Marcel Rochas, Femme, 'Woman', Soft Leather, 15 ml. or 0.5oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1943, 1989, Paris, France ..

Rochas began as a French fashion house founded by Marcel Rochas in 1925. From 1925 until 1953, when the haute couture division closed its doors, Marcel Rochas dressed women in forward-thinking fashions that also celebrated traditional feminine silhouettes.

The company expanded its offerings to include fragrances, starting with a trio of perfumes, Avenue Matignon, Air Jeune and Audace, in 1934. The perfumes were taken off the market during World War II, but the company's most famous fragrance, the classic Femme, was launched in 1943 and remains a perennial best-seller.

Edmond Roudnitska made Femme Rochas in Paris during the War in 1943. Femme represents a real masterpiece with its warmth of a woman’s gentle skin and dense note of plum. The composition is based on the harmony of aldehydes, fruit, wood, and musk notes. The dryness of chypre notes is softened by the purple plum. The richness of tropical fruits is followed by the rich scent of sandal. Femme Rochas is a splendid perfume which is not aimed at every person, more at a femme fatale. The lovely bottle recalls a woman's curves.

"Some perfumes become classics because they are based on appealing, commercial accords and others gain the status of legends because of their haunting beauty, even if it presents a challenge. Femme’s beauty is arresting and spellbinding, its main accord heavy like a heart filled with longings …

Its perfection lies in Roudnitska’s ability to create a harmonious balance between aldehydes, fruit, woods and mossy notes. The dryness of Femme’s chypre accord is softened by the violet tinged plum; the tropical lushness of flowers is supported by the dense richness of sandalwood. I am overcome with emotion imagining this ravishing beauty created in the middle of a war torn city out of whatever materials Roudnitska could discover at the time.” Bois de Jasmine.

Top Notes are Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Peach, Plum, and Prune
Heart Notes include Immortelle, Lemon, Oak Moss, and Galbanum
Base notes are Sandalwood, Rosewood, Amber, Leather

Offered here is a beautiful half ounce bottle of the gorgeous perfume. It has been opened and possibly gently used. A timeless classic. One of my most favorite perfumes ever! It comes in its original presentation box. I have had a difficult time dating this bottle, but have guessed at 1989 when the perfume was reconstructed to become more gourmand and lighter thanks to the peach note in harmony with the plum ..