Question:
what do you think?which are the most legendary perfume houses that were ever made ?we are talking about quality,name,package,difference here...no ads

Answer:
I don 't think I see 10 legendary perfume houses, 10 great yes but legendary or cult definitely not; my favorites:
Guerlain
Dior
Chanel
Shiseido / les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido

Answer:
Coty
Jean Patou
Guerlain
Caron
Lanvin
Balmain
Dana / Houbigant
Crown Perfumery
Chanel
Lentheric

Answer:
Hermés
Chanel
Guerlain
These three are all I can think of (immediately) that I would consider 'Legendary' perfume houses.

Answer:
Originally Posted by moondeva Lentheric I don 't mean to be sarcastic (this is a discussion not a fight) but I never heard of Lentheric, I 'm skeptical about the validation of something so unheard of as "legendary"...??
I mean make no mistakes, in my case I love love love Gobin Daude, her discontinued scents have reached cult status specially on ebay lol selling over $250 a bottle like hot buns but even that is not legendary.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Jasmin de Grasse I don 't mean to be sarcastic (this is a discussion not a fight) but I never heard of Lentheric, I 'm skeptical about the validation of something so unheard of as "legendary"...??
I mean make no mistakes, in my case I love love love Gobin Daude, her discontinued scents have reached cult status specially on ebay lol selling over $250 a bottle like hot buns but even that is not legendary. My dear Jasmin de Grasse, just because you have never heard of something does not invalidate its place on my list.

As antonio_montana19 posted:

Originally Posted by antonio_montana19 what do you think? which are the most legendary perfume houses that were ever made? we are talking about quality,name,package,difference here...no ads (emphasis is mine) He asked for a personal opinion and I shared mine. I don't know why you felt the need to make such a point about it. I would have hoped that it may have encouraged you to actually research the brand a little rather than dismissing it as not relevant because you do not know of it.

If you had looked you would have seen that there is actually a permanent link Lentheric / Mayfair on the front page, which I think may lead to the conclusion that many know of it and wish to know about it.

I conceed that Lentheric / Mayfair may not have the extensive history and gravitas of perfume houses such as Guerlain and Caron but it was one of the biggest perfumery houses during the 20th Century, especially prior to World War II.

The reason it has probably failed to register on your radar is due to the fact that many of it's best loved scents are now considered to be only suitable for 'old women' and too 'old fashioned' for many 'modern' tastes.

Some classic scents from the Lentheric / Mayfair stable include:

Pagan
Tweed
Panache
Flair
Tramp
Just Musk
Fleur
Baroque

I have a few of these being a classic's lover myself. I happen to have a vintage gift set of Tweed, which comes in the most amazing plush chequered box upholstered in soft chocolate suedette and gold. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

Sadly, like Coty and Dana/Houbigant, Lentheric/Mayfair has gone the way of the cheap drugstore market but that does not eradicate or invalidate the worthiness of them being considered legendary - especially in their heyday.



Answer:
Nice thread! Personally, I think that some of the most influential, distinct and meaningful houses to the fragrance industry are:

Guerlain
Annick Goutal
Santa Maria Novella
Chanel
Serge Lutens
Christian Dior

I do not necessarily enjoy all of their scented offerings, but they have certainly made a lasting impression on me.

Answer:
Originally Posted by moondeva My dear Jasmin de Grasse, just because you have never heard of something does not invalidate its place on my list.

As antonio_montana19 posted:


(emphasis is mine) He asked for a personal opinion and I shared mine. I don't know why you felt the need to make such a point about it. I would have hoped that it may have encouraged you to actually research the brand a little rather than dismissing it as not relevant because you do not know of it.

If you had looked you would have seen that there is actually a permanent link Lentheric / Mayfair on the front page, which I think may lead to the conclusion that many know of it and wish to know about it.

