Livia by Livia Parfums c1977

 Livia by Livia Parfums: launched in 1977, by the Livia Sylva company, located in New York City having emigrated from Romania.

Named after Livia Weintraub, who said that the perfume was a family recipe and was made with only the finest ingredients. Livia further explained that the perfume's scent was directly inspired by a tiny vial her beloved aunt had used. Livia said that she went back home to visit family in Cluj, Romania and found it tucked away in a dresser drawer with only a few precious drops left in the bottom. "It was a delicious scent and it brought back memories," she said.

With that in mind, she approached a French perfumer and asked him to recreate the scent. The blending of the composition took several tries over the course of a year before she was satisfied with the results. She sent the first bottle to her aunt in Romania to get her reaction. It must have been met with very satisfactory results as she decided to launch the fragrance publicly soon after.

"LIVIA PARFUM, created for the sophisticated and young at heart - The fragrance statement of the 80's - Fragrance Born in Romania and Recreated for the Sophisticated and Young at Heart."

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral amber (oriental) fragrance for women. A sparkling modern floriental blend with old-fashioned romantic overtones and brilliant, dancing grace notes that change with the wearer's body chemistry.

A sophisticated floral blend of heady jasmine, spiced with carnation on a rich chypre base.

• Top notes: bergamot, aldehydes, orange blossom
• Middle notes: jasmine, carnation, rose, ylang ylang
• Base notes: patchouli, sandalwood, amber, oakmoss, labdanum, musk

Bottle:

The perfume is housed in a cube shaped crystal bottle with a silver coat of arms bearing its name. It retailed at $75 an ounce. The bottle is packaged in a simple white box trimmed in emerald green and bears Livia's family crest pressed in platinum ink.

A few special numbered edition flacons were produced, each had a sterling silver medallion and retailed at $500 per two ounces, she had gifted a bottle to actress Elizabeth Taylor who was enraptured with the fragrance.

Cue, 1978:

"Livia Sylva carries the prestige of status perfume bottles to the limit by encasing her $500-an-ounce scent, Livia, in cut crystal and putting it out in a special, limited edition at Bloomingdales."

This exquisite imported French crystal flacon with a new twist makes a ... LIVIA PARFUM , created for the sophisticated and young at heart."

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.

Princess Livia:

Princess Livia, the second perfume by Livia, was launched in 1983.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral fragrance for women.  

• Top notes: angelica seed, basil, chamomile, coriander
• Middle notes: jasmine, rose, narcissus
• Base notes: sandalwood, amber, oakmoss

Fate of the Fragrance:

I believe that the Princess Livia perfume has been out of production after 1995. The Princess Livia Nectar skin cream has been owned by Cosmetique, Inc. since around 2010.