Sarah Felix (born Sophie Felix) was a French manufacturer of perfumes, cosmetics and patent medicines. Her company was known as Sarah Felix, Parfumerie des Fees (Perfumer of the Fairies) located at 43 rue Richer in Paris. She also had an office at Bruxelles at Chez Frey, 14 rue d'Escalier and an office in London at Hovenden et Sons at 5 Great Malborough Street.
Following the death of her sister, Rachel, she turned to the manufacture of perfumes.
"Sophie Felix, who took the name of Sarah,
the eldest of the sisters, was such a bad actress
that even Rachel's influence could not save her
from dismissal. After she had been hissed as
Celimene in the Misanthrope she took refuge at
the Odeon. Later she tried to get back to the
Moliere Theatre, but recognizing at last her
own want of dramatic power, she became a seller
of perfumes, and actually invented the famous
tincture still in use, known as the Eau des Fees.
There is really no knowing what dramatic art
may lead to when it results, as in this case, in
the vending of adjuncts to the toilette." - My Biography by Jule Bernat Judith
Her famous hair dye, "Eau des Fees", was given a diploma of merit at the Vienna Exhibition in 1873. In an advertisement, it stated that to avoid imitations of her famous product, she had decided to substitute amber bottles for the usual blue bottles that she sold her dye inside beforehand.
Other popular products were her face powders, vanishing cream and rouges.
The perfumes of Sarah Felix:
One of Sarah Felix's advertisements portrayed her sister, the actress Rachel, who appeared as Roxanne in an adaptation of Racine's play, Bajazet, wearing her Turkish costume, promoting the Baume Ottoman as well as the Elixir Ottoman which was old in green glass bottles. (Elizabeth Rachel Felix aka Madamoiselle [sic] Rachel (b.1821) She was the mistress of Musset and various Princes. She died of tuberculosis in 1858.)
Sarah Felix died in Paris in 1877, from an attack of apoplexy. But her perfumes and cosmetics were still being sold in the 1920s.
Following the death of her sister, Rachel, she turned to the manufacture of perfumes.
"Sophie Felix, who took the name of Sarah,
the eldest of the sisters, was such a bad actress
that even Rachel's influence could not save her
from dismissal. After she had been hissed as
Celimene in the Misanthrope she took refuge at
the Odeon. Later she tried to get back to the
Moliere Theatre, but recognizing at last her
own want of dramatic power, she became a seller
of perfumes, and actually invented the famous
tincture still in use, known as the Eau des Fees.
There is really no knowing what dramatic art
may lead to when it results, as in this case, in
the vending of adjuncts to the toilette." - My Biography by Jule Bernat Judith
Her famous hair dye, "Eau des Fees", was given a diploma of merit at the Vienna Exhibition in 1873. In an advertisement, it stated that to avoid imitations of her famous product, she had decided to substitute amber bottles for the usual blue bottles that she sold her dye inside beforehand.
Other popular products were her face powders, vanishing cream and rouges.
The perfumes of Sarah Felix:
- 1900 Parfum Oeillelys
- 1920 Fougere
- 1920 Ambree
- 1920 Reine des Roses
One of Sarah Felix's advertisements portrayed her sister, the actress Rachel, who appeared as Roxanne in an adaptation of Racine's play, Bajazet, wearing her Turkish costume, promoting the Baume Ottoman as well as the Elixir Ottoman which was old in green glass bottles. (Elizabeth Rachel Felix aka Madamoiselle [sic] Rachel (b.1821) She was the mistress of Musset and various Princes. She died of tuberculosis in 1858.)
Sarah Felix died in Paris in 1877, from an attack of apoplexy. But her perfumes and cosmetics were still being sold in the 1920s.
Parfum Oeillelys, photos by Belle de Jour
Reine des Roses, c1920s, photo by Perfume Bottles Auction
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