Pretexte by Lanvin c1937

Pretexte by Lanvin: launched in 1937, created by Andre Fraysse.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an ambery floral perfume with woody notes for women.

• Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot and narcissus
• Heart notes: hay, rose, carnation, hawthorn, opoponax and iris
• Base notes: leather, castoreum, patchouli, rosewood, ambergris, Mysore sandalwood, tonka, vetiver, civet, oakmoss

Drug and Cosmetic Industry - Volume 41, 1937:

"The box in white and burgundy, with modern lettering completes the package. "Pretexte," a fresh provocative perfume is the first perfume to be presented by Lanvin in three years. The fragrance is rich and unusual. It has a modern quality."

The New Yorker, 1947:

“Lanvin, always a great champion of femininity in her scents, offers Pretexte, which was first put together just before the war and almost immediately had to be withdrawn.”

Home Journal - Volume 102, 1948:

"For those individualists who make no concessions to seasons and prefer to wear lighter versions of winter pets, Lanvin’s haunting Pretexte is again available. It is called Eau de Lanvin in the Pretexte fragrance. Its reappearance should bring joy to many.”

Cue, 1953:

"Velvety-textured Talc de Lanvin, encased in a really handsome black and gold plastic shaker, is just out in all five Lanvin fragrances— Arpege, My Sin, Scandal, Pretexte and Rumeur."

Playbill, 1960:

"The fragrance more men admire, more women desire — Arpege— now in a refillable spray mist. Measured to give you just enough fragrance with every spray. Now in all Lanvin fragrances, My Sin, Pretexte, Rumeur, Scandal and Spanish Geranium."

Vogue - Volume 142, 1963:

“There’s a new concept of spray scents introduced by Lanvin in its Eau de Toilette. It’s push-button pure fragrance: no propellent necessary to make scented mists. More effervescent news; a refillable bottle, $5 plus tax for 2 ½ oz of Lanvin’s Natural Spray in Eau de Toilette of Arpege, My Sin, Crescendo, Scandal, Pretexte, Rumeur and Spanish Geranium.”

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued in 1969.

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