I conceed that Lentheric / Mayfair may not have the extensive history and gravitas of perfume houses such as Guerlain and Caron but it was one of the biggest perfumery houses during the 20th Century, especially prior to World War II.

The reason it has probably failed to register on your radar is due to the fact that many of it's best loved scents are now considered to be only suitable for 'old women' and too 'old fashioned' for many 'modern' tastes.

Some classic scents from the Lentheric / Mayfair stable include:

Pagan
Tweed
Panache
Flair
Tramp
Just Musk
Fleur
Baroque

I have a few of these being a classic's lover myself. I happen to have a vintage gift set of Tweed, which comes in the most amazing plush chequered box upholstered in soft chocolate suedette and gold. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

Sadly, like Coty and Dana/Houbigant, Lentheric/Mayfair has gone the way of the cheap drugstore market but that does not eradicate or invalidate the worthiness of them being considered legendary - especially in their heyday.
Would just like to say that as a young girl it was Lentheric, Coty & Dana fragrances that opened up the magical world of fragrance to myself & to many young people here in Australia.
Yes, they were sold in Chemists (drugstores) & were very reasonable in price . Yes, all of us have moved on to other fragrance houses except for when we want a trip down memory lane. But, what an amazing gift & legacy these mostly forgotten houses have left us with...they were the ones who ushered us through that magical doorway to paradise!!! Cheers.

Answer:
Originally Posted by moondeva;1004913[FONT=Book Antiqua (emphasis is mine) I don't know why you felt the need to make such a point about it. I would have hoped that it may have encouraged you to actually research the brand a little rather than dismissing it as not relevant because you do not know of it. [/font] moondeva, only because as a reminder this is a discussion and fortunately we can debate things, and please don 't take it personal, I don 't know you, again it 's just about discussing passionately and opinions.
in my "world" legendary is a strong statement and I was not even sure Caron deserved that title. not just in terms of history prestige but also actual popularity, reputation, innovation, artistic creation and integrity is necessary make it as legendary. for such a legendary definition Guerlain surpasses all the other perfume houses to be quite honnest.
They too still have their loads of great classics that are considered "old ladies" for the youngest average consumers but the truth is that Guerlain still sell Mitsouko, L 'Heure Bleue and Jicky and why? because Mitsouko is Mitsouko and l 'Heure Bleue is L 'Heure Bleue, a series of unique classics that defy fashions and trends which other perfume houses don 't have, at least to that extent.

Answer:
Originally Posted by moondeva I happen to have a vintage gift set of Tweed, which comes in the most amazing plush chequered box upholstered in soft chocolate suedette and gold. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

Sadly, like Coty and Dana/Houbigant, Lentheric/Mayfair has gone the way of the cheap drugstore market but that does not eradicate or invalidate the worthiness of them being considered legendary - especially in their heyday. My mother would *love* to see your vintage Tweed set. When I hear 'Tweed', I think of her - there were so many women of her time who wore this.
Assessing legendary perfume houses is hard without 100 years of hind- and foresight, so we must select subjectively. I agree that unless you were of a prior generation you wouldn't understand how pervasive was the use of the fragrances of these widely loved, but sadly diminished, houses.
In my mother's circle, Coty, Houbigant, and Lentheric were the common names, and the Carons, Guerlains and Chanels were reserved for special occasions, as they were very expensive. The former ones served an entire half century of women's needs when they went out to lunch, visited friends, had Tupperware parties, or just wanted to feel more feminine. To be honest, they were far more suitable and friendly for such things, too. So how do you rate the value of these perfume houses? I rate them highly, even if some are in the twilight of their influence.
I tried a perfume nip of the, to me, unknown Lentheric Confetti, and it was a nice amber/woody oriental? - very Casablanca. I'd never even heard of it. What treasures there must be in those lost perfumes.
Caron
Chanel
Coty
Creed
Dior
Estee Lauder
Guerlain
Houbigant
Lentheric
Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido (Serge Lutens)