Pavlova by Payot c1976

Pavlova by Payot: launched in 1976..

Pavlova, a fragrance named after the Russian Prima Ballerina, Anna Pavlova, was introduced by ITT's Payot Division at fine department stores throughout the United States. ITT Payot was one of 20 International Telephone and Telegraph companies with operations and services in Pennsylvania. They acquired the Payot Division and decided to launch the fragrance in 1977.

"It is with the greatest pleasure that Payot introduces a fragrance created in honor of the grace and beauty of the great prima ballerina - Pavlova," announced Gerard Semhon, president of ITT's Payot Division. A fragrance legend in its own time. Pavlova is a lush blending of tuberose and night blooming jasmine, heady hyacinth and the delicate petals of rose.

The Pavlova fragrance is a formula similar to the one created in 1922 by Dr. Nadine Payot, a close friend of Anna Pavlova and world-famous director and founder of Payot Institut de Beaute, with branches in twelve countries. Legend has it that Dr. Payot was urged to go into the face treatment business by Pavlova, for whom she had concocted special creams during the 1920s. "A woman should think of her face and body as her most precious possessions. She should protect and care for and learn about her skin, as if it were an irreplaceable treasure," said Dr. Payot.

Pavlova was introduced in Canada in 1978, in conjunction with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Some 3,000 samples of the new perfume were given out to the audience. 

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a lush floral fragrance for women.A gentle but long lasting fragrance with romantic style. It starts with a green, fruity top combining raspberry, grapefruit, bergamot, blackcurrant and mandarin, followed by an exotic floral heart blending generous essences of tender tuberose, night blooming jasmine, heady hyacinth and delicate petals of rose, resting on a powdery, woody base of vetiver, mosses, exotic woods, with balsamic notes of benzoin and vanilla tempered by a quartet of sensual animalic notes of musk, ambergris, civet and castoreum. A fascinating fragrance reminiscent of the early 1900s and Twenties era perfumes.

•  Top notes: hyacinth, galbanum, mandarin orange, blackcurrant bud, bergamot, raspberry and grapefruit
• Middle notes: orris, narcissus, orchid, Bulgarian rose, tuberose, jasmine, neroli, ylang-ylang and geranium
• Base notes: civet, castoreum, cedar, benzoin, sandalwood, musk, vanilla, oakmoss, amber and vetiver

Bottles:

The one ounce parfum is packed in a lavish black lacquered box in the manner of the famed Russian enamel boxes from the Palekh region. It interior is lined with pink satin. This presentation retailed for $70. 

A 0.25 oz purse spray of parfum was housed inside of a hand painted music box that played the tune of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." Its interior is lined with pink velvet and doubles as a jewel box. This was available for $12.50 with a $12.50 or more Eau de Toilette purchase. In 1981, this presentation retailed for $85.

The pink dusting powder with its swan's down puff is packaged in a black porcelain urn painted with delicate flowers.

In 1980, the Pavlova Potpourri was introduced. Delicately wrapped in a lace handkerchief and encased in a charming hand-painted box , it contained a vial of Pavlova for refreshing. 

Pavlova was available in fine department stores in the following:

• 0.25 oz Parfum (retailed for $25, raised to $35 in 1980)
• 0.50 oz Parfum (retailed for $40, raised to $55 in 1980)
• 1 oz Parfum (retailed for $70, raised to $110 in 1981)
• 2 oz Eau de Toilette Splash (retailed for $12.50, raised to $19.00 in 1980)
• 4 oz Eau de Toilette Splash (retailed for $22.00)
• 1 oz Eau de Toilette Natural Spray (retailed for $11.00 in 1981)
• 2 oz Eau de Toilette Natural Spray (retailed for $12.50)
• 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette Natural Spray (retailed for $25.00 in 1981)
• 4 oz Eau de Toilette Natural Spray  (retailed for $22.00)
• Bath Oil
• Refill for Bath Oil (retailed for $12 in 1981)
• Body Lotion
• 6 oz Dusting Powder  (retailed for $40.00)
• Refill for Dusting Powder (retailed for $17.50 in 1981)
• Bath Soap, sculpted as a swan  (a pair retailed for $13.50)

Fate of the Fragrance:

By 1988, it was distributed by the Cantilene Division of Parfums de Payot. It has been discontinued for many years. It was still being sold in 1993.