SAMPLE .. Carven, Ma Griffe, 'My Signature', DECANTED SAMPLE from Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1946, Paris, France ..

Carmen de Tommasso, born in 1909, founded the company Carven in 1945. She set up shop near Champs Elysées in Paris in France. She focused on fragrances, accessories and fashion and couture for petite women. Her elegant fashion creations that were inspired by travel and artistic motives featured lace and embroidery and were very feminine. By the end of the 1960s Carven also sold men's wear and a jewellery collection. From then it took a few years only until the brand had gathered a solid fan base. Her designs were particularly popular in Japan where women have always been rather petite. Japanese women appreciated that de Tommasso designed beautiful collections that would perfectly suit their shorter and slim body shapes.

The first fragrance under the brand name of Carven, Ma Griffe, was launched in 1946. The green chypre with floral notes has been a favorite for more than 60 years. When she launched the fragrance, she created thousands of tiny bottles attached to small parachutes and had a small plane fly above Paris, releasing them down like rain over the people in the streets! The perfume experienced an immediate success and Ma Griffe, meaning ‘My Signature’ was launched into the stratosphere!! Fragrantia.

Launched in 1946, Ma Griffe by Carven is a Chypre Floral fragrance for women. The nose behind this fragrance is Jean Carles.

"Before you have realized it, you are aware of the flowers. A bouquet brimming with all the glorious white flowers one could imagine, the jasmine in particular catching your attention. But this is not a dirty jasmine: this is a soft, velvety, creamy jasmine. One that caresses and soothes, one that makes you feel as if you have just been wrapped in luxury. Yet you are still aware of the lingering greens in the opening, perfect.

You then start to notice that the jasmine is not alone, and slowly become aware that gardenia is there also; rich, creamy, sweet and sensuous, yet never cloying nor overbearing. Before you know it the ylang-ylang, also accompanying them, makes herself known. This is when you start to understand how reserved she can truly be, when added so perfectly by the hands of a master parfumeur such as Carles. Truly, the ylang-ylang just adds depth and dimension to the the scent: it never takes over, never takes the scent into exotic territory, marrying perfectly with the other white florals to lend balance and polish to the greenness of the scent." The Black Narcissus.

Top notes are Gardenia, Green Notes, Asafoetida, Clary Sage, and Lemon
Middle notes are Iris, Orange Blossom, Orris Root, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Lily of the Valley, and Rose
Base notes are Labdanum, Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Benzoin, Oak Moss, Vetiver, and Styrax.

Offered here is an opportunity to try this lovely historic fragrance. A beautiful perfume that has stood the test of time.