Halston Night by Halston c1980

Halston Night by Halston: launched in 1980.

Introduced in the USA in 1981, Halston Night was a rare challenge for the perfumers at IFF. It was not to be a clone of the original Halston fragrance, a green oriental, a "little fresher, and a little young". The task was to make a much more exotic floral oriental fragrance with "tremendous diffusion". The fragrance was created to encompass two major fragrance categories. In other words, a fragrance that bridged two separate families - the floral and oriental. 

Oriental fragrances are historically heavy by nature and therefore it is difficult to obtain a floral bouquet that would overcome the resinous quality of the oriental category. In the case of Halston Night, the perfumer was able to overcome this barrier with this rosy cassis combination that pushes the floral tones to the top of the fragrance.

"Credibility is the concept of the perfume. The long term credibility of a designer's perfume is based on his having aesthetic control. Halston Night was conceived, designed and created by Halston himself from start to finish", explained Paul Wilmot, vice-president of sales development for Halston Fragrances in 1981.

"We started off wanting to make the most sensuous luxury fragrance," Wilmot explained while divulging that it was two years in the making. He also added that due to the costly natural ingredients it is also "the most expensive perfume formula anyone's ever come up with."

The fragrance was launched at the Nashville Saks Fifth Avenue's cosmetics floor, which was decorated with fresh orchids. Entertainment was provided by Mike Carney who played a grand piano that had been wheeled into the store. Halston himself made a grand entrance riding the escalator down onto the cosmetics floor with an entourage of beautiful people: models wearing his gold bugle beaded gowns that he designed especially for the launch of the fragrance. Waiting for him inside the cosmetics department was about 2000 women, eager to meet him and sample what Wilmot described as the "most exciting new fragrance of the 80s". An event spent at the Grand Ole Opry was also planned for one of the evenings. Wilmot was impressed with the enthusiastic customer reception and claimed it was "the single most important and successful launch in history."

An annual two week promotional dubbed the World of Fragrance was held at the Castner-Knott department store. Wilmot, accompanied by two models clad in Halston gowns made an appearance to introduce the fragrance, hand out samples and greet customers. A spectacular hot air balloon launch was held at Legislative Plaza to help announce the perfume with the fountains around the Plaza scented with Halston Night.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a sweet-floral oriental fragrance for women. It begins with a fruity, aldehydic top, followed by an elegant floral heart, resting on a sensual, powdery base. It is composed of 500 ingredients, some of the most expensive floral notes that exist on earth, masterfully blended by the perfumers at International Flavors and Fragrances Inc.

The top note has a citrus lift of bergamot and neroli bigarade surrounded by a costly rose and jasmine complex and highlighted by cassis. A woody, spicy body of orris, sandalwood, vetiver and nutmeg is warmed by sultry leather, sensual musk and smoldering incense notes. Floral notes predominate, accented by orange blossom, and rich notes of amber.

• Top notes: leafy green notes, aldehydes, French orange blossom absolute, French neroli bigrade petale, peach, French cassis
• Middle notes: Bulgarian rose, nutmeg, Moroccan rose, tuberose, jasmine, carnation, French orris, orchid, lily of the valley
• Base notes: Indian sandalwood, leather, Reunion Island vetiver Bourbon, African olibanum, amber, musk, oakmoss, cedar, benzoin, tonka bean, South American tolu balsam absolute

A rare rosy fruity top note that is supported by fresh citrus tones of neroli, bergamot, and orange blossoms. Cassis oil, a new note (derived from currant berries), adds to the unique driving top note. Orris and vetiver give the blend richness - amber, musk and incense give the fragrance a sensual quality. 

The perfume contained the unique "Halston Night Rose Blend", a special blend of several rose oils (Moroccan & Bulgarian) to produce a unique rose note.

Bottles:

Once the fragrance was created, the marketing department took over. It decided on a name, ''Halston Night,'' that would ''convey a sense of heightened expectation while avoiding cannibalizing from the first Halston fragrance,'' said John Malcom, president of Halston fragrances. It was intended to be hard, angular and something completely different. I think it resembles a crystal shard or stalagmite. As the press kit material reads: ''Black, Halston's signature, was the natural package color for 'Halston Night.' ''

Halston Night was available in Parfum and Cologne.

Parfum was contained in the uniquely designed Halston Night bottle, an elegant triangular obelisk crystal bottle modeled on an Oriental objet d'art owned by the designer, more specifically, the bird's beak, according to Mr. Malcom. Like the original, Halston Night was created as a luxury fragrance. The target audience was the elite market explained Halston Fragrances president John Malcolm. An ounce of parfum retailed for $125 and $45 for a quarter ounce, to which Malcolm explained, ''At that high price, you must have a beautiful bottle.''

Parfum:

• 1/8 oz miniature with gold plated cap
• 1/4 oz refillable 24 kt gold plated purse size spray
• 1/4 oz bottle with glass stopper (original retail price was $40)
• 1/2 oz bottle with glass stopper (original retail price was $65)
• 1 oz bottle with glass stopper,  stands about 5.5" tall (original retail price was $120)
• 2 oz bottle stands 7" tall. (original retail price was $150)

Cologne:

• 1 oz Cologne Splash with gold plated cap
• 2 oz Cologne Splash
• 4 oz Cologne Splash
• 1 oz Cologne Spray (original retail price was $17)
• 1.9 oz Cologne Spray (original retail price was $25)

Also available was a solid perfume Fragrance Stick in a slender, twist up tube in either a gold or silver finish.

The perfume factice (advertising dummy) bottle stood 14" tall is is filled with colored water to simulate the fragrance.

In the 1980s, there was a promotion called "Ebony & Ivory." This set of two bottles was comprised of an opaque black glass bottle which held Halston Night, and an opaque ivory glass bottle that held the original Halston perfume. These are considered extremely rare to find today.

Ancillary Products:

Perfumed Soap, Silken Body Powder and Body Cream.

5 oz Silken Body Powder (with golden opalescent shimmer)

6 oz Rich Body Cream (with golden opalescent shimmer)

Crystal candle, a crystal glass with a metalized gold lid holds a candle scented with Halston Night. The candle holder's lid is styled with an abstract form of the original bottle shape.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.

Halston Night was still being sold in 1990.