Ravel Perfume Corp

The Ravel Perfume Corp was established in Nice, France and had a branch in New York City.

Ravel was established by Aizic Manole in the 1940s after his partnership in the Legrain perfumery company was dissolved just before the second world war. Ravel also produced cosmetics such as nail polish.

The name Ravel was chosen after the name composer and subsequently Ravel released several perfumes with names taken from famous songs of the era such as "Bolero" by Ravel. 

The perfume Faun was inspired by the Debussy classic "Afternoon of a Faun."

1945 - Ravel Perfumes, Inc

Filed Feb. 5, 1968. - Ravel Perfume Corporation, d.b.a. Van Pell, New York, N.Y.

1971 - Ravel, N.Y. -

Look Magazine, 1956:

"FAMOUS PERFUMES DISTRIBUTED BY RAVEL NEW YORK • RAVEL NO . 9 • ADAGIO • CAPRICHIO • PAGAN • PAGODA • FAUN • MY FAIR LADY • MURIEL HASBROUCK • SEVENTH - HEAVEN • MOMENTS DE PASSION"

Ravel got in trouble in 1960, the Patent Office decreed that their perfume Ravel No. 9 was an infringement on Chanel No. 5 perfume and other cosmetics.

Not all items represented as having been advertised in Life Magazine were in fact advertised in that magazine.

Pagoda perfume has not been advertised in Look Magazine since 1956 nor in Town & Country since 1945 and was never advertised in Harper's Bazaar Vogue or Mademoiselle.  

Many of the items so advertised are not guaranteed by Good Housekeeping.

The perfumes of Ravel:

• 1945 Adagio
• 1945 Pagan
• 1945 Pagoda
• 1945 Faun
• 1950 Caprichio
• 1950 Ecstacy
• 1950 Feuilles d'Automne
• 1950 Gai Printemps
• 1950 Heure Mauve
• 1950 Majeste
• 1950 Troubador
• 1953 Bolero
• 1955 L'Amour En Rose
• 1955 Moments-De-Passion
• 1956 No. 6
• 1956 No. 9
• 1956 My Fair Lady
• 1965 Green Jade for Men
• Ravel Cologne for Men

Faun:

Faun by Ravel: launched in 1945. Faun was the best known fragrance from this house. Discontinued, date unknown. Still sold in 1961.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral chypre fragrance for women.

• Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot
• Middle notes: orris, plum, jasmine, rose
• Base notes: sandalwood, oakmoss, vetiver, patchouli, amber, leather, civet

Bottles:

In its first inception, Faun was introduced as a luxury fragrance and housed in a simple glass bottle reminiscent of those used by Chanel, but the bottle displays sloping shoulders and a long, flat stopper. This coincidentally, is the SAME bottle used for most vintage fake Chanel perfumes. The name "Faun" is screen printed across the front of the bottle. The perfume was housed in a condor skin presentation box.

Sales Management, Volume 55, 1945:

"DESIGNING TO SELL BOTTLED ALLURE: Faun, the new perfume now being introduced by Ravel Perfumes, Inc., New York City, is a fragrant blend of jasmine, wild roses, woodland scents. Container is unique in that it is made of condor skin."

The American Perfumer and Essential Oil Review, 1945:

"RAVEL: Faun perfume and toilet water have been created by Ravel Perfumes. The one ounce perfume bottle is packaged in a grosgrain lined condor skin box. Its colors are suede, gray and light tan. The one half ounce bottle of perfume is packaged in a clear lucite box, tied in place with a slender gold cord. A four ounce bottle of toilet water which completes the Faun ensemble has a condor skin cap on a wide shouldered bottle."

Mademoiselle, 1946:

"Faun by RAVEL - Faun, a perfume as gay as its name. In an elegant box of condor skin, perfect to a cigarette or jewel case. By Ravel. One ounce, $ 27.50."

 

Later examples, were inexpensive clear glass square flacons with black plastic screw caps. These bottles displayed white paper labels on the front of the bottles and were housed in clear plastic cases which could double as cigarette boxes when the perfume was used up.

Pagan:

Pagoda:

Pagoda was offered in several different bottles. In the ad below, it was housed in a bottle similar to that used by Chanel. Other bottles are the "pagoda" flacons, one is entirely covered with gold enamel, one is clear glass with a gilded glass stopper of elephants, other have gilded ball shaped screw caps.

Sales Management - Volume 56, 1946:

"NOVEL PERFUME CONTAINER: Designer Alan Berni calls this unique package his "dressing table travelogue." Created for the new Pagoda perfume, which is being introduced by Ravel Perfumes, New York City, its motif is that of an eastern landscape complete with stars, elephants, mosques, and oriental figures."

The American Perfumer and Essential Oil Review, 1946:

"RAVEL: Ravel puts its perfume into a package designed by Alan Berni. The bottle is made of glass impregnated with colors of the rainbow, in the shape of the Indian pagoda. The outer box for the bottle, made of lucite, has small..."

American Druggist, 1946:

"Perfume duo, Pagoda and Pagan, features stunning packaging. Bottles designed like Indian pagoda reflect rainbow colors. Pagan box conveys impression of Indian outdoor scene. Ravel Perfumes Inc., 600 Madison Ave., N. Y. C., New York."

Harper's Bazaar, 1947:

"Pagoda" perfume, enriched with the tingling scent of oriental spices. Pagoda-shaped bottle. By Ravel. One ounce, $ 27.50."

 Green Jade Water:

This is a very good knockoff for Jacques Fath Green Water. The packaging style is nearly identical. Also notice the name,  Mr. Jacques. If one weren't paying enough attention to detail, this could confuse someone.