Jacques Fath, Canasta, 40 ml. or 1.35 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1950, Paris, France ..

Jacques Fath, born in 1912 in Paris, France, was a French fashion designer viewed as one of the most crucial influences on postwar haute couture. He was raised in a creative family of fashion illustrators, writers and landscape painters.

Fath was very interested in fashion and creation, so he stepped into the world of haute couture by presenting his first collection in 1937. He owned a fashion salon which changed several locations in Paris: he started on Rue de la Boetie, then Rue Francois Premier and finally at 39 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie in 1944. He worked with many famous models and created very successful collections. The designer educated himself and learned his craft from studying museum exhibitions and books about fashion. He was later a teacher to numerous young designers who worked as his assistants and apprentices, such as Hubert de Givenchy, Guy Laroche and Valentino Garavani.

Fath was known as the "little prince of Paris Haute couture in the 1950's.” This innovative designer was a favorite to the chic young Parisienne, since he was using unusual materials such as sequins made of walnut and almond shells. Some of his clients were Ava Gardner, Greta Garbo, and Rita Hayworth.

Canasta, the 1950 perfume from Jacques Fath, is now all but forgotten. All we have are the vintage ads dating 1950-1958) and the very random old bottle one may come across on the Internet or at an antique store. The ads convey a certain mischievousness, along with that 1950's sensual glamour that was not devoid of playfulness. Looking at fashion shots and illustrations of Jacques Fath's work, the stunning evening gowns along with the attention-grabbing hats, one may get the context and atmosphere that surrounded Canasta.

Launched in 1950, Jacques Fath's Canasta is classified as a fruit chypre. "As I uncorked Canasta for the first time I was stunned by the vividness of the fragrance, including the zesty top notes. The body of Canasta is smooth and solid, quite plummy with a hint of Mitsouko-ish peach and something that makes me think of dark and fragrant cherry liqueur. It's not particularly sweet, and has that dignified elegance we tend to expect of French perfumes of that era. Canasta is as womanly as they come, cinched waist, silk hosed and meticulously gloved. The dry-down is wonderfully oakmossed, enough to send us all into a swoon. I think I also smell some patchouli, beautifully aged and almost smoky." The Non Blonde

"My vintage mini parfum smells initially of the suede note .. lots of orris butter, no doubt .. with the luscious and voluptuous fruit notes .. peach, plum, cherry .. held in check for a bit, then slowly floated atop the suede. This is no girly fruity floral of the type that proliferates in modern perfumery. These fruits are stewed, not freshly bursting with juice. As such, this is a scent for a mature woman, but one that can be worn on any occasion. Unisex by today’s standards as it is rich, but subdued. Once again I find that Fath was a master conjuror with orris butter. So many of his great scents .. Iris Gris, Fath’s Love .. use it as a solid base around which to build an original perfume note tree. The orris even drowns out the usually dominant tuberose. The base, except for the afore-mentioned orris, is not evident to my nose. Very nice fruity suede effect." Basenotes Review. Jack Twist

Top notes are Aldehydes, Bergamot, and Peach
Heart notes are Herbs, Labdanum, Heliotrope, Tuberose, Cherry Liqueur, and Plum
Base notes are Sandalwood, Suede, Oak Moss, Patchouli, Vanilla, Vetiver, and Amber

Offered here is a gorgeous sealed bottle of Canasta with over one ounce of this gorgeous perfume. Very rare and impossible to find nowadays. Superb!! Still sealed and with its baudruche in tact. No box.