Khara by Max Factor c1976

Khara by Max Factor: launched in 1976. Khara is a city in Nepal and the thoughts of an Oriental perfume that wasn't a heavy scent intrigued many women.

1976

"VOILA! KHARA! Khara rhymes with hurrah and that's what one might say about ... a fantasy floral design the Max Factor Khara scents range..."

Instant Controversy!

After almost a year of research, Max Factor in May 1976, selected the name Khara for its fragrance products. Great care was taken by Factor personnel not to select a name which would conflict with names and marks already in use. A day after it's launch, however, Max Factor's competitor, Revlon, tried to have Khara pulled from the shelves due to a problem with what they said was Khara sounding too much like their perfume Ciara. Charles Revson filed a trademark infringement suit against Factor as he felt the names sounded too similar and Revlon thought that customers would be confused. 

Khara products were sold through many of the same retail outlets as Ciara, but were generally intended for the less expensive market. On the other hand, Revlon directed its marketing campaign towards the "mature, affluent and sophisticated woman."

If customers were looking at the two fragrances side by side on the shelves, they would immediately notice that the Khara products' multicolored floral motif packaging in no way resembled the predominantly yellow or red packaging used for Ciara. 

Another fact is that they are distinct scents classified as members of different fragrance families. Khara was classified as being in the "Leather" family while Ciara was classified as an "Oriental." Khara had a lighter scent profile describing it as a brisk green citrus, with floral-woody notes and aromatic herbaceous facets, while Ciara was considered a heavier scent, with fruity notes and an emphasis on deep woods and the pungent spiciness of cloves. A judge ruled that Revlon was wrong and dismissed the lawsuit which in turn allowed Max Factor to keep Khara on the shelves.

 I am sure the fragrance was not popular with the Arabic-speaking market, because the word khara in Arabic means "shit."

The Arab Economist, 1977:

"Someone slipped up in the marketing research division of Max Factor's it seems.  The company has just brought out a new perfume - "deliciously sexy" they call it - and their advertising campaign has been utilizing an Arabian theme. Trouble is they have called their product "Khara," a word in Arabic more likely to repel than appeal -unless you happen to be a coprophiliac."

Fragrance Composition:

So what did it smell like? It was a light, spring-like green floral leather fragrance. Its light, fruity top note opens with a sharp burst of lemon, green notes and soft spices superimposed on a warm heart full of precious white flowers, heavy on the creamy jasmine with some gardenia, lily of the valley, rose and tuberose thrown in, fixed by a unique combination of sweet sandalwood, earthy vetiver and a touch of sensuous leather.

• Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, lemon, green notes, spices
• Middle notes: rose, lily of the valley, lavender, jasmine, gardenia, tuberose
• Base notes: leather, amber, sandalwood, musk, oakmoss, vetiver, vanilla, patchouli

1976:

"Khara" from Max Factor, Inc., Hollywood, is a "garden of pure fantasy" that combines floral top note with aromatic accents, harmonies of green tonality and persistent notes of oriental blends."

Vogue, 1976:

"Khara, Max Factor's new mélange of green, floral, and Oriental notes - it goes with the mood of the moment."

1976

"KHARA The deliciously new fragrance by Max Factor. Khara is racy and sensual. Designed for the exuberant woman of today."

 1976

"MAX FACTOR INTRODUCES KHARA The essential essence Fresh and flowery and new. Come into this very special garden just this side of innocence very near sensual..."

1976:

"Khara is what the Max Factor people call a "fantasy" fragrance — meaning, we suppose, that it isn't one of your Johnny- one-note naturals (lemon, civet cat, grape — great in their place, but about as suitable as sneakers with flowing caftans ... Khara smells unabashedly like perfume — full of flowers, spices, romance, mystery and allure."

Bottles & Packaging:

Khara was available in the following products:

• 0.25 oz Parfum Splash
• 0.75 oz Natural Spray Cologne
• 0.8 oz Cologne Splash
• 1 oz Cologne Spray
• 1.2 oz Natural Spray Cologne
• 2 oz Natural Spray Cologne 
• 2 oz Cologne Splash
• Talcum Powder shaker
• 4 oz Perfumed Bath Powder
• Perfumed Soap
• Bath Pearls
• 0.38 oz Perfume Amulet 
• Amulet with crème perfume (solid perfume necklace)
• Fragranced candle in ceramic holder
• Ceramic Pomander

 

1976:

"Exotic Look of Jade Necklace filled with Khara Creme Perfume $3.75 with any Khara purchase. A gift that she’ll adore. Khara the sensuous fragrance from the garden"

1977:

"NATURAL KHARA SPRAY COLOGNE. Sexy, there's nothing to compare. Alluring Khara adds drama to night or day. In spray that releases just enough at just a touch..."

Soap, Cosmetics, Chemical Specialities, 1977:

"Max Factor & Co., Hollywood, is offering for a limited time an embossed 1.25 ounce bottle of "Khara" cologne spray at a special price of $3.95. Fragrance is described as combination of heady top notes of florals with a long-lasting complex of of oriental woods and leathers accented with a nearly hidden fruity nuance."

House Beautiful, 1977:

"Max Factor's Khara candle comes in a green ceramic Oriental jar with top ($6.75)"

1978:

"Another Oriental-inspired shape: Max Factor's Khara Dynasty Fragrance Candle, modeled after a Chinese Foo dog ($7 50)."

Vogue, 1978:

"Hang pomanders up the closet wall. Caswell- Massey has gold-corded ones. Max Factor's pomander is called Jade Song— it's scented with Khara."

 

 

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued around 1983, most likely due to dwindling sales.