Corday, Œillet, Oeillet, 'Carnation', 30 ml. or 1 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1925, Paris, France ..

Corday perfumery was established by Blanche Arvoy, nee Reneaux, a perfumer and cosmetician, at 15 rue de la Paix, Paris in 1924, one year after she opened the Jovoy perfumery which was located at 127 rue de Longchamp, Paris.

Blance Antoinette Rose Reneaux was born on December 21st, 1892, at Montreuil Sur Mer, near Calis. She married an Englishman, Bertie Istvan Arvoy, and thus became Blanche Arvoy. In addition to Corday, she also established Jovoy, a fragrance house that sold a number of fine perfumes. Corday was launched in 1924.

Corday began its U.S. operations in the 1940's. Tzigane .. the gipsy violin .. in 1949 became its great success. In the United States, T.C. Wheaton of Millville, New Jersey, was the major supplier of bottles. Wheaton had the capability of manufacturing both bottles and stoppers. Corday discontinued its U.S. operations in the 1960's.

Corday was among the early 20th century perfumers that attracted new customers by launching sample collections. Sample tubes or miniature bottles were distributed, sometimes with matching souveniers such as bookmarks or illustrated cards. Others using this strategy included Guerlain, Bourjois, Colgate, Roger & Gallet, L.T. Piver, and Coty.

Corday's most impressive use of this technique was in their "Rue de la Paix" collection of 1952. The design was a Parisien lamp post with miniature bottles of Corday perfume inside each of the three "lamps". Included in the presentation were Fame, Jet and Tzigane. The name, "Rue de la Paix," was taken from Corday's address at 15 Rue de la Pais, Paris.

Blanche Arvoy created early perfume concepts and high quality presentations and was awarded the silver medal in 1925 for her creations. She later sold to Max Factor in 1960.

The perfume is a realistic, bright, fiery carnation, that is accented with sweet orange touches that pick up on the spicy clove notes. A little honey and ambergris is perfectly folded into the base. "A few small drops leave one in a cloud of carnations."

Nothing remain on the Internet or in my books about the perfume composition of this lovely fragrance. Carnation perfumes are become more and more difficult to find. I think the construction would look something like this ..

Top notes are Bergamot, Neroli, Orange, and Orange Blossom
Heart notes are Carnation, Geranium, Rose, Lavender, and Honeysuckle
Base notes are Sandalwood, Amber, Benzoin, and Clove

Offered here is a beautiful flacon in its original box .. a lovely presentation of an old fashioned fragrance. Very collectible.