Ode c1955

Ode by Guerlain: launched in 1955, created by Jacques Guerlain with assistance of Jean-Paul Guerlain. This perfume is an ode to flowers, especially rose, it is Guerlain's answer to Jean Patou's exquisite Joy perfume and Lanvin's wildly popular Arpege.

Original Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral fragrance for women.

• Top notes: neroli, lemon, linden blossom, sweet pea, aldehydes and hyacinth
• Middle notes: hawthorn, lavender, lilac, lily, rose, jasmine, violet, peach, orris, almond
• Base notes: ambergris, vanilla, privet, musk and heliotrope

 

Reformulated Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an aldehydic floral fragrance for women.

• Top notes: aldehydes and hyacinth
• Middle notes: rose absolute, jasmine absolute, lily of the valley and tuberose
• Base notes: orris, musk, vanilla, sandalwood 

Vogue, 1956:

"Evening elegance with a whole new air Ode to beauty — great new perfume. An event for the woman who understands fine perfume: the arrival of Guerlain's "Ode," first new perfume from this house in several years. It's subtle and romantic.."

The New Yorker, 1956:

"The great Guerlain has a new item, too, named Ode, in which we detected plenty of rose, delightfully blended with jasmine and spring flowers. (It comes in a leather-covered purse-size flacon, for $9.90, and in amphora-shaped crystal bottles, $22, $40, $75."

Town & Country,1958

"Guerlain's subtle complexity, Ode Cologne, fuses roses and jasmine with countless other blossoms."

The New Yorker, 1958

"Ode . . . perfume triumphant . Perfume $22 ... In the elegant tradition of GUERLAIN. . . always a gift of distinction Ode Cologne $6, $10, plus tax.

Harper's Bazaar, 1960:

"Also, for spring, Guerlain's floral Ode in a new size small enough for your handbag."

Bottles:

The fragrance was sold in the parapluie flacon (parfum), the parapluie spray flacon (eau de cologne) Amphore flacon (parfum), Montre flacon (eau de cologne) and the Goutte flacon (eau de toilette).

Photo by rubylane seller dollyology

Photo by ebay seller pkolesnikov57

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued (date unknown), it was still being sold in 1975.

Ode was discontinued for years before being reformulated by Jean Paul Guerlain with modern ingredients and was relaunched in 2005 for the renovated flagship Guerlain store on the Champs-Elysees. Unfortunately, the reissue was only made for demonstration purposes at the boutique, and not released to the general buying public.

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