Le Chic de Molyneux c1928

Le Chic de Molyneux: launched in 1928, in USA by 1932. Created by Jacques Vogel.

c1930 ad

Fragrance Composition:

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

• Top notes: peach, cassis, raspberry, mango, bergamot and apricot
• Middle notes: violet, geranium, lily of the valley, jasmine, gardenia, rose, peony and Bourbon Island ylang ylang
• Base notes: leather, anise, orris, musk, oakmoss, Mysore sandalwood, Singapore patchouli, vanilla, labdanum, tonka

Le Chic made use of the famous Mousse de Saxe accord by De Laire. The original Mousse de Saxe included the following:

Flonol, (an orange flower base, which is made up of 6 different bases), Rose de orient, Methyl Ionone 100, de Laire Isobutyl Quinoline (which provided the leather notes), Vanillin (a synthesized vanilla), another rose accord, Sandalwood, Anisyl Acetate, a special Geranium base, and Musk Xylol.


Chemist and Druggist: The Newsweekly for Pharmacy, Volume 115, 1931:

"Les Parfums de Molyneux of Paris, have introduced a new creation in Vivre, a perfume of outstanding merit, which, as our illustration shows, is presented in a manner simple yet attractive. Vivre is available in four sizes. Other Molyneux products include Vogue, Le Numero Cinq, Fete and Le Chic de Molyneux. Full particulars of these and other Molyneux fines are obtainable from the sole sale-; agent and distributor for the United Kingdom. GE Davies, 58 Newman Street, Oxford Street, London."

The New Yorker, 1932:

"Molyneux: Newest is Charm, a feminine bouquet. Le Chic and Fete still delighting smart young matrons."

Femme, 1946:

"While “Chic”, by Molyneux, poses as a seductress; a Parisian perfume for dark and active women, for modern women who know they are beautiful, but who want to remain simple, a bit in the note of "Rue Royale" with something more capricious, less dreamy. “Charme” is honestly for blonde."

L'Amour de l'art, 1950:

 "Le Chic de Molyneux: Seductive like its name, it also has an indelible charm. Fresh and heady, it is balanced by heavy and subtle essences. Delicate and intoxicating, it finds its way halfway between the West and the Orient. It is a discreetly full-bodied perfume, for men and women, but which is more exalted in contact with a brunette."

Bottles: 

Le Chic was presented in a luxury crystal bottle, this bottle had a small glass inner crystal stopper and a black over cap. The presentation box is black glossy paper with white serigraphy. This is a great Art Deco presentation and is harder to find than other bottles for this scent.

During World War II, Le Chic came in a standard tall rectangular bottle with simple rectangular glass stopper. Two sizes are available for this bottle: 1 oz bottle stands 2.75" tall and the 2 oz size stands 3.5" tall. You may or may not find this bottle with a label depending on wartime supplies being scarce. 

The tester flacon has a dauber at the end of the glass stopper, this bottle stands 2.5" tall.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown. Still sold in 1941.

Reformulated by Dominique Ropion and relaunched in 1995. It is still classified as a floral chypre fragrance for women. It was available in both Eau de Parfum and Parfum.

• Top notes: raspberry and apricot
• Middle notes: rose, peony
• Base notes: oakmoss, vanilla

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