Monsavon, Chypre, 15 ml. or 0.5 oz. Flacon, Pure Parfum Extrait, 1925, Paris, France ..

Monsavon was a beauty care pioneer in Paris, France during the 1920's. It all began in 1925 when Monsavon launched its first soap, and then went on to create many different beauty products, including some iconic perfumes. Monsavon is probably a unique case of a brand whose history was written in four hands, successively by two large companies, L'Oréal and Procter & Gamble.

Although there is little information on Monsavon advertising during its first years, it is established that the advertisements of the time are already referring to the softening properties of the milk used in Monsavon soaps, the association of "milky-softness" being implicit in the field of their cosmetics marketing.

The chypre that started it all was Francois Coty's Chypre was so named as an homage to the scents that perfumed the island of Cyprus which were comprised of a combination of woods, moss and citrus. Henceforth, thanks to this groundbreaking perfume, all perfumes in the chypre category contained some combination of a sparkling citrus note .. usually bergamot .. floral heart notes, and they rest on bases of vetiver, oakmoss, labdanum and patchouli.

At once fresh and bracing, warm and woodsy, and softly floral, Chypre dries down on the skin into what can only be described as a powdery butter that leaves an almost milky richness, combined with a lovely woody base of Sandalwood.

Top notes are Bergamot, Orange Blossom, and Lemon
Heart notes are Jasmine, Rose, Lilac, and Orris
Base notes are Vanilla, Coumarin, Oak Moss, Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood, and Labdanum

Offered here is a lovely early chypre from Paris produced by Monsavon. A good way to try this category of perfume. Very rare now ..