My Fair Lady by Ravel Perfume Corp. was launched around 1956. The name was derived from the Broadway musical My Fair Lady which debuted in 1956. The My Fair Lady name was filed for trademark in 1956 by Ravel.
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"
Fragrance Composition:
I purchased a vintage 1950s My Fair Lady by Ravel Perfume splash at the flea market last weekend. I did some research but was unable to find any info on the notes so I was able to test some on my skin to let you know what it smells like.
My 1 oz vintage glass bottle has a black Bakelite screw cap and a gilded foil label, which shows some wear. The box is marked “My Fair Lady Perfume Cont. 1 fl oz Dist. Ravel, NY.” There was 100% of original contents inside so I was able to compose a profile for you.
So what does it smell like? It is classified as an Oriental fragrance for women.
- Top notes: bergamot, lemon, lily of the valley, orange
- Middle notes: spices, roses, jasmine, incense, orris
- Base notes: vetiver, patchouli, benzoin, vanilla, ambergris, civet, musk, Mysore sandalwood, oakmoss, tonka bean
To refresh your memory on how it smells, I just applied some of the perfume and I detect very rich, powdery florals are buried inside somewhere, underneath spiced bergamot, ambergris, civet, benzoin, sandalwood, vanilla and sensuous musk.
It smells a lot like Shalimar, old Shalimar and Emeraude, original vintage formulas, not the reformulated stuff. The top notes are bruised but they dissipate quickly, leaving a wonderful, complex fragrance behind. My husband loves Shalimar on me and was quick to note that it does smell like Shalimar. The drydown has a sweetness made possible by the presence of sandalwood, tonka bean and balsamic notes of benzoin and vanilla.
The perfume could be found in 1 oz and 1/2 oz bottles plus a small pocket purse spray, as in the illustration shown below.
Fate of the Fragrance:
My Fair Lady has been discontinued since the 1950s and is extremely hard to find.
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