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Welcome to my unique perfume blog! Here, you'll find detailed, encyclopedic entries about perfumes and companies, complete with facts and photos for easy research. This site is not affiliated with any perfume companies; it's a reference source for collectors and enthusiasts who cherish classic fragrances. My goal is to highlight beloved, discontinued classics and show current brand owners the demand for their revival. Your input is invaluable! Please share why you liked a fragrance, describe its scent, the time period you wore it, any memorable occasions, or what it reminded you of. Did a relative wear it, or did you like the bottle design? Your stories might catch the attention of brand representatives. I regularly update posts with new information and corrections. Your contributions help keep my entries accurate and comprehensive. Please comment and share any additional information you have. Together, we can keep the legacy of classic perfumes alive!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Gardenia by Molinelle c1930

Gardenia was launched by Molinelle in 1930. This was just one of the few of Molinelle's English perfumes. This one seems to stand out because of its exquisite perfume flacon.






Made up of clear crystal by the firm of Heinrich Hoffmann, the bottle had several unique features not usually seen on other bottles of the period. The perfume bottle was composed up of three parts, a rectangular base with beveled and faceted edges, and a cover which fit over the top of the bottle, this "lid" completely covered the ground glass stopper.

The stopper was etched with a Neo-Classical scene dominated by a nude maiden (Aphrodite perhaps) playfully blowing heart shaped soap bubbles at Cupid, while two rabbits, symbolizing the fertility of the springtime frolic at their feet. The scene was elegantly piqued out in gold enamel. Other parts of the stopper feature frosted edges.

The most unusual part of the stopper was its dauber. Now we all know that daubers were the norm for parfum bottles of the era, but this one had something quite different, and undoubtedly more feminine. Two cut crystal beads were strung onto wire suspended from the ground plug of the stopper. The very idea of using these crystal drops to apply the fragrance as opposed to the phallic looking daubers of the time was quite clever to my mind. Perfume is and has always been, an extravagant luxury. Sumptuous as well as sensuous, I could just imagine the act of using this stopper, doused with the precious drops of the perfumed extrait, dripping off of the cold faceted beads and drawing them against the skin.

The bottle measured 1 3/4".





images; Perfume Bottles Auction

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