Richard Hudnut, Le Debut, Vert, 'The Beginning', 30 ml. or 1 oz. Flacon, Cristalleries de Nancy, 1927, Paris, France ..

Richard Alexander Hudnut lived from June 2, 1855- October 30, 1928. He was an American businessman recognized as the first American to achieve international success in cosmetics manufacturing. The company once maintained separate US and European headquarters on Fifth Avenue in New York City and on the Rue de la Paix in Paris, respectively. Although his fortune had been built around cosmetics and beauty products, he preferred to be known as a "perfumer”.

Around 1880, a small pharmacy was opened in New York city and sold perfumes, cosmetics and assorted toiletries. Richard Hudnut, the son of the proprietor of the shop, became the first American selling luxury perfume presentations, though some of these were created in France, in an elegant shop which was directly influenced by the French and European perfumeries.

Early Richard Hudnut fragrances included Queen Anne Cologne (1880), Violet Sec (1896), Aimée (1902), DuBarry (1903), Vanity (1910), and Three Flowers (1915). Hudnut's beauty products were sold in department stores, an indication of their appeal to a more affluent and sophisticated clientele.

In 1916, the company was sold to Henry & Gustavus Adolphus Pfeiffer and Richard Hudnut was no longer involved in the business. As a result of this, Gustavus Adolphus became the president of the Richard Hudnut Company. In the 1920s, the company had expanded into Europe, and acquired the French style. The company proudced several luxurious presentations during the 1920s but the quality of designs declined gradually starting in the 1930s and right on thru to the 1950s.

In 1927, Richard Hudnut introduced four new blends of perfumes called Le Debut: There was Noir for the mood of sophistication; Bleu for romance; Vert for adventure; and Blanc for gaiety.

The opaque crystal bottles were made by Cristalleries de Nancy in France. The perfumes were compounded, sealed and packaged at Hudnut's lab in France. Each perfume was of the same Art Deco octagonal shape. "Le Debut Vert," a perfume bottle for Richard Hudnut, circa 1927, in opaque green glass with gilt stopper, side and bottom labels."

Offered here is the one ounce bottle that contained this legendary perfume. The flacon is empty. It is in excellent condition. Bottom label is a little worn. The green glass is glorious! Highly sought after and collectible .. Flacon collectors! No box.