Les Parfums de Marcy, established around 1910, was possibly founded by Lazare Bloch in a small factory in Les Lilas, a suburb of Paris. As the brand's reputation grew, it expanded operations and opened a shop at the prestigious address of 120 avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris, placing the brand in one of the world’s most renowned luxury shopping districts. This strategic move not only elevated the brand’s status but also attracted a more upscale clientele, further solidifying its presence in the French perfume market.
Following World War II, Parfums de Marcy became affiliated with Société Anonyme des Parfums Sidlay, with Paul Heymann assuming leadership as the proprietor. Heymann was recognized as a true innovator, steering the company into a period of creativity and excellence. Under his guidance, the brand continued to flourish, producing unique and high-quality perfume presentations that gained critical acclaim.
Parfums de Marcy was particularly well-known for its exquisite and artistic packaging, excelling in trompe l'oeil presentations—visual tricks that created illusions of three-dimensional objects. These creative and elaborate designs set them apart from other perfumeries of the time, emphasizing not only the quality of the fragrances but also the artistry of their bottles and packaging. Some of their notable creations included Les Fleurs Miraculeuses (The Miraculous Flowers), Le Bouquet Miraculeux (The Miraculous Bouquet), Le Bracelet Miraculeux (The Miraculous Bracelet), and Le Collier Miraculeux (The Miraculous Necklace). Each of these items combined the art of perfumery with an element of surprise and visual delight, making them highly sought-after collector's items.
Les Parfums de Marcy’s dedication to high-quality products and innovative design helped it carve a distinct niche in the competitive world of French perfumery during the early to mid-20th century. Their legacy continues to be admired by fragrance historians and collectors alike, particularly for their masterful approach to merging fragrance with art.
The perfumes of de Marcy:
- 1919 L'Heure est Venue (pocket watch perfume presentation)
- 1920 NÅ“dia
- 1922 Le Panier a Champagne (Champagne basket perfume presentation)
- 1922 Chypre
- 1922 Origan (still sold in 1927)
- 1922 Jasmin
- 1922 Heliotrope
- 1922 Ambre
- 1922 Mimosa
- 1922 Violette (still sold in 1927)
- 1922 Muguet (still sold in 1927)
- 1922 Narcisse (still sold in 1927)
- 1922 Lilas
- 1922 Rose (still sold in 1927)
- 1925 Nested Perfumes (bird nest and eggs perfume presentation)
- 1925 Le Bouquet du Caméo
- 1925 L'Orange Variee (perfume presentation) (still sold in 1927)
- 1925 Noëlys
- 1927 Le Bouquet Miraculeux (perfume presentation)
- 1927 Le Collier Miraculeux (pearl necklace perfume presentation)
- 1927 Les Fleurs Miraceleuses (perfume presentation)
- 1928 Le Bracelet Miraculeux (perfume presentation)
L'Heure est Venue Presentation:
Fashions of the Hour, 1925:
"Twelve o'clock and all's well with Marcy's new perfume that comes in a blue bottle made like a clock with the with the hands always pointing at high noon. This perfume in a delicious bouquet odor is made especially for Marshall Field and Company, $3.50."
Le Collier Miraculeux Presentation:
Le Collier Miraculeux was presented in a simulated necklace of 13 graduated bottles, eleven are perfume bottles and the last two are dummies. The thin, fragile blown glass bottles are covered with the laitance de hareng pearlized finish, fitted with corks for stoppers and arranged upside down in the box to simulate an elegant pearl necklace in a luxury jewelry case. This presentation was also used by Delettrez.
Le Bracelet Miraculeux:
Le Bracelet Miraculeux, "The Miraculous Bracelet,”was wonderful Art Deco period perfume presentation from 1928 and a true work of art. It was a set of five colorless glass vials topped with large red, black or blue glass stoppers simulating precious gemstones. Inside the blue presentation box is a cream colored inner box with fitted compartments to hold each bottle in place. In between the bottles are clear rhinestone stations, which, when the inner box is closed, gives the appearance of an 8" long bracelet. The bottles measure just over 2" tall. All the bottles contain Lilas parfum.
Nested Perfumes:
The Nest presentation included three egg-shaped bottles, resting upside down in a "nest" lined with velvet. I have seen this presentation in both gold and blue velvet nests. Gold label titled on one side. The presentation included the perfumes: Violette, Ambre and Chypre.
L'Orange Variée:
The L'Orange Variée perfume presentation, was a half peeled orange made up of painted composition which held 8 glass bottles in the shape of realistically molded orange segments, each with its own label, sealed with cork and wax stoppers. Each bottle was held in place by having the neck inserted into a metal frame concealed inside the simulated orange peel. The scents included were: Chypre, Amber, Heliotrope, Rose, Jessamine, Mayflower, Mimosa, Muguet, Les Lilas, Violette. Each segmented bottle measures 2" tall. The orange holder measures 2.75" diameter x 1.5" tall. The orange box measures 3" x 3" square.
To take out the orange slices containing perfume, take peel in one hand, turn over in other hand. The slices will come out by their own weight.
Le Panier Champagne:
The Le Panier Champagne novelty perfume presentation from 1922, consists of four identical clear blown glass flacons, each shaped like a champagne bottle, with cork stopper, with their two paper labels. Bottles presented in a box, covered with paper, simulating wicker basketwork, with two handles of cord, and a label in front reading "Les Parfums de Marcy Les Lilas - Paris", noting location of factory in Les Lilas, France and headquarters in Paris. Another label reads: "Modele Depose (Tribunal de Commerce No. 4174). Carrier measures approximately 2.5" wide and the bottles are approximately 2.75" tall to the top of the corks.
A 1922 advertisement introduces the Champagne perfume bottle set:
“Packed in a little wicker basket with handles are six bottles so small that one can with safety call them teeny . Even the corks pop authentically to carry out this fragrant jest of Marcy the parfumer of Paris for instead of champagne each bottle contains Perfume: Jasmine, Mimosa, Chypre, Violette, Ambre, Rose, Muguet or Heliotrope”
A 1926 advertisement in a newspaper reads:
“LES PARFUMS DE MARCY these delicate French odors whose novelty packages are perhaps just as…Some oranges others champagne bottles and corks…”
Bouquet Miraculeux:
This pretty little presentation was a fragile, blown glass amphora bottle on a pedestal foot. It was covered in the laitance de hareng pearlized finish.
Le Bouquet Camée:
“The Cameo Bouquet." This presentation included a opaque black glass flacon, in a square shape. Its front featured an applied cameo with "de Marcy Paris" underneath. The luxurious presentation box imitates a red leather covered jewelry box, titled on the inside “de Marcy Le Bouquet de Caméo”. The bottle stands about 2.6" tall.
The Pinch Bottles:
A cute set of three fragile, blown pinch glass bottles made up a sweet presentation. Each bottle was given a metallic colored finish and fitted with a black button stopper.
I found this post about 5 years too late, but that orange perfume bottle is to die for!!!
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