Pierre Balmain, Élysées 64-83, 30 ml. or 1 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1937, 1946, Paris, France ..

Pierre Balmain was born in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, France on May 18, 1914. Balmain's father, who died when the future designer was seven years old, was the owner of a wholesale drapery business. His mother and her sisters operated a fashion boutique.

He later attended Grenoble University and after moving to Paris, he studied architecture and design at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, but did not complete his studies. He spent his time there designing dresses. While attending the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Balmain went to Molyneux, who promised to give him a trial. Balmain then left his architectural studies to work part time for Molyneux in 1934. It was Captain Molyneux who encouraged Balmain to pursue a fashion career, and so he remained employed with Molyneux until 1939. Balmain's career began when he sold three of his designs to Robert Piguet.

In 1951 he opened branches in the United States selling ready-to-wear clothes. During the 1950s, Balmain popularized the stole for day as well as evening wear and created a vogue for sheath dresses beneath jackets. His talent as a designer lay in his ability to make simple, tailored suits as well as grand evening gowns, all with the same aesthetic of slender and elegant lines.

The Balmain perfume business was bought by Revlon in 1960. In 1982 the company was sold on and since 1991 has been owned by Erich Fayer. Oscar de la Renta led the house between 1993 and 2002. Under Pierre Balmain, Mortensen, and de la Renta, the house was known for its classic, luxurious designs.

"Pierre Balmain notes in his autobiography 'My Years and Seasons' – that “My friend, Germaine Cellier, had just invented a perfume for me which evoked the best kind of elegance of which I wanted to be the harbinger. I named it Élysées 64-83, my first telephone number.”

"It appears that Madame Cellier was truly “the nose with a flair for formula” according to her niece Martine Azoulai, who pondered the origins of her celebrated aunt’s perfumes’ names. The only certainty was that of Élysées 64-83, the infamous phone exchange of Pierre Balmain’s first Parisian boutique. I’ve noted a touch of controversy regarding the date of its release: The Perfume Society cites the year as 1937, while all other sources name 1946. My suspicion is that it may have been initially created pre-WWII and more widely distributed later on. The pre-war years were challenging indeed and many felt the reverberation of the winds of change fast upon their heels.

"How does one characterize Pierre Balmain Élysées 64-83, this rare fragrance? Is it floral/woody? Fougère with benefits? Floral amber animalic? Aldehydic floral? Aldehydic chypre? There are quite a few potential classifications. I’m leaving it to you to determine which you feel suits best. Parfum Extraordinairement Raffiné.

"Elegant aldehydes shimmer, disperse and lift herbaceously floral humble chamomile, tickled by what was to become a Cellier byword – galbanum the greenly resinous, not overdosed in this perfume. I adore each component. The opening, even after so many years lovingly-stored and well-sealed – is utterly delicious. Can you flout wild flowers (whatever that might infer)? I’m not capable. They enfold peerless jasmine, geranium, rose and vegetal/floral lavender. We haven’t even touched upon the aromatic foundation yet, which is intricate as a perfumed labyrinth. Élysées 64-83’s fragrant spine is luxurious, replete with the stuff of dreams: earthy patchouli, balsamic vetiver, sibylline labdanum, boozy bittersweet anisic wormwood, tenacious silvery/woody orris, inky oak moss (pre-IFRA!), authentic saline/rosy steadfast ambergris, and what is highly likely to be true civet bundled in vanilla, and leathery tones.

Top Notes are Chamomile, Galbanum, and Wild Flowers
Heart notes are Geranium, Rose, Jasmine, and Lavender
Base Notes are Patchouli, Vetiver, Labdanum, Wormwood, Ambergris, Orris, Oak Moss, Vanilla, and Leather

"What a glorious composition! Pierre Balmain Élysées 64-83 hails from an era in which one anticipated experiencing a sensual journey before falling into the lingering luscious abyss of studied shadow where they longed to dally indefinitely. Once applied to flesh and closely observed, you can feel the germination of Cellier’s genius (you won’t catch me using that appellation often; I tend to cringe first). Within each drop abides her passion for magnificent florals, the marriage of unlikely materials (artemisia and ambergris?), her love of leather and earthy innuendo. No single aromatic participant sticks out like a sore thumb or diva: individualism lovingly coexists with a rounded sense of completion which is immensely satisfying. Linearity is nonexistent." Ca Fleur Bon

The 1947 advertising for Pierre Balmain’s debut fragrance, Élysées 64-83, was famously illustrated by renowned fashion artist René Gruau. The ads portrayed a sophisticated, romantic vision of Parisian elegance, often featuring striking, minimalist, or artistic depictions of women that matched the "serious and frivolous" tone of the era. Launched in 1946 (with ads around 1947), it was Balmain's first perfume, with a name derived from his atelier's telephone number (Elysées 64-83). The advertisements reflected postwar Parisian chic, showcasing the brand's early focus on romantic elegance.

Offered here is lovely old one ounce bottle of this super rare perfume. The stopper has some movement, and I believe it has been previously opened but barely or if ever used. It comes in its original presentation box. Gorgeous fragrance and very rare now ..