Parfums Weil originally launched Secret de Venus in 1933 as a parfum, and again in 1941/1942 in the USA as a bath oil (huile pour le bain et douche) or Bath and Body Perfume Oil. The bath oil version was an instant success and American women love it. Secret de Venus was launched later in France in 1947 but never really took off like it did in America.
Weil advertised this as a bath oil, but really wanted women to put it directly onto the skin. "It's the divine perfume oil to be smoothed on after bath or shower and grows more intense the longer you wear it." After you've emerged from the tub while your skin is still moist, smooth a few drops over your body, Secret of Venus will not evaporate, it lingers for hours and hours, this heavenly perfume oil grows more intense more alluring almost immortal the longer you wear it."
This reminds me of when Estee Lauder brought out Youth Dew as a bath oil, but women could apply it directly to the skin too.
In 1949, an ad reads :
"Parfums Weil brings you this exotic perfume called Secret de Venus, Sophisticated and modern, in the stunning 12 oz bottle."
"HOUR-GLASS BOTTLE, bright green cap, and beige linen-like box, are used by Parfums Weil Paris, Inc. to package the new, half-ounce size of Secret of Venus, Zibeline fragrance, compounded of aromatic oils."
In 1964, the Secret of Venus purse spray was introduced. By 1974, the Parfum de Toilette Spray Mist came out.
In 1974 an ad reads :
"The regular 2 oz flacon Secret de Venus Zibeline Parfum de Toilette Spray Mist with a bonus 1 oz Secret de Venus Zibeline Bath and Body Perfume Oil. An $11.25 Value for $7.50."
Today, women who were lucky enough to have used this in the earlier years of their lives , still look for the Secret de Venus perfumes, and the demand is so great that the prices are astronomical.
Secret de Venus Bath Oil was available in the following scents:
- Secret de Venus (also seen as Secret of Venus)
- Secret de Venus Zibeline
- Secret de Venus Antilope
- Secret de Venus Cassandra
- Secret de Venus Noir
- Secret de Venus Padisha
Fate of the Fragrance:
Secret de Venus was sold up until around 1981 when it was discontinued only a short time afterwards. In 1996, it was re-orchestrated and relaunched by Group Interparfums. This is not comparable to the original Secret de Venus perfume.
Secret de Venus is classified as a woody oriental chypre eau de parfum for women.
- Top notes: lemon, cassis, peach, bergamot and grapefruit
- Middle notes: jasmine, lavender, gardenia and freesia
- Base notes: cedar, patchouli, sandalwood and vanilla
It was available in sizes 30 ml, 50 ml, and 100 ml Eau de Parfum. Presented in an oval solid glass bottle with a golden ‘heart’ shaped scroll cap designed by Federico Restrepo, made by Pochet et du Courval.
I have a small spray of this which is deep and dark in colour and oily in texture. The bottle has a black cap and is like an oval cylinder. I wonder if this is the 1964 purse spray you mention above.
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