Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Casaque by Jean D'Albret c1951

Casaque by Jean D'Albret: launched in 1951. The translation of "Casaque" is defined as a tight jacket from the shoulder to the waist.






Playbill, 1979:
"Jean D'Albret's classic Casaque, originally created for Georges Sand who (remember?) was Chopin's live-in lady. She wanted vibrance, mystery and a touch of the Orient - just like today."

Casaque was available in the following products:
  • Parfum
  • Eau de Cologne Parfumée
  • Cologne
  • Parfum-Crème
  • Bath Oil
  • Hand & Body Lotion
  • Dusting Powder
  • Soap



Fragrance Composition:


So what does it smell like? It is classified as a fresh aldehydic floral fragrance for women. It starts off with a green, fruity floral top, followed by a fruity floral heart, resting on a subdued powdery floral base.
  • Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, honeysuckle, hyacinth, Sicilian lemon, orange, mimosa
  • Middle notes: Provencal jasmine, lily of the valley, narcissus, rose d'Orient, ylang ylang, Bulgarian rose, lilac, gardenia, Tuscan iris, lily, Portuguese tuberose, nasturtium, geranium
  • Base notes: Iralia, East Indian patchouli, musk, Mysore sandalwood, civet

Made use of the aroma chemicals Iralia and Neotuberose.

Bottles:


Royal Presentation:

Originally Casaque was housed in square shaped crystal bottles with rounded shoulders and topped with frosted glass stoppers molded with a crown. This flacon was known by the Jean d'Albret company as the Royal Presentation, due to the crown cap/stopper. Some of the miniature bottles and larger bottles had screw caps. The Eau de Cologne Parfumée and the Eau de Toilette were often to be had in these bottles. These bottles were used from 1940s-1960s.

The Cologne was available in four sizes:
  • 3.5 oz
  • 7 oz
  • 13 oz
  • 23 oz



Empire Presentation:

The familiar urn shaped bottle debuted in 1952. This bottle has a glass stopper, but can also be found with screw caps. The deluxe parfum flacon was much more ornate, made up of clear crystal with frosted details, and was housed inside of a luxurious velvet coffret which could double as a jewelry box. Variations of the urn flacon include those with and without a pedestal. These bottles were used from the 1950s to the 1970s and were known as the "Empire Presentation" by the Jean d'Albret company.

The Perfume was available in four sizes:
  • 1/4 oz
  • 1/2 oz
  • 1 oz
  • 2 oz







Flacon Voyage:

A Medallion design was used on clear glass bottles holding Eau de Cologne, Parfum-Creme and toilet water. These bottles include the round and oval flacons, the larger bottles are molded with designs in the center. This large bottle was known as the Flacon Voyage by the Jean d'Albret company.

Available sizes:

  • 2.5 oz
  • 6.25 oz


Flacon Pour le Sac:

The Flacon pour le sac is a small bottle for carrying in your handbag. It is a graceful, Grecian-shaped vial with handles that are tied with tassels in white and blue with a dainty, shiny goldtone cap.


Flacon Griffon:

A frosted glass bottle known as the Flacon Griffon, was molded with the mythological creatures. It was introduced in 1956 and used until the early 1970s. The bottle was available in two sizes: 1/8 oz and 1/4 oz and holds pure parfum. The bottle was fitted with gilded brass ends. The later edition (1970s) of this bottle was clear glass, not frosted. The earlier bottles had a gilded foil paper label which wound itself around the length of the flacon. 



Other Bottles:

Later the Ecusson fragrances were housed in inexpensive glass bottles fitted with sprays in the 1950s and into the 1970s.



The fancy floral packaging was introduced in 1971.


Soap, Cosmetics, Chemical Specialties, 1971:
"Jean d'Albret, Paris, introduces "Ecusson" and "Casaque" perfumes to United States market in new packaging, featuring four colors, gold leaf stamping and overall embossing. The package was commissioned to House of Harley, Inc., New York, for manufacture."




Ancillary Products:

  • Parfum-Crème
  • Bath Oil
  • Hand & Body Lotion
  • Dusting Powder
  • Soap


Country Life, Volume 140, 1966:
"One of the newest versions, just out this autumn, is Parfum-Crème by Jean d'Albret, which is contained in an attractive round crystal flask. It is available in those two sophisticated perfumes, Ecusson and Casaque."


Fate of the Fragrance:


Discontinued in 1977 when the Jean d'Albret business closed. The company was acquired by Orlane who released Casaque under their own name after 1978 (still using the Jean d'Albret name). The perfume was finally discontinued in the mid 1980s.

The trademarked name Casaque was acquired by Irma Shorell, Inc/Long Lost Perfumes in 1999 and the company had released their own recreated version of the perfume.
  • Top notes: hyacinth, lemon and bergamot. 
  • Middle notes: jasmine, lily of the valley, carnation, orange blossom and roses. 
  • Base notes: musk and sandalwood.

3 comments:

  1. It broke my heart when Casaque was discontinued. I wish someone would recreate that unforgettable scent.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes I say yes with all my heart the most loveliest fragrance in the world

    ReplyDelete
  3. Everywhere I went when wearing this fragrance I would be asked by both men and women alike what is that fragrance. I first purchased it in mid 1970’s at Bullocks in Lakewood center mall. Oh do wish someone would bring it back!

    ReplyDelete

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