SAMPLE .. Lenthéric, Lentheric, Miracle, DECANTED SAMPLE from Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1924, 1940, Paris, France ..

Lenthéric is an very old and venerated company which was established in 1795 as a millinery. In the 19th century, fashion accessories were added to the store. From 1873, perfumes were being informally blended in the store for sale. Guillaume Louis Lenthéric, a hairdresser, established the perfume-cosmetics company 'La Parfumerie des Orchidees' in 1885.

Guillaume Lenthéric exclusively distilled and dispensed the rarest perfumes in France for the loveliest ladies of the courts and aristocracy in Europe. He was one of the first to venture into foreign fields and eventually his firm passed into English hands. A large building at 245 rue du Faubourg-Saint Honore in Paris was acquired in 1885 and turned into a salon for millinery, perfumes, cosmetics and important beauty-hairdressing. Lenthéric was made a Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur in gratitude for his contributions to one of France's greatest industries.

By 1900, branches were opened in Deauville, Monte Carlo, Nice, Biarritz, Ostend, Baden-Baden, and London. In 1910, the company was acquired by Velsch & Holtz. Guillaume Lenthéric died in 1912. Lenthéric began marketing perfumes in the United States in the 1920s, opening a very lavish salon at the Savoy Plaza in New York. Their distributor was John J. Murphy. The firm incorporated in 1924. Lenthéric became a subsidiary of Squibb, and was 90% controlled by the parent company in January 1942.

In 1947, Lenthéric, Inc., experienced a decline in earnings due to higher wages, advertising expenses, and vast returns of merchandise from retail stores, which trimmed inventories. In 1951 the company hoped to increase sales by introducing a new line of makeup called Sheer Beauty. Lenthéric was later acquired by Squibb in 1956. Squibb had manufacturing plants in Brooklyn, New York and New Brunswick, New Jersey in July 1952. The Squibb main building was at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street in New York City.

In 1990, Old Bond Street, which was owned by Wasserstein, Perella & Co., purchased Lenthéric and Yardley. In 1998, Old Bond Street collapsed and Lenthéric was sold to Shaneel Enterprises Ltd. Such was the fate of this marvelous old company, but due to the high quality of the products, they were able to maintain their sales and stay in business through the different ownerships.

Launched in 1924 and named after the Max Reinhardt play starring actress Diana Manners, Lentheric issued it's perfume alongside the U.S. premiere of the elaborate pantomime 'The Miracle', which opened at the Century Theatre in New York City on January 15, 1924. The back of the program had a full page advertisement for the perfume. The program was by Karl Vollmoeller, the score by Englebert Humperdinck, and the design by Norman Bel Geddes. Among the many illustrations, are two full-page ink and watercolor renderings of costumes by Norman Bel Geddes.

Miracle was classified as a floral leather chypre fragrance for women. It consists of a mixed bouquet of flowers and herbs, just slightly spiced with carnation and lilies, on a leathery chypre base.

Top notes are Bergamot, Lemon, Lilac, Coriander, Jasmine, Rose Geranium, Hyssop, and Verbena
Heart notes are Carnation, Lily, Camphor, Iris, Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme, Tarragon, Sage, Oregano, and Basil
Base notes are Carrot Seed, Orris, Pine, Sandalwood, Moroccan Cedar, Patchouli, Vanilla, Leather, and Oak Moss

"I just tested a small amount on my skin from a sealed vintage perfume nip that is over 60 years old. The perfume at first smells mossy and very aldehydic with a dominant bergamot, verbena and lemon blend. Then a bouquet garni or Herbes de Provence of herbal notes start breaking through: rosemary, coriander, tarragon, thyme, basil, sage, oregano and lavender. I do smell a medicinal camphor note in here too, probably from the herbs. A lovely woody base of cedar, pine and sandalwood punctuated by patchouli and oakmoss is left in the drydown.

On paper, the perfume is extremely mossy and citric, but the herbal notes are not as apparent and would need the warmth of the skin to bring them into fruition. The woodsy notes of pine and cedar are strong." Cleopatra's Boudoir

Offered here is an opportunity to buy a sample of this lovely old perfume ..