Showing posts with label Bourjois. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bourjois. Show all posts

Monday, November 18, 2013

Vintage Musk Oils

Vintage Musk Oils can be one of the most sought after fragrances on the market today. Many people who originally wore the fragrances in the 1970s remain loyal to the sensual fragrance and eagerly search for it. This demand makes prices shoot up ridiculously. 

Monday, April 15, 2013

Mon Parfum by Bourjois c1919

Mon Parfum (My Perfume) by Bourjois: launched in 1919. It was a perfume created by Ernest Beaux and marketed  "my perfume reflects my personality" and "the sweetest perfume in the world."





Monday, April 8, 2013

Kobako by Bourjois c1936

Kobako was launched by Bourjois in 1936. Kobako is a chypre floral fragrance for women. The nose behind this fragrance is Ernest Beaux. Kobako, refers to a lacquer or porcelain box containing incense, Kobako means "perfume-box" in Japanese.







In 1937, Harper's Bazaar reported that:
"So, for longer than two decades, KOBAKO perfume was the secret of only two people — its creator, and the beauty who used it. It is said that she had an almost superstitious belief in its power to stir the emotions. Today, Kobako Perfume, so subtle, so seemingly remote, yet so persuasive to the senses, is the exquisite, the thrilling gift for a charming American lady. In a bottle of Chinese design. KOBAKO BOURJOIS INSPIRED BY ANCIENT CHINA ."





Fragrance Composition:


It is classified as a modern leather chypre fragrance for women.

  • Top notes: aldehydes, citrus notes, lily, galbanum, 
  • Middle notes: rose, magnolia, jasmine, cloves, cinnamon, carnation
  • Base notes: vanilla, tonka bean, orris, civet, benzoin, frankincense, amber, oakmoss, musk and leather




Bottles:



The bottle for Kobako is a replica of antique Chinese snuff bottle, and was manufactured by Verreries Brosse in France. This bottle was not designed or manufactured by Lalique, as I sometimes see this erroneously attributed. The red and black Bakelite presentation case was meant to imitate aged and carved cinnabar, I believe that Eduard Fornells made the case. 


A 1936 newspaper advertisement reads:
"Kobako - Chinese for perfume container. Kobako - new and exciting perfume of Oriental allure - a modern version of the glory of 12th century China. Mysterious, fascinating and whispering to her of thrilling adventure. Matching the artistry of France with the subtle of an exotic Chinese vase. Kobako is entrancing."

Drug and Cosmetic Industry, 1936:
"With the Chinese influence strong in makeup and fashions, Bourjois is introducing a new Oriental fragrance in a typically Chinese container. Kobako," is the name of the new perfume, which we are told is translated to mean "beautiful perfume container" in Chinese. The bottle is of frosted glass, and said to be a copy of an ancient Chinese perfume bottle . It is encased in Oriental red embossed plastic box, which is a copy of a Chinese lacquered cabinet with a black base."

Arts and Decoration, 1937:
"Bourjois' newest perfume, "Kobako," in a jewel- like flacon copied from an ancient Chinese perfume bottle. Even the container is inspired by an old lacquered cabinet, also Chinese. The base is deep black and the cover is a dramatic glowing red."

A miniature version was also produced, this can be very hard to find. This bottle is rectangular in shape with curved shoulders, the bottle is molded with the floral design that matches the one on the luxury size bottle. A red screw cap tops the bottle. The mini bottle's presentation box is red cardboard and embossed with floral designs hearkening the Bakelite box's design.

photo by anicka


The purse size flacon, clear glass and molded with the floral motif. The bottle is topped off with a red plastic screw cap which ends with a tassel. The bottle has a small, round golden label. This is super rare to find.

photo by ebay seller xniide.




Fate of the Fragrance:


The last advertisement for Kobako I have found is dated 1951, so I assume the fragrance was discontinued around that time. It was discontinued for many years before being relaunched sometime in the 1980s.


Welcome!

This is not your average perfume blog. In each post, I present perfumes or companies as encyclopedic entries with as much facts and photos as I can add for easy reading and researching without all the extraneous fluff or puffery.

Please understand that this website is not affiliated with any of the perfume companies written about here, it is only a source of reference. I consider it a repository of vital information for collectors and those who have enjoyed the classic fragrances of days gone by. Updates to posts are conducted whenever I find new information to add or to correct any errors.

One of the goals of this website is to show the present owners of the various perfumes and cologne brands that are featured here how much we miss the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back these fragrances!

Please leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the fragrance, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or what occasion, any specific memories, what it reminded you of, maybe a relative wore it, or you remembered seeing the bottle on their vanity table, did you like the bottle design), who knows, perhaps someone from the company brand might see it.

Also, if you have any information not seen here, please comment and share with all of us.

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