Nina Ricci, L'Air du Temps, 'The Spirit of the Times', 15 ml. or 0.5 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, Lalique, 1948, 1960, Paris, France ..

The introduction of Nina Ricci’s L’Air de Temps in 1948 hallmarked a longed-for return to optimism after the terrible war. Much like Miss Dior was ‘tired of letting off bombs and just wanted to let off fireworks’, L’Air du Temps presented the new found hope for peace after the ravages of WWII, as reflected by the original flacon design of a sun with a dove perched on the stopper by Christian Bérard.

L'Air du Temps is a triumph of both bottle art and symbolism .. the intertwining doves affectionately termed ‘Les Colombes’, a romantic theme by Marc Lalique, originates from 1951 and came to denote the virginal quality of the visual aspects of its representation, perpetuated in its advertising ever since. Originally the 1948 design envisioned by Jean Rebull and materialized by crystallier Marc Lalique involved a rising sun surmounted by a single dove. The interwining doves however marked the "kiss and make up" peace mood after WWII.

The "colombes" kissing motif also reflected the ever feminine, always understated and ethereallly romantic Nina Ricci sartorial fashions .. The perfume became Ricci’s signage for her fashions .. "The most romantic gift of fragrance a man can give a woman" came to be accompanied by elfish gowns that draped the female form in a slippery, ethereal, 19th-century-aesthete nostalgic way .. lacy ivory and white denoting youth. The L'Air du Temps advertising mostly matched this idea.

In 1999 the L'Air du Temps flacon was named "perfume bottle of the century”. The timeless fragrance L'Air du Temps by Nina Ricci that brought a fame to the Ricci house became and remains until today one of the greatest fragrance creations of all times. L'Air du Temps was created due to the great passion of Nina Ricci's son Robert for fragrances and the art of the master perfumer Francis Fabron.

The formula of L'Air du Temps, composed by Francis Fabron, was simple .. no more than 30 ingredients which co-exist in harmony, a chaste .. but not quite .. bouquet of flowers enrobed into the silken sheath of aldehydes, a massive dose of an innovative product aiding the blending and linear evaporation of the other molecules. According to perfumer Bernard Chant “this produces a diffusing, blooming effect very pleasing to the wearer .. ”

The celestial opening of bergamot and rosewood is undermined by the sensuous note, half-lily, half-carnation, suave with the fuzziness of skin-like peach and a green hint of gardenia. Powdery orris, coupled with dusky woods .. poised at the intersection of winter falling into spring .. and a faint amber note to finish off the fragrance. The effect is peachy carnation and very characteristic ..

The floral-spicy note of the carnation is in centre of its composition. Bergamot and rosewood support the development of the carnation theme, refined with the notes of rose and jasmine. Violet and iris give a powdery nuance, and create a harmony with the woodsy notes of cedar and sandal, while sensual musk and amber add the final feminine accord to the composition.

Top notes are Bergamot, Rosewood, Neroli, and Peach
Heart notes are Carnaton, Rose de Mai, Ylang, Orris, Orchid, Lily, Gardenia, and Jasmine
Base notes are Sandalwood, Vetiver, Benzoin, Cedar, Amber, Moss, and Ambergris

Offered here is a most precious vintage half ounce flacon. The bottle was designed by Lalique. These bottles came with either one or two doves on the bouchon, and this is a two dove version. Still sealed and never used, perfume in good condition and protected from light and heat in its original presentation box. The box is in good clean condition .. So beautiful!!