The Rather Repressed 1930s

I am loving Emily Maben’s journey through the world of vintage fragrance! As Head of Marketing for the luxury brand Penhaligon’s (and a self-confessed fragrance geek), Emily has an impressive knowledge of vintage scents! This blog post, Emily looks at the rather repressed 1930s! Enjoy! xx

“Not the most exciting era in fashion (those rising hemlines and short hair of the 1920s vanished almost overnight) but somehow one of the most intriguing. Influenced heavily by the Great Depression, fragrances in this era are comforting, warm, reassuring and strangely sensual. An illicit embrace in a bottle if you will. Women were looking for escapism from the general prevailing sense of despair; and in the world of fragrance they found it.

Tabu, Dana, 1931

An overdose of Patchouli, and sublime soft notes of carnation makes Tabu (sadly now discontinued) rather ‘in your face’. You’ll either be repulsed or enamoured by this scent (if you are lucky enough to find a vintage bottle that is!). Advertised as ‘The Forbidden Fragrance’ it cleverly tapped into the repressed sexuality of the era. Wear with a demure day dress and sensible shoes to hint at what lies beneath.

Vol de Nuit, Guerlain 1933

Capturing the sense of adventure that came with the developments in air travel during the era (think Amelia Erhart!) Vol de Nuit is spicy yet powdery, powerful yet gentle, fresh yet warm. The original version of this scent was full of animal musks balanced with and great big wallop of fresh green galbanum. Wear with your flying suit and goggles… obviously.

Shocking, Schiaparelli, 1935

Where to start with this fragrance? Possibly the most sexual female fragrance of all time; its name is absolutely spot on. Another ‘love it or hate it’ fragrance I’m afraid, but if it hits the right spot you’ll be in raptures. I have found a number of miniature bottles of this on ebay and at antiques markets, the earlier version you can get the better. Sweet, sticky, cloying and extremely animalic; this stuff is seriously potent. The original bottle (which ‘inspired’ Jean Paul Gaultier by the way) is divine; the perfect dressing table scent. Wear to bed, underwear optional.”

To check out some of Penhaligon’s exclusive scents, including newest release Juniper Sling, click here for the website!

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