Lenthéric, Lentheric, Dark Brilliance, 60 ml. or 2 oz. Flacon, Toilette Water, Eau de Toilette, 1946, 1955, Paris, France ..

Lenthéric is an very old and venerated company which was established in 1795 as a millinery. In the 19th century, fashion accessories were added to the store. From 1873, perfumes were being informally blended in the store for sale. Guillaume Louis Lenthéric, a hairdresser, established the perfume-cosmetics company 'La Parfumerie des Orchidees' in 1885.

Guillaume Lenthéric exclusively distilled and dispensed the rarest perfumes in France for the loveliest ladies of the courts and aristocracy in Europe. He was one of the first to venture into foreign fields and eventually his firm passed into English hands. A large building at 245 rue du Faubourg-Saint Honore in Paris was acquired in 1885 and turned into a salon for millinery, perfumes, cosmetics and important beauty-hairdressing. Lenthéric was made a Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur in gratitude for his contributions to one of France's greatest industries.

By 1900, branches were opened in Deauville, Monte Carlo, Nice, Biarritz, Ostend, Baden-Baden, and London. In 1910, the company was acquired by Velsch & Holtz. Guillaume Lenthéric died in 1912. Lenthéric began marketing perfumes in the United States in the 1920s, opening a very lavish salon at the Savoy Plaza in New York. Their distributor was John J. Murphy. The firm incorporated in 1924. Lenthéric became a subsidiary of Squibb, and was 90% controlled by the parent company in January 1942.

In 1947, Lenthéric, Inc., experienced a decline in earnings due to higher wages, advertising expenses, and vast returns of merchandise from retail stores, which trimmed inventories. In 1951 the company hoped to increase sales by introducing a new line of makeup called Sheer Beauty. Lenthéric was later acquired by Squibb in 1956. Squibb had manufacturing plants in Brooklyn, New York and New Brunswick, New Jersey in July 1952. The Squibb main building was at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street in New York City.

In 1990, Old Bond Street, which was owned by Wasserstein Perella & Co., purchased Lenthéric and Yardley . In 1998, Old Bond Street collapsed and Lenthéric was sold to Shaneel Enterprises Ltd. Such was the fate of this marvellous old company, but due to the high quality of the products, they were able to maintain their sales and stay in business through the different ownerships.

Dark Brilliance by Lenthéric is a rare floral aldehyde fragrance for women launched in 1946, designed to evoke timeless elegance. It is known for a rich, complex scent profile featuring aldehydes, spices, and floral notes, often packaged in distinctive vintage crystal bottles with knotted stoppers.

Dark Brilliance is characterized as a rich, intense scent. According to Fragrantica, the notes are as follows ..

Top Notes are Aldehydes, Bergamot, and Citrus.
Heart notes are Carnation, Tuberose, Gardenia, Cinnamon, Jasmine, and Rose
Base Notes are Sandalwood, Patchouli, Ambergris, Castoreum, Benzoin, Oak Moss, Spices, Myrrh, Civet, Musk

Launched in 1946, it was marketed as a luxurious scent created in Paris, often appearing in advertisements from the late 1940's.

Offered here is a lovely old bottle of Dark Brilliance in the Toilet Water format .. it smells wonderful .. I estimate that 75% remains ..