Schiaparelli, Shocking, 120 ml. or 4 oz. Flacon, Pure Parfum Extrait, 1937, 1960, Paris, France ..

Elsa Schiaparelli was an Italian fashion designer who lived between 1890 and 1973. Along with Coco Chanel, her greatest rival, she is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in fashion between the two World Wars. Schiaparelli's designs were heavily influenced by surrealists like her collaborators Salvador Dalí, Giacometti and Jean Cocteau. Her clients included the heiress Daisy Fellowes and actress Mae West.

Schiaparelli’s perfumes for women and men .. almost all of which have names beginning with “S” .. were as interesting and inventive as her clothes.

Launched in 1937, Shocking is a Oriental Floral fragrance for women. The nose behind this fragrance is Jean Carles, one of the creators of Christian Dior's Miss Dior and the nose behind Dana's Tabu and many of the Lucien Lelong fragrances. Shocking was originally packaged in a bottle shaped like a torso, and supposedly modeled after a dress form of Mae West that Schiaparelli had in storage.

"Vintage Shocking is a diffusive floral oriental, and wearing it is like standing inside a room with the notes all spaced in the air around you. At the center of the room is rose, but a buzzing, fresh white floral halo of gardenia and narcissus forms around it. Floating up near the level of your head are wisps of herbs here and there, but if you try to pin them down they hide. After half an hour, sandalwood and honey start to rise, but the honey is quiet. Eventually the honey fades, and a warm cloak of oakmoss and wood remain.

Although vintage Shocking is more feminine and light than at first glance, it feels like a true "composition", as if an entire orchestra would be needed to play it well. It feels important, but also delicate and full of character. "It is gorgeous and I imagine it was shocking at the time it was released- even though the women and men of 1937 were accustomed to smelling many wonderful vivacious scents by luminaries such as Chanel, Coty, F. Millot and many others. I especially appreciate the tarragon in the open of Shocking that gives the opening a sweet-piquant touch of herbal green, and is a nice counter point for the lush, heady blend of rose and narcissus .. also named jonquil or daffodil, a full bodied, almost narcotic, almost buttery floral, that blends beautifully with all citrus and green notes.

Top notes are Bergamot, Tarragon, and Aldehydes
Heart notes are Jasmine, Narcissus, Ylang Ylang, Rose, and White Honey
Base notes are Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber, Clove, and Chypre Accord

Offered here is a lovely full four ounce flacon of this delightful fragrance in the Eau de Toilette format. It is still sealed and in its original presentation box. Highly desirable and a great favourite with my clients both young and old. Harder and harder to find ..