Taglio by Lucien Lelong c1945

Taglio by Lucien Lelong: launched in 1928 as "Parfum N" and renamed taglio for the US market in 1945.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is a light, aldehydic floral perfume for women with chypre notes of dry woods and peppered with pungent spices.

• Top notes: galbanum, aldehydes, bergamot, lilac, fig leaf, narcissus, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, galbanum 
• Middle notes: carnation, jasmine, lily of the valley, magnolia, carnation, violet, ylang ylang, rose, iris
• Base notes: tea, orris, patchouli, sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, oakmoss, ambergris, tonka bean

Factory Management and Maintenance, 1946:

"Rest your mind a moment and think about Mrs. Tycoon, and how wonderful she will think you are if you give her perfume this Christmas. For instance, Taglio — the beautiful new Lucien Lelong fragrance. It's really quite something; not exactly!"

Motion Picture, 1946:

"Taglio, a sparkling new Lucien Lelong perfume, exquisitely packaged. $19 and $28."

Bottles:

Taglio was housed inside of a simple clear crystal bottle, rectangular shaped and molded with the double L logo, topped with a flat rectangular ground glass stopper. The bottle was originally used to house the other Lelong perfume Elle Elle, but for Taglio, a rectangle is molded around the double L logo, giving it a framed appearance.

If your bottle is missing its label and you need to know the capacity, use my handy guide below:

• No. 1 = 1/4 oz bottle stands 1.5' tall.
• No. 2 = 1/2 oz bottle stands 1.75" tall.
• No. 3 = 1 oz bottle stands 2.25" tall. 
• No. 3A = 1.5 oz bottle stands 2.75" tall.
• 7 oz bottle stands 4.25" tall.
• No. 2800 = gift set holding 1 oz Parfum & 2 oz Eau de Toilette, box measures 8" x 4.75" x 2.5."

But the real draw was the gorgeous clear plastic presentation box, considered very modern at the time period. Made up both metalized and flocked acetate sheeting which looked like shimmering bubbles, it was produced by the New York firm, Emet Plastics Corp. The same theme in acetate was also used on the matching dusting powder box. The top of the box forms a sort of shadowbox effect, inside are pink foil flowers and green leaves.

Unfortunately, time has not been too kind on these unique plastic boxes. The thin acetate sheets have a tendency to turn to a grey, yellowed or even brownish color, it is quite fragile and is prone to warping and eventually cracking.

 

Modern Packaging, 1945:

"Lucien Lelong has the cosmetic world agog with the glamourous transparent container for his Taglio perfume. This is made of acetate, but everybody is asking, "How do they put those tiny bubbles in the plastic? ..."

Modern Packaging, 1947:

"The success of Lucien Lelong's Taglio perfume in a transparent acetate container which appears to be full of frosty bubbles, has prompted the introduction of a line of additional cosmetics in similar packaging."

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.