Lucretia Vanderbilt Perfumes & Powders

Lucretia Vanderbilt signature perfume debuted circa 1927-1928. Toiletry line with perfume, toilette, powder, compact. Lucretia Vanderbilt Inc was owned and created around 1927 as a subsidiary of McKesson-Robbins.

Most attractive of the line were the deluxe perfume bottles made up of cobalt blue glass and the delightful matching vanity accessories manufactured by the Scovill Manufacturing Company. All fitted with images of a silver finished butterfly and stylized floral motifs in filigree on a cobalt blue enameled background. Later on, during the late 1930s and into the 1940s, the Lucretia Vanderbilt line would later use a theme of a gilded butterfly on a white enameled background. Most commonly seen are the oval powder boxes and the rectangular compacts.

The perfumes from Lucretia Vanderbilt, Inc:

• 1922 Aluria (under the McKesson-Robbins label)
• 1927 Lucretia Vanderbilt Concentrated Extrait
• 1930 LV 
• 1931 Gardenia
• 1931 Jasmine
• 1931 Muguet
• 1931 Sweet Pea
• 1931 Golden Butterfly
• 1937 Renee
• 1938 Eau de Cologne
• 1938 Lavender Water
• 1940 Three Golden Kisses
• 1944 My Hero
• 1950 Commodore Vanderbilt for Men

From a 1929 advertisement in the Spokane Daily Chronicle:

“Lucretia Vanderbilt: The Aristocrats of Toiletries in containers of refreshing newness. The alluring toiletries I now introduce you to were originally for my especial use. Regardless of the price you are willing to pay, nothing finer can be produced. There is a smart, intimate little lipstick, that you will love the moment you catch sight of it. There is Face Powder, the product of a formula evolved seventy five years ago for French and British royalty -with a downy soft velour puff. 

There are compacts - Double and Triple- which when opened, expose their entire contents to view - a very practical feature. My Double Compact contains powder , a rouge of utmost smoothness and a non-tarnishable mirror of shining metal. A Triple Compact includes a petite lipstick. And there is a Perfume, gaily oriental, luxurious, witchingly seductive, irresistibly fragrant in a rich blue-and-silver crystal flask, encased in a gorgeous silken receptacle. 

All of my toiletries are scented with this same arresting fragrance; and all of my containers are in the same original blue-and-silver motif that distinguishes my perfume. You must try Lucretia Vanderbilt Toiletries! Just present the coupon with 25 cents at the toilet goods counter displaying my announcement , and you will be given a miniature presentation in which you will find Perfume and Powder Compact (in your favorite shade). If perchance you do not obtain one, mail your coupon and 25 cents to Lucretia Vanderbilt, Fairfield, Conn., giving your dealer’s name. “

The retailer would have been handed a coupon and a quarter for a Lucretia Vanderbilt Miniature Presentation of fifty cent value.

In 1929, another ad for the toiletries appeared in the Herald-Journal.

“The Newest Mode Suggests These Finer Toiletries by Lucretia Vanderbilt” - Here is the new Lucretia Vanderbilt Lipstick and Compact, are the accessories upon which Fashion has bestowed authority. My Lipstick, in witching shape, and in exquisite shades that subtly flatter one’s complexion, is compounded of costly substances selected with meticulous care , and actually beneficial to delicate lips. 

And you will literally treasure a Lucretia Vanderbilt Compact! Open it and powder and rouge are revealed together. 

Powder, Madame, made from a formula compounded exclusively for French and English royalty seventy five years ago, and scented with my exotic and luxurious perfume . Rouge of the finest texture. A non-tarnishable, all revealing mirror of metal. And two fluffy downy wool puffs. 

My Triple Compact includes a dainty Lucretia Vanderbilt lipstick. These Lucretia Vanderbilt Toiletries ,in their chic, charmingly intimate receptacles of rich blue and silver are a delight to the feminine heart.”

Drug Bulletin, 1930:

"LUCRETIA VANDERBILT LINE ACQUIRED BY GRENOVILLE. Grenoville, Inc. of Paris, manufacturers of the famous Grenoville French Perfumes, among the prominent odors under their label being Byzance, Casanova, Chaine d'or, etc., are going to invade the American market on a very large scale and have established themselves in New York under the name of Groville Sales Corporation at 501 Fifth Avenue, New York City, which company will undertake advertising and distribution if Grenoville Perfumes on a very broad scale. The Grenoville interests have also acquired the Lucretia Vanderbilt line of perfumes and beauty treatments heretofore distributed exclusively by McKesson and Robbins desiring to have in connection with their French line also a prominent American line.  Hereafter McKesson and Robbins, Inc. will be no longer exclusive distributors of Lucretia Vanderbilt , it being the policy of the Groville Sales Corporation, representing the interest of Grenoville, inc. of Paris to sell its products."

