A much-loved fragrance of years past, though certainly not as upscale as Youth Dew, was the ubiquitous Evening In Paris. This very sweet-smelling treasure, which brings a nostalgic feeling to just about any- one who remembers the scent from its hey- day, came in a beautiful blue-glass bottle. It was produced by Bourjois, which followed up with Springtime In Paris. Alas, this was a Springtime that lasted just a few years. Evening In Paris was a kind of every- woman's perfume of the 1920s-1940s, so it wasn't likely to be found on the dressing table of glamorous Hollywood stars. But without a doubt, many of the Silver Screen's leading men could not help but be remind- ed of their sweethearts whenever they smelled such popular scents as Chanel No. 5 and Joy. Vivien Leigh was in love with the latter, as was Mae West, of whom a friend recounted, "She used Joy perfume and its scent was everywhere." Barbara Stanwyck's favorite was Jungle Gardenia. The actress was said to practi- cally douse herself in the fragrance. Packaging the product is almost as vital as creating the scent (and can cost almost as much). Perfume houses often produce el- egant, limited-edition bottles as alluring as the aromas themselves. Versace, for example, has just released a Baccarat Crystal bottle, numbered and signed both by Baccarat and Gianni Versace. Limited to 250 pieces, it sells for $3,500. Most perfumers sort through thousands of names before selecting the one, the only. Of course, some take the easy way out and name a fragrance after its creator. Others pre- fer something a little more unusual. There's Anais Anais, after the Persian goddess of love; Cabotine, French for "mischief"; Escada, named for a champion horse; Jardins de Bagatelle, in honor of Marie Antoinette's gardens; and Je Reviens, meaning "I will re- turn." Fragrances often have their start in the most unusual places. Just outside Kazanluk in Bulgaria is home to an area known as Valley of the Roses, which for the past 300 years has produced rose oil, one of the prime ingredients in many scents. Jean Patou's Joy, which made its debut in 1930 as "the costliest perfume in the world," (meaning "the most expensive to produce," though priced competitively, Patou officials explain), is among those making use the Bul- garian Damask rose. (continued on page 104) Michigan's largest collection of dramatic lighting. Gathered from the four corners of the world. • Hand-Crafted Designs • Unusual and Bold • Contemporary and Trendy • Traditional and Classic • Antique Collections • Decorative Art Glass • Exclusive One-of-a-Kinds Our consultants will help you select lighting that you will treasure for years. Priced to fit most every budget. Visit us soon for your selection. Where Good Ideas Come to Light Bloomfield 6580 Telegraph at Maple Rd. 810-626-2548 STYLE • WINTER 1995 • 1 0 3