Evening in Paris and Other Blasts from the Past.

[N_Tesla]

I remember when I was eight or nine getting my mother a relatively inexpensive perfume in a cobalt blue rounded, sort of flat bottle which, I want to say, from clouded memory, was Evening in Paris. That would put the date at about 1958 to 1959. I usually came in gift sets at Chistmas time. She wore this and Nuit de Noel in a quarter oz. size bottle. Does anyone remember this fragrance and do I have the name right? The so-called vintage bottles seem a little different than I remember. I don't see it anymore but, it used to be everywhere when I was a kid. What I do remember as a child was that I wore Canoe, and Enblish Leather which, I thought was too powerful. I guess it was quite a metamorphosis, Canoe to Mitsouko (LOL). I do remember being conscious of fragrance way back in the day.

[knit at nite]

Evening in Paris...yep it was in a cobalt blue bottle. it was the only perfume my paternal grandma had on her dresser in the late 50's-early 60's, probably a Christmas gift, but it was, as you say, everywhere. That and Arpege, Tabu, and Jungle Gardenia. I do not remember at all what Evening in Paris smelled like.

[Craig]

Sois de Paris is still available in the UK and a few European stores. I've no idea who sells this in the USA though. It's a fragrance my mother always has a bottle of.

[Guest 3]

I don't remember what Evening in Paris smelled like either, but I remember the bottle. I believe Vermont Country Store sells it, but I don't know how faithful it is to the original formulation.

[VintageVogue]

The new version of Evening in Paris is quite different from the original. The original formula was by Ernest Beaux, as most BN'ers know, and was related in many ways to Apres l'Ondee and L'Origan. It was a lovely ambery-floral fragrance. A few years ago and for a very short time Bourjois released EIP in its original cologne formula; it has become very HTF now. The newer version is nice, but it's not the same.

[Zizanioides]

I've run into a number of bottles of Evening in Paris while rummaging through local antique stores and I think I saw some cobalt blue ones.

Looking like this?

[reine]

I have Soir de Paris but rarely wear it, it does smell dated. Now Bal a Versailles is another oldie - but goodie available most inexpensively from the same era, a much appreciated scent for me...

Reine

[whitelace]

Trying to get a picture to work, sorry!

[lightgreen22]

Gosh this thread came at just the right time, my great aunt always wore EIP, when I was a little girl she always told me when I saw the bottle "not to put any of it on, because if you put on perfume before your a woman you'll turn into a frog"

I just got back from her funeral

[Tourbillion]

^Wow, I would definitely be a frog! I have a purse vial of Evening in Paris with a tassel on it. The juice in it is okay, rather amber-powdery with notes of rose and something like violet. I think that the top note is ylang-ylang.

I am attending a ball this weekend, and my dress is a 1931 pattern (Vogue 2231 in rose velvet if anyone wants to spy on my wardrobe). I am trying to decide which vintage fragrance to wear. I have Joy, Evening in Paris, Tabac Blond, Habanita, Fleurs de Rocaille, Shalimar, Chanel No. 5, Arpege and others from the era. I am out of Angelique Encens and Cuir de Russie though.

I haven't decided which one to wear yet. Any ideas?

[knit at nite]

lightgreen, so sorry for your loss. What a charming story to remember your great aunt

[Primrose]

I recall my mother wearing Soir de Paris along with the Chanel No. 5.

Condolences on your loss of your aunt.

[VintageVogue]

Tourbillion, your dress sounds exquisite. Personally, I'd wear either No 5 or Arpege. Have a wonderful time!