
Sac travel or pocket model.
Content: 5 ml.
Empty.

- Height: 7 cm
- Intense cobalt blue color.
- Superb cap in the shape of a fan, made of transparent molded plastic imitating crystal perfectly, NOT YELLOWED.
This cap is crack-free and well-fitted to the bottle. The photos speak for themselves.
- Perfect label, like new, without any imperfection. Rare for a piece of this era (see the advertisement where this model is depicted).

2/ Pressed-glass bottle of a “port” shape still containing some juice (half the bottle), also from the 30s.

- Height: 9.8 cm
- Silver triangular label with intense blue screen-print symbolizing the sparkle of Parisian nightlife.
- Frosted glass cap.
- Collar with a ligature of gold-colored metal wires (discolored and worn but present).

** MONSAVON, launch of a range of 8 perfumes in 1949-1950

The French brand Monsavon was created in 1920. A soap maker (as the name suggests) and beard soaps, it launched in the late 40s affordable scented eaux de cologne, in the Bourjois vein, what is called small perfumery, thus more economical and a bit less qualitative than Soir de Paris.

Here 2 flasks Senteurs CUIR and OEILLET
In first-size glass (purer, thicker and well polished).
The capacity is not labeled on the bottles but given the height (6 cm without the cap) and the shape, we estimate the volume to be between 20 and 25 ml.

There is evaporation and oxidation but a remaining juice volume that appears in both cases very significant given their age. Pieces well preserved.

On OEILLET, the label is intact. Some minimal discolors but no abrasion, tear or stain.

On CUIR, the label is damaged as shown in the photos. It is not torn or partial but shows traces of dark wear.

The cap of OEILLET seems glued by the liquid that has become resinous. We did not try to force it! The one on Cuir unscrews, revealing a kind of cardboard stopper (see photo).

** JEAN D’ALBRET
House founded in 1957 by the D’ORNANO brothers, whose family is also behind the creation of the Sisley brand about twenty years later.

ECUSSON was the flagship perfume of their women’s line, the most known and the best-sold. Created in 1958, very aldehydic like all fragrances of that era.
MESSIRE for men, the male best-seller launched in 1960. Here an example of the eau de toilette with a juice concentration at the bottom and crystal deposits (depending on the richness of flower or plant extracts used in its manufacture, appreciated by collectors) and a version of the after-shave, more volatile and less thick thus better preserved.

All bottles shown are in good overall condition and clean. Those showing visible defects such as tarnish, abrasions, torn labels, oxidized caps, etc., I do not sell. I keep or give them away.