The Depression halted much of the manufacture of Lucretia Vanderbilt’s toiletry line and as evidence, in 1933, an ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran for Lucretia Vanderbilt’s Perfumes and Toiletries to be sold at much less than half their original prices.

“The Aristocrat of Toiletries, they were originally exclusive, created at the height of prosperity for women who could afford to pay for the very best, now McCreery’s brings them within the reach of most people. don’t hesitate! Take this opportunity to stock up!
Prices given for:

• $10 perfume, Parisian crystal flacon…$2.95
• $7.50 perfume, Parisian crystal flacon… $1.79
• $5.00 perfume, Parisian crystal flacon… $0.98
• $1.00 perfume, Parisian crystal flacon… $0.25
• $2.75 Triple compacts, powder, rouge, lipstick…$0.59
• $3.00 Face Powder, Rachel or natural…$0.59
• $1.00 Face Powder. Delicately scented…$0.25
• Compacts: originally $1.75 now $0.39. 

Think of it! The famous Lucretia Vanderbilt double compact in a lovely jeweled metal case…rich blue in color and thin enough in size to to slip very easily into a purse. Natural or Rachel powder with soft textured rouge.”

In the Spokane Daily Chronicle for May 10, 1933, this ad appeared

“ Lucretia Vanderbilt toiletries are frankly a “luxury line”. Powder boxes of enameled metal, silver trimmed perfume bottles, jewel box compacts. Of course, the finest quality ingredients to be had in America and France. This line was created at the height of prosperity to appeal to a limited group of women who could afford its luxury prices. But these are hard times for luxuries. The maker was forced to take drastic action. He sold us $15,000 worth of these famous toiletries at about 80% off of the original prices. Tomorrow you can buy these famous perfumes, powders and toiletries at the same savings -actually less than ordinary kinds.

• Face Powder originally $3.00..now 59 cents
• Smaller size, originally $1.50..now 29 cents
• Triple Compact, face powder, rouge and lipstick, originally $3.00..now 59 cents
• Double compact, originally $2.50 now 39 cents.
• Perfume, concentrated extract, 2 oz, originally $7.50 now $1.19.
• Perfume, concentrated extract 1 oz, originally 4.00 now 59 cents
• Perfume, in metal encased bottle, originally $1, now 29 cents.
• Perfume also in purse size, in leather case, originally $2.50 now 59 cents
• Lipstick, natural,medium or dark, in blue enamel case, originally $1 now 29 cents
• Gift Perfume in blue satin case, lovely glass bottle, originally $10.00 now $2.95.
• Also in smaller size, originally $7.50 now $1.79.

Due to the Depression, the company was forced to discontinue production of its luxury packaging and bottles, you will see ads mentioning the discontinuation.

In a 1934 ad in the Miami News, Lucretia Vanderbilt’s $10 perfume was offered at a much lower price of just $2.49 and a $5.00 powder and perfume set for just 98 cents.

American Druggist, 1937:

"Two of the perfumes are brand new — Renee, for the sentimental and feminine; and Aluria, for the sophisticated taste. The third is the original Lucretia Vanderbilt concentrated essence. The complete assortment retails for $1.98."

The Southern Pharmaceutical Journal, 1937:

"Lucretia Vanderbilt Gift Perfume. In order to eliminate doubt as to her preference, Lucretia Vanderbilt presents a gift set of three concentrated perfumes— the original Lucretia Vanderbilt, Alluria and Renee in a gleaming white box banded in blue. Each facet cut bottle contains one-quarter ounce of the odeur and the set retails for $1.29."

Lucretia Vanderbilt’s perfumes were still being sold as late as the 1940s, and ad for the Aluria perfume was in the St Petersburg Times, and retailed at just $3.75, and a “wise choice it is- as the lady will tell you”.

Another fragrance by Lucretia Vanderbilt was “My Hero” a scent no doubted created for men, in honour of the soldiers, in 1944.


Read more on the Lucretia Vanderbilt line on my friend's site here http://collectingvintagecompacts.blogspot.com/2011/05/lucretia-vanderbilt-scandal-heroism-and.html

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