Safari by Ralph Lauren c1989

Safari by Ralph Lauren, first launched in 1989 in association with Cosmair, Inc.(division of L'Oreal), was inspired by the exotic African safari.

Perfumer Dominique Ropion created this fabulous cult favorite. The perfume won a FiFi award for the most successful fragrance as well as a second award for its TV advertisements when it was launched. Safari was also the official Fragrance of the Kentucky Derby Festival in 1991.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a green floral fragrance for women. Sporty with strong herbal notes. Reminds me of a vintage herbal shampoo. Safari intrigues with a top note of tangerine, orange, hyacinth, and jonquil, descending into a blend of jasmine and narcissus and supported by sandalwood, cedar, vetiver and amber.

• Top notes: aldehydes, tagetes, galbanum, mandarin, jonquil, hyacinth, Indian orange, daffodil and blackcurrant buds
• Middle notes: lily of the valley, May rose, broom, orange blossom, mountain narcissus, carnation, orchid, honey and Italian jasmine
• Base notes: oakmoss, cedar, sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, styrax, musk, amber, vanilla and Tonka bean.

Bottle:

The gorgeous flacon was designed by Ben Kotyuk and was based on an antique Edwardian perfume flacon of cut crystal with a chased sterling silver and tortoiseshell inlaid cap. To complete the whole packaging "had to be beautiful" idea was what Ralph Lauren called "vintage-ness."  The fragrances were housed inside boxes that featured crocodile skin texture inspired by antique traveling steamer trunks.

The 1 oz and 1/2 oz solid cut crystal bottles used for the parfum (extrait) have sterling silver caps. The cap flips back and the bottle is corked with a glass stopper. The one ounce parfum bottle stands 4" tall and is 3 1/8" wide. This bottle retailed for $300 when it was launched. The half ounce bottle of parfum stands 3 3/8" tall and is 2 5/8" wide. It retailed for $200. These bottles were housed in luxurious presentation boxes covered with crocodile patterned paper and the front of the box opens to reveal an interior lined in ivory silk damask, which was personally selected by Ralph Lauren himself.

The 1/4 oz parfum bottle stands 3 3/8" - but being circular in shape and without a flat base, it stands on it's cap. This one does not have a sterling silver cap, but is fitted with a silvertone atomizer and cap.  

Modified versions of the deluxe crystal bottles were created in pressed glass to house spray mechanisms for the cologne, eau de parfum and the smaller (mini) bottles for the parfum concentrations.

In 1989, the 0.68 oz cologne spray retailed for $35, the 2.5 oz cologne spray was $45, the 4.2 oz cologne splash was $60 and the 4.2 oz cologne spray was $65.

In 1989, the Safari fragrance line started out with just the Parfum (extrait) and the Cologne, it was joined by the Climate Response bath & body line starting in 1990. The Eau de Parfum was introduced in 1992 as well as the cosmetic line. Judging by the lack of newspaper advertisements, it seems the Cologne was discontinued around 1995. The Climate Response line of bath and body products was discontinued by 1999.

Safari was originally available in the following products:

• 1/8 oz Parfum (Mini)
• 1/4 oz Parfum Refill
• 1/4 oz Parfum Purse Spray 
• 0.5 oz Parfum
• 1 oz Parfum

Cologne:

• 0.68 oz Refillable Cologne Spray (teardrop bottle)
• 2.5 oz Cologne Spray
• 4.2 oz Cologne Spray
• 4.2 oz Cologne Splash

Eau de Parfum (introduced in 1992):

• 0.14 oz Eau de Parfum (Mini)
• 1/2 oz Eau de Parfum Spray 
• 0.68 oz Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray (teardrop bottle)
• 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
• 2.5 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
• 4.2 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
• 4.2 oz Eau de Parfum Splash
• 4.1 oz Moisturizing Perfume Mist (non-alcoholic 1992)

Climate Response Bath & Body products were added in 1990:

• Climate Response Body Creme
• Climate Response Body Powder
• Climate Response Body Lotion
• Climate Response Foaming Body Bath Gel
• Climate Response Gentle Body Shampoo 
• Climate Response Smoothing Body Scrub
• Climate Response Body Soap
• Climate Response Talc
• Foaming Bath Pearls (Limited Edition)

Ralph Lauren also accented his Safari Collection with a line of cosmetics in 1992.

• Climate Response Mascara
• Climate Response Lip SPF 1 (hint of sheer color in blush, bronze, or bare)
• Climate Response Lip Liner 
• Climate Response Sun Sheer Bronzing Powder
• Climate Response Sun Sheer Brush (for Bronzer)

Glamour, 1992:

"The newest, from Ralph Lauren's Safari Climate Response Collection, works as anything from summer blusher to eye shadow to a substitute for loose powder. Shop for a shade that will "disappear" into your skin."

Fate of the Fragrance:

Safari had been discontinued for many years (I believe by 2002), but has been recently reformulated and relaunched by Ralph Lauren as just Eau de Parfum concentration. These newer boxes will be marked:

Ralph Lauren Fragrances
Luxury Products, LLC, New York, NY 10017
Dist. Designer Fragrances
Montreal, Canada H4T 1K5
Packaging Design © 1989 Ralph Lauren
Safari is a Trademark of the Ralph Lauren Corporation

If you are looking for vintages - your best bet is to look for the Colognes, the Parfums. and the Climate Response bath & body products/cosmetics (though these may not be good to use after so long) and any of the products under the Cosmair name on bottles AND boxes. The back of the box will also have less ingredient information than on the newer boxes.

Avoid the items with the co-branded "Luxury Products LLC" (although another division of L'Oreal) name. Beware, these perfumes have suffered reformulations that many reviewers vehemently complained about.

Please notes that your bottle may have a Cosmair label, while your box may have the Luxury Products branding, this overlapping is usually due to the usage of old and new stock until all of the old branded stock is gone.

CLICK HERE TO FIND SAFARI PERFUME BY RALPH LAUREN