Lubin, Idole, 'Idol', 30ml. or 1 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1962, Paris, France ..

Lubin was established in 1798 by Pierre-Francois Lubin as Aux Armes de France. Lubin claimed ownership and use of all the secret beauty formulas of the French court. His success was so great that in the 1800s, Lubin became the favorite supplier of most European royal courts.The firm fortunately fell into the hands of Princess Borghese, who allowed her name to be linked with the Lubin creations. The house of Lubin was the first to solicit the North American market, aiming at the plantation culture of the South. Felix-Andre Prot successed Lubin in 1853 and the company passed onto his heirs in 1885 and became Paul Prot & Cie around 1900.

"Idole was originally released in 1962. This is the vintage Idole, which is a floral chypre, rendered in the elegant and somewhat understated Lubin style. The fragrance opens with a rich, almost fruity, bergamot which seems to be deepened by drop of peach .. one's first hint of the sensuousness of this creation. Although the fragrance features a heady jasmine rendered velvety and somewhat opulent by a lush Lily of the Valley note, Idole never becomes cloying or over-powering. There is a slight hint of woods emanating from the heart, giving the perfume just a touch of smoke and depth. I have found Lubin’s vintage fragrances to be extremely well-crafted, with an emphasis on quality ingredients and thoughtful compositions. In Idole, Lubin achieved a lovely balance between the rich floral notes by interposing a warm animalic base redolent of leather and moss."

Lubin’s Idole is certainly more unabashedly “feminine” than other Lubin fragrances I have tested, and this fragrance seems to me their version of the femme fatale parfum. That being said, the fragrance maintains a type of discretion that keeps it lady-like in the midst of its sensuality. It was still being sold in the 1970s but may have been discontinued in the early 1980s.

Top notes are Bergamot, Peach, Jasmine, and Lily of the Valley
Heart notes are Soft Woods, Leather, and Oak Moss
Base notes are Sandalwood, Patchouli, and Amber

Offered here is a beautiful one ounce flacon of this lovely feminine fragrance. Hard to find these days, and a real treasure! This flacon is in near pristine condition. Comes with its original presentation box. Sadly there are a couple of dings in the stopper .. price is commensurate ..