Gianni Versace by Versace c1981

Gianni Versace by Gianni Versace: launched in 1981 in association with the Charles of the Ritz group. This was the first perfume introduced by late fashion designer Versace.

As early as 1979, the Charles of the Ritz group was planning to link up with Gianni Versace to produce a Versace fragrance. The project was billed as the first exclusive affiliation between a leading Italian fashion designer and a major American cosmetic company. 

The Charles of the Ritz group provided all of the research and compounding responsibilities, though I am unsure of who the actual perfumer was. I do know that Gianni Versace himself was involved in the testing and sampling process. The perfume reportedly took four years to complete.

Versace explained, " For a dress designer, perfume is an important artistic expression. It is the invisible accessory that underlines femininity . It is the part of the look because it expresses the personality of the clothes."

Gianni Versace introduced his new perfume to he United States in Los Angeles on Sept 7, 1982 at JW Robinson, Beverly Hills, who was hosting a benefit for the Los Angeles Ballet Guild. The $75 per ticket benefit included a sit down, black tie dinner in the store's patio catered by Rococo Custom Catering, the city's premier catering group, and surrounded by floral decor by florist David Jones.

Versace had recently designed costumes for the La Scala opera and felt this was a great opportunity to tie both together.

In addition to the introduction of the perfume, Versace's fall collection was modeled during the evening, and Versace described it as "the epitome of Italian charm." The designer planned the whole production culminating in a finale featuring two brides.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an aldehydic floral chypre fragrance for women. It begins with a spicy aldehydic top, followed by a sultry floral heart, resting on a sensual, mossy base.

Captivating floral top notes in a blend of honeysuckle, jonquil and lavender with ylang ylang - delicately interlaced with French marigold, orange blossom and tuberose, juxtaposed against the subtle mosses, broom and warm woods. At the heart of the fragrance, olibanum and myrrh lend an incense like quality to the perfume as it unfolds. Amber, patchouli and sandalwood pulse at the base to give it an unforgettable vibrant sensuality and distinctive richness.

• Top notes: French marigold, aldehydes, broom, spices, fruity note, bergamot, honeysuckle, lavender, ylang ylang
• Middle notes: jonquil, orange blossom, jasmine, narcissus, orris, carnation, tuberose, lily of the valley, gardenia
• Base notes: olibanum, oakmoss, ambergris, Siam benzoin, leather, cistus, myrrh, Mysore sandalwood, patchouli

Bottle:

Designed by Alain de Mourgues. Like a precious objet d'art, it is made up of crystal, cut and polished, like a diamond with 56 brilliant facets, forming a glittering "V" for Versace. At the base of the bottle a prism of solid crystal provides visual support and counterpoint for the heavy cut crystal stopper of the bottle which is also cut like a precious gem.

The coffret is just as gleaming, richly embossed, with spokes of gold lashing a series of V's across the lacquer surface of a white, pearl gray and Pompeiian red.

The one ounce bottle of parfum originally retailed for $130, half ounce for $70, and the quarter ounce for $45. The scent was also available in eau de toilette form in both splash (1.6 oz) and sprays (1 oz and 2.5 oz).
The perfume was distributed by Giver Profumi.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued. The perfume may have been discontinued around 1990. 

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