Coty, Le Vertige, 'Vertigo', 'Dizzy', 15 ml. or 0.5 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1906, 1928, Paris, France ..

François Spoturno, originally from Corsica, studied perfumery with Antoine Chiris in Grasse for one or two years before moving to Paris, adopting a variation on his mother's name, which was 'Coti', and launching his perfume business with La Rose Jacqueminot in 1904.

Coty was one of the first to understand the importance of fragrance packaging, and more specifically a beautiful bottle .. "A perfume is seen as much as it is smelled", he said. His business expanded, eventually encompassing cosmetics and powders as well as perfumes, until he was one of the wealthiest men in France.

In addition to revolutionizing the packaging and marketing of perfume, Coty was also a respected perfumer. Among his many creations: L'Origan in 1905, Vertige in 1906, Chypre, which was arguably his most famous scent, in 1917, Emeraude in 1921, Paris in 1922, and L'Aimant in 1927.

Le Vertige by Coty was launched in 1906. It was created by Coty's chief perfumer Vincent Roubert. Originally a dry, woody oriental perfume, the fragrance was reformulated in 1928 to include sparkling aldehydes in the composition.

"Coty's "Vertige" is as dry and heady as fine champagne. The Baccarat bottle, cut to catch the light, comes in a box lined with quilted white satin, studded with love-knots."

It was released originally in a Baccarat bottle and was the eighth perfume to emerge from the house of Coty since its opening in 1902. Production ceased in 1941 due to materials being unavailable in the German-occupied Paris. It did re-appear as a parfum de toilette composition in the 1960s, before disappearing completely.

"I am experiencing an eau de toilette sample. To my nose it is much more of a chypre than what we would consider to be an oriental. It is very rich, very deeply concentrated, and very dry. I am reminded of Guerlain’s Bouquet de Faunes and of course, Coty’s own Chypre, which did not appear until eleven years later. The blending is so perfect that not a single note stands out, but the combination of vanilla, cedar and sandalwood occasionally wafts up from my wrist.

It is definitely a base note-dominated creation. The geranium and orris provide the dryness and the dark rose, the center. This is a sensuous, warm and lush scent, bringing to mind that heady turn of the last century when French society still wore its furs to the theatre and opera. In that sense it is also very reminiscent of the house of Weil, many of whose creations were designed to be worn with furs. Definitely a masterpiece." Basenotes Review, Jack Twist

Top notes are Aldehydes, Lemon, and Geranium
Heart notes are Rose, Lily of the Valley, Orris, and Frankincense
Base notes are Vanilla, Amber, Cedar, Oak Moss, Vetiver, and Sandalwood

Offered here is a very precious bottle of this extremely hard to find perfume. I hardly ever see one for sale, and have only come across one or two that still have perfume in them. It is a beautiful, lovely, feminine fragrance. Absolutely gorgeous. This 1/2 oz bottle still has its original box, although the box is in poor condition, and no longer contains its original insides. I have had to built a styrofoam platform to hold the bottle. Highly collectible.