Animale by Animale c1987

Animale by Animale: launched in 1987. In association with Suzanne de Lyon. Created by Roure Bertrand perfumes.

When Suzanne de Lyon launched Animale at Bloomingdale's, the fete included lithe models clad in skintight zebra print bodysuits. She told reporters that "Like any other perfume, it has to be shocking."

"Steamy. Stormy. Sensuous. A scent as lush and expectant as the jungle before a storm. Exciting as the tension between the hunter and the hunted. Animale. Presented in its creator's signature lightning bolt flacon. The chase is on!

Following her feminine instincts, Suzanne de Lyon resolves the contradiction in the uniquely cohesive fragrance creation, Animale. This elegant, modernistic orchestration tames vivacious floral notes with deep, harmonizing undertones of rich resins, precious woods, oakmoss and musk. As its frosted crystal flacon dramatizes, Animale strikes like lightning, leaving a lasting aura of mystery and romance."

Product Marketing for Beauty Industry Retailers & Manufacturers, 1987:

"Four years ago, Suzanne de Lyon decided it was time to have a fragrance of her own. de Lyon is a Swiss-born, Houston-based  entrepreneur who after earning her Master's Degree in Finance at Drexel University has polished her skills by successfully negotiating the fields of investments, real estate, and forming import/export companies for crystal, linens and lingerie.  

When her attention turned to perfume, she turned for advice to the man with the golden touch, Thomas E. Virtue, an old friend and the president of Roure Bertrand DuPont. And on the first of June, Animale was launched exclusively at Bloomingdale's. 

Some of the most respected talents in the fragrance industry were involved with Animale, and de Lyon worked with top cosmetics executives from Bloomingdale's in a unique manner. Arline Friedman, VP, cosmetics and fragrances, Peter Clelland, DMM, cosmetics and fragrances and Onute Miller, women's fragrance buyer, were involved in making design, advertising and promotion decisions. The high polish of taste and professionalism shows in every aspect."

 

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral chypre fragrance for women. It begins with a fresh flowery top, followed by a rosy floral heart, resting on a warm, woody base. 

"A harmonizing of floral notes, woods and musks..combining the classic with the modern. Animale is the sensuous new fragrance by Suzanne de Lyon. A streak of lightning in a frosted crystal flacon. A bold scent which awakens the animal instincts in every woman. A study in contrasts, both the bottle and the perfume, Animale is a bolt from the sky which emanates mystery and romance."

• Top notes: bergamot, green notes, basil, coriander, hyacinth, Brazilian rosewood, neroli
• Middle notes: pimento berry, ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose, carnation, orris, lily of the valley, honey
• Base notes: Mysore sandalwood, labdanum, oakmoss, musk, vetiver, patchouli, castoreum, civet, coconut, cistus

Product Marketing for Beauty Industry Retailers & Manufacturers, 1987:

"Rather than the traditional head/heart/body progression, the fragrance is a linear, modem one which retains the initial impression through wearing. Rose is a major theme, with jasmine, ylang ylang, and neroli balanced by pimento berry, musk, labdanum and patchouly."

Bottle:

The New York Times Magazine, 1987:

" Animale, a new perfume marketed by a businesswoman, Suzanne de Lyon, is sold in a bottle resembling a bolt of lightning."

 Product Marketing for Beauty Industry Retailers & Manufacturers, 1987:

"Gerard Caron, chairman of the board, Carre Noir USA undertook the packaging and design creation. "The name Animale suggests something soft and rounded, but we wanted the surprise of contrast," he says. And how! The 1-oz perfume bottle is all right angles and slashing diagonals, a tall (7 inches) and weighty (one and a half pounds) slab of frosted solid crystal with a lightning bolt of clear crystal (in which the perfume is contained) cutting a startling oblique line. Animale's vivid colors——emerald, purple, turquoise and fuchsia—dart across the box in a geometric design."

 The initial collection included:

• 1 oz Parfum (retailed for $200)
• 1/4 oz Parfum (retailed for $80)
• 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray (retailed for $45)
• 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray (retailed for $70)
• 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Splash (retailed for $40)
• 3.4 oz eau de Parfum Splash (retailed for $65)

By 1994, the following products were available:

• 0.2 oz Parfum miniature
• 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
• Bath Foam
• Dusting Powder

Fate of the Fragrance:

Suzanne de Lyon founded Parfums Animale in 1987. In 1989, an FBI investigation was centered around the activities of Suzanne Frame, known professionally as Suzanne de Lyon, and a group of companies controlled by Frame and her husband. One of those companies was Suzanne de Lyon, Inc, manufacturer of the Animale fragrance.  Frame was being investigated for allegedly diverting bank funds for her own use. The FBI investigated a series of checks made payable to Bill Thompson, who received interest payments on loans made by Texas Investment Bank while Jack Frame was an officer of the institution. Those checks were later deposited into a bank account at Western-Bank-Westheimer in the name of Frame's husband, Jack Frame, according to records in a federal civil case filed by disgruntled investors against Suzanne Frame.  According to a letter sent out by the FBI to the investors, Mrs Frame and Manuel Zepeda, a partner in a Frame business venture, were under investigation for possible violation of federal mail fraud. 

Parlux acquired the company in 1990 when the founder filed for bankruptcy. They sold the brand on to the Animale Group in 2004.

Flankers:

• 1994 Animale Animale
• 1997 Instinct d'Animale
• 2000 Chaleur d`Animale
• 2006 Animale Temptation
• 2012 Animale Love
• 2013 Animale Intense

Animale for Men:

• 1993 Animale for Men
• 1994 Animale Animale for Men
• 2000 Chaleur d`Animale pour Homme
• 2005 Animale Azul
• 2005 Animale Temptation Man
• Animale Black