Hello and welcome! Please understand that this website is not affiliated with Guerlain in any way, it is only a reference site for collectors and those who have enjoyed the classic fragrances of days gone by. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. The main objective of this website is to chronicle the 200+ year old history of the Guerlain fragrances and showcase the bottles and advertising used throughout the years. Let this site be your source for information on antique and vintage Guerlain perfumes. Another goal of this website is to show the present owners of the Guerlain company how much we miss many of the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back these fragrances! I invite you to leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the fragrance, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or on what occasion, what it smelled like to you, how it made you feel, any specific memories, what it reminded you of, maybe a relative wore it, or you remembered seeing the bottle on their vanity table), who knows, perhaps someone from the current Guerlain brand might see it. If you have any questions, please send all images of your bottle and pertinent information directly to me at cleopatrasboudoir@gmail.com. I will try to assist you the best I can.

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Showing posts with label historical cosmetics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical cosmetics. Show all posts

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Opiat Dentifrice de Guerlain c1830

Guerlain unusual pewter pot for opiated toothpaste titled embossed on the cover:
"Opiat Dentifrice de Guerlain Paris Brevete, Each pot must bear this mark filed in the registry."
Marked with the woman flag logo.
1st period 1830




Monday, August 10, 2015

Veritable Moelle de Boeuf

To condition the hair, Guerlain created the Veritable Moelle de Boeuf, a pomade made up of beef marrow to promote hair growth.




"True Beef Marrow " porcelain cosmetic box decorated with grisaille representing oxen and golden highlights.  Diameter: 6.8 cm. 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Poudre de Cygne

Poudre pour adoucir et rafraichir la peau dite duvet de Cygne (Swan's down powder),  a face powder created for the usage of blonde hired women.




Creme Patti by Guerlain

Creme Patti by Guerlain was a face cream used to fade age spots or freckles and to whiten the complexion. It was sold in porcelain jars. The cream was named after the famous singer Miss Adelina Patti.





You can read more about Madame Patti's Cold Cream here.







Public Opinion, Volume 3, 1887:
"It is said that Mme Patti has not washed her face for years. She believes that the use of water upon the face brings wrinkles and only cold cream or what is known as the bath of Isis composed rose water and glycerine. French women who are enameled never allow water to touch their face shoulders or arms. They wipe them dry with a towel every morning and then with a soft small sponge rub on an ointment that is prepared for the purpose rubbing it out again with square of very fine white flannel."

The Pall Mall Budget: Being a Weekly Collection of Articles, 1887:
"Does Mdme Patti wash her Face? Is the New York paper which alleged that Mdme Patti never washed her face with soap but used cold cream instead for fear of wrinkles is a mendacious print. We have seen the original of the famous letter which the great prima donna addressed to the Messrs Pears It runs in this wise I have found Pears soap matchless for the hands and ramplexz on We might have overlooked the fact had not the alert soap makers addressed the following letter to us We observe in your issue of the 1st inst your query Is Mdme Patti s face never washed? This question we can answer emphatically authoritatively and affirmatively Mdme Patti is especially particular in respect of her choice of toilet soap and we have for years supplied her. In order that you may publicly deny the truth of the statement in the American paragraph that Mdme Patti's face is unacquainted with soap we enclose herewith for your perusal an autograph letter from Mdme Patti respecting the advantages resulting to her complexion from the use of a soap which we need not particularize. We know at any rate that Messrs Pears send the soap whatever becomes of it."

Town Topics, the Journal of Society, 1893:
"To keep your powder on, there is one famous article from Guerlain's, called "Creme Patti." The Comtesse de B. always uses it, and she is certainly the best-arranged woman in France. You put it on all over your face and rub it well in."

Monday, December 30, 2013

Ladies In All Climates - Face Powder c1897

Ladies in all climates, universal light powder...

Guerlain reinvents one of its legendary powder in a limited and numbered series. Once upon a time in 1897, the Ladies in all climates powder which was intended to illuminate and refresh the complexion. At the Impressionist painters and photography, Guerlain wanted to capture the elusive atmospheric variations. New transport available to women traveling in all latitudes and Guerlain continued to expand worldwide. It was then apply to all women, whatever they are, wherever they are.

Ladies In All Climates was a natural evolution of the product. Sun exposure was taboo at the time, so the powder was formulated in 1897 to help women retain their pale coloring after being in the sun of the French colonies.


,
Harper's Weekly, 1903:
"Beware all face powders which have the effect of whitening too much. The major part of these powders contain chemically active constituents which in time spoil the skin. Guerlain's powder 'Ladies in all Climates' is a product which is absolutely harmless, it vivifies the complexion and my ladies, prudence counsels you not to seek further effects from its use."
The Queenslander, Saturday 25 December 1915:
"Guerlain (15 Rue de la Paix, Paris) With his most respectful compliments calls attention to his POWDER. LADIES IN ALL CLIMATES. This Powder, which is made in four shades, White, Rachael, Pink, and Flesh Colour, is an absolutely neutral product; it cannot affect in any way the epidermis. Moreover, it is soft, and has a very agreeable perfume. It is so much neutral that it can be used during any medical treatment, even with sulphurous baths."


In 2013, Guerlain reissued exclusively 400 numbered pieces of this exceptional powder still halo skin in a veil of delicate and transparent light.


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Veritable Graisse D'Ours

A touch of either Veritable Graisse d'Ours or Graisse d'Ours Liquéfie, a pommade made of bear's grease, would help keep that jaunty cowlick from popping out from a coiffure in addition to strengthening and prevent color fading of the hair.




Wednesday, October 16, 2013

La Pyrommee - Guerlain's First Kohl Eyeliner

The more daring woman may have lined her eyes with La Pyrommee, an Arabian styled kohl powder for the eyes kept inside an ivory tube decorated with an eye motif. Advertising of the era told a story that Pierre-Francois-Pascal Guerlain learned the secret formula from an Armenian Pasha who gave it to the ladies of his harem.



Sunday, August 4, 2013

Secret de Bonne Femme Guerlain Face Cream

Secret de Bonne Femme: Guerlain's moisturizing cream was the first of its kind. It was a staple of the company's skincare line from its creation in 1904 until 1990. 







c1967-1983. photo by funriri






Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Guerlain's Tropical Lipstick Shade c1935

The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Thursday 6 June 1935, page 12, talks about Guerlain's Tropical shade of lipstick, this was a shade for their Rose du Moulin lipstick range.

"Guerlain has gone further afield. His newest lipstick is brown - quite brown - with a redding bases, and it is supposed to be worn by women who are careful to see that the rest of their make-up is suntanned to match. He calls it 'Tropical."



 


Rose du Moulin by Guerlain c1907

Rose du Moulin by Guerlain: created in 1907, a rose tinted pomade that was used to rouge the cheeks but could also be used on the lips.



Monday, July 29, 2013

Lait de Roses by Guerlain c1910

Lait de Roses ("Milk of Roses")- (c1910) Rare, clear pressed glass bottle molded oval cylindrical, oval belly ten sections,  and cork stopper with baroque styled label. Model created by Pochet et du Courval. Stands 18cm tall.










The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness: A Complete Handbook, 1872: