Cottan, Ambre, Amber, 50 ml. or 1.76 oz. Flacon, Pure Parfum Extrait, 1922, Paris, France ..

Cotton, or Cottan-Porte, of 40 rue de Chateaudun, Paris, was established in 1832 by Docteur Cottan and named La Parfumerie de la Societe Hygenique du Docteur Cottan in 1840. The company manufactured perfumes, costmetics and toiletries, and they produced unusual luxury presentations in the 1920s.

Dr. Cottan, throughout his medical studies, noted that some preparations worked to give the epidermis beauty and freshness, and with this in mind, he went on to produce some of the most superior skin products of his time. His research led him to create a brand which would only launch products with a truly remarkable qualities. In this way, the "Parfumerie de la Société Hygiénique Cottan" was born in 1840. To reach this end, Dr. Cottan, in collaboration with one of his colleagues, made a complete study of all the primary materials used in perfumery. Dr. Cottan also studied, in particular, the development of beautiful scented soaps.

The factory of the Society was destroyed during the first war by a fire, and was rebuilt in Asnières on the Seine during the years 1918 and 1919 with new architecture and planning, and the plant was beautifully equipped and renovated to ultra modern standards, including the introduction of electricity which had great importance at that time.

Cottan Ambre was launched in 1922. It is a distinctively amber perfume with wonderful deep oriental notes. Juiciness and intoxicating sensualness originates from peach and Ylang Ylang, which, along with orange blossom, create the core of the composition. An engaging resinous scent, it is warm and elegant with a procession of the woods, vetiver and patchouli, enhanced with radiant aniseed, insolent spices, mysterious incense, cistus, and tonka bean of amber, vanilla and labdanum.

"Cottan Ambre is quite modern in its bitter amber, patchouli, cedar and vetiver combination, reminiscent of modern oud compositions. My nose detects none of the sweet top notes on my skin, but on my spouse the sweetness of the orange, peach and ylang do come across nicely. The incense note of styrax and the dry spice notes of coriander and cardamom add to the depth of this scent. It can certainly be considered unisex by today’s standards, although it is difficult to imagine this being marketed to and worn by women in 1930. Perhaps it was marketed to men; there is no way of knowing, as so little is known about this fragrance. A very dry incense amber with a sweet overlay, which would be of great interest to those in love with either of these categories, worn close to the skin without much projection. Would that I could detect the top notes on my skin, but grateful I can experience them on another’s. Basenotes Review. Jack Twist

Top notes are Peach, Ylang Ylang, Orange Blossom, Aniseed, and Neroli
Heart notes are Amber, Cardamon, Coriander, Cedarwood, Balsam, Styrax, and Spices
Base notes are Labdanum, Vanilla, Patchouli, Ambergris, Vetiver, and Patchouli

Offered here is a very rare flacon of this rather intoxicating amber perfume. It has been previously opened and gently used. The bottle is quite superb and reminds me of creations by Julien Viard. I am unsure if this one is Viard. Highly collectible.