Shanghai by Lentheric: launched in 1936. Originally named Cœur de Paris and launched in 1911. Cœur de Paris was renamed Shanghai in 1936 and was repackaged in a beautiful Chinese styled vase.
So what does it smell like? It was a floral oriental perfume. In a 1938 newspaper article it was described as "a very suave perfume, a natural affinity for furs, woolens, cold weather, grand for brunettes, and having a warm fragrance...the haunting mystery of the East...subtle and exquisite delicacy of modernized oriental fragrance."
I am using a vintage 1940's Shanghai perfume nip to review this perfume, and I detect soapy aldehydes in this example, which were probably not used in the Coeur de Paris version. This is a beautiful perfume, very powdery, herbal and spicy with the amber and aldehydes, I also think I detect bee pollen.
I just tested a small amount on my skin from another sealed vintage perfume nip that is over 60 years old. The perfume at first smells aldehydic, citric, a cross between Avon's Skin So Soft and Old Spice, geranium and lavender shine through. It lasts fairly long, spicy and herbal on a warm, woody base.
On paper, the perfume is extremely mossy, with only a short breath of the flowers, I feel that only on the skin does the super sweet gardenia and tuberose blend become very apparent and much more enjoyable.
Etude, 1938:
Cute mini perfume, rectangular shaped clear glass bottle, molded with vertical lines, gold ball screw car. Yellow presentation case and label. Bottle stands 2 1/4" tall and was used for other perfumes.
Discontinued, date unknown.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It was a floral oriental perfume. In a 1938 newspaper article it was described as "a very suave perfume, a natural affinity for furs, woolens, cold weather, grand for brunettes, and having a warm fragrance...the haunting mystery of the East...subtle and exquisite delicacy of modernized oriental fragrance."
I am using a vintage 1940's Shanghai perfume nip to review this perfume, and I detect soapy aldehydes in this example, which were probably not used in the Coeur de Paris version. This is a beautiful perfume, very powdery, herbal and spicy with the amber and aldehydes, I also think I detect bee pollen.
- Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, cinnamon, clove, citronella
- Middle notes: carnation, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, geranium, lavender
- Base notes: frankincense, cedarwood, tonka, vetiver, oak moss, myrrh, benzoin, amber, musk, sandalwood
I just tested a small amount on my skin from another sealed vintage perfume nip that is over 60 years old. The perfume at first smells aldehydic, citric, a cross between Avon's Skin So Soft and Old Spice, geranium and lavender shine through. It lasts fairly long, spicy and herbal on a warm, woody base.
On paper, the perfume is extremely mossy, with only a short breath of the flowers, I feel that only on the skin does the super sweet gardenia and tuberose blend become very apparent and much more enjoyable.
A 1936 ad reads:
"New fragrance Shanghai, a gift that is refreshing. Many women like a spicy and gay fragrance and this perfume is as merry and gay as the Christmas season."
Etude, 1938:
"They are all there in Lentheric's magnificent perfume Shanghai. In direct contrast is Lentheric's A Bientot ('till we meet again), a light, gay, refreshing, free, playful fragrance, full of youth and expectancy, midsummer floral odors for you."
Bottles:
Clear crystal bottle, in the stylized shape of an ancient Chinese incense burner, with crystal inner stopper and amber bakelite over cap. This bottle came in several sizes: 1 oz
Clear crystal bottle in the stylized shape of an ancient Chinese incense burner, slightly different than the one shown above. Inner glass stopper and frosted glass over cap. Half ounce bottle stands 1 5/8" tall. one ounce bottle stands 2 1/2" tall.
Art Deco bottle with stepped frosted glass stopper. Bottle stands 3 1/8 inches tall by 2 3/8 inches wide. This bottle was used for other perfumes.
Fate of the Fragrance:
Discontinued, date unknown.
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