Note: Please understand that this website is not affiliated with the Elizabeth Arden company in any way, it is only a reference page for collectors and those who have enjoyed the Arden fragrances.


The goal of this website is to show the present owners of the Arden company how much we miss the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back your favorite perfume!


Please leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the perfume, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or what occasion, any specific memories), who knows, perhaps someone from the company might see it.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Blue Grass by Elizabeth Arden c1934

Blue Grass by Elizabeth Arden: launched in 1934, created by perfumer George Fuchs of Fragonard.




Blue Grass was available in the following:
  • Perfume
  • Flower mist
  • Bath Oil
  • Bath Oil Crystals
  • Dusting Powder
  • Bath Soap
  • Bath petals
  • Deodorant
  • Bath salts
  • Pony Guest Soaps
  • Sachet Powder
  • Fluffy Milk Bath
  • Hair Spray
  • Body Lotion
  • Skin Tonic
  • Moisture Bath (body lotion)
  • Cameo Face Powder scented with Blue Grass
  • Nail Lacquer scented with Blue Grass


Flower Mist was an after bath friction cologne with cooling properties. Meant to be splashed on liberally over the entire body, it had a lighter scent of Blue Grass.


Original Fragrance Composition:


So what does it smell like? It is classified as a green floral fragrance for women. It starts with a dry, fresh aldehydic top, followed by a precious floral heart, resting on a soft, powdery base of cut hay. Gardenia, hyacinth, lemongrass, mock orange and mimosa. With a slight bitterness of geranium leaves and the freshness of wet grass. 
  • Top notes: aldehydes, seringa, bergamot, neroli, lemongrass, lavender, lily, geranium, orange, orange blossom
  • Middle notes: hay, clove, mimosa, gardenia, laurel (bay leaf), hyacinth, tuberose, jasmine, narcissus, carnation, rose, spices
  • Base notes: vetiver, oakmoss, Virginia cedar, benzoin, sandalwood, Tonquin musk, tonka bean

Blue Grass was built around a special base called Melysflor, a Firmenich base that is the equivalent of Givaudan's Melittis accord. These two bases known as "mellis accords" were made up of benzyl salicylate, patchouli, spicy clove (via eugenol) and lily of the valley (traditionally via the aromachemical hydroxycitronellal), cinnamon, woody notes and coumarin (a crystal derived from tonka beans ). Melysflor was also used in Jean Patou's Moment Supreme. 


Combat, 1953:
"Gardenia, hyacinth, syringa and mimosa. With a slight bitterness of geranium leaves and freshness of wet grass. The message of spring. Let us breathe it with our eyes closed, and on the screen of the eyelids appear the plains of Kentucky, powdered with frail corollas that the proud breeding horses tread, heads held high and inhaling the lively air. The sap rises from the earth, strong like the blood of young girls, and the sky is luminous like their projects."



Combat, 1955:
"Blue Grass (extract and flower mist) by Elizabeth Arden. One of the few perfumes that can withstand high heat has its maximum concentration. But the lighter 'flower mist' version allows you to soak it up. Syringa, hyacinth and cut hay, sharpened with lemongrass, borrow a hint of bitterness from geranium-ivy. For happy runs in the wet meadows, where the rearing horses proudly turn away, sniffing the crisp air..."


Bottles:

Blue Grass was available in a wide variety of bottles over the years. Here is a quick guide to help you with the vintage ones.

By the 1960s, Blue Grass was available in the following:
  • 1/4 oz Parfum
  • 1/2 oz Parfum
  • 1 oz Parfum
  • 2 oz Parfum



Blue Horse Cap Bottle:

The first bottle is what I dub the standard Blue Grass "blue horse cap" flacon, first used in 1936. This square shaped bottle has an inner glass stopper and is has a blue glass overcap molded with horses. The bottle was manufactured in France by Verreries Brosse. Sizes for this bottle range from 5.5 "tall to 2.5" tall.

If your blue horse capped bottle is missing it's label denoting size, use this handy guide below:
  • 1/8 oz mini with gilded screwcap (0.124 oz = 3.69ml) stands 1.75 "tall.
  • 5/16 oz (0.30 oz = 9ml) bottle stands 2.25 "tall.
  • 0.5 oz (15ml) bottle stands 2.75 "tall. (No. 5305)
  • 1 3/16 oz (1.18 oz = 35ml) bottle stands 3.25 "tall. (No. 4519)
  • 3 9/16 oz (3.5 oz = 105ml) bottle stands 3 "tall.
  • 2 1/8 oz (2.09 oz = 62ml) bottle stands 3 7/8 "tall.
  • stands 4.75 "tall.


1940s "Blue Grass", standard perfume bottle for Elizabeth Arden, in clear and aqua glass with label, sealed with box. Ht. 3 1/4 in (8 cm). Photo by Rago Arts.





1940s Elizabeth Arden "Blue Grass" mini perfume bottle in clear glass with plastic screw cap, labels, in box. 1 3/4 in. Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.




Standard Arden Cube Flask:


The clear glass cube flacon was the earliest used by Arden and held many of her perfumes in addition to Blue Grass. It has a matching glass cube stopper and black serigraphy across the bottle.

Bottle sizes:
  • 2 "tall.
  • 3" tall
  • 5/16 oz bottle stands 2.25 "tall.





Dumb Bell Bottle:


This is not the official name for this bottle, but it is what it reminds me of. It has a glass inner stopper and a blue satin glass overcap. Nice cylindrical paperboard box with porcelain horse ornament. Size includes 6" tall.


.

Special Presentations:

1930s Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass perfume bottle and stopper, clear glass, interior blown horse, sealed, hangtag, box. 2 in.Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.






The New Yorker - Volume 16, 1940:
"People collect Elizabeth Arden's small bottles of Blue Grass scent with the blown-glass figure of a horse inside ($2.95)"



1930s Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass perfume bottle and stopper in blown glass, three sided, pinched, sealed, label, box. 2 3/4 in. Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.



1930s Elizabeth Arden “Perfume Pin-Ups” Blue Grass perfume bottle, clear glass, plastic screw-cap, label, box with sachet cushion and three hatpins. Bottle 2 in. Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.






1940s Elizabeth Arden “Merry Christmas Stocking”, Blue Grass mini perfume bottle, clear glass, screw cap, label, plastic box. 1 3/4 in. Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.

Esquire, 1942:
"Merry Christmas Stocking filled with Blue Grass Perfume (one dram), 1.75"




1950s Elizabeth Arden "Blue Grass" mini purse perfume bottle in ruby glass with opaque turquoise blown glass stopper (corked glass peg), cellophane label, in box. 3 in. Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.


1950s "Blue Grass" mini perfume bottle, sealed on card, in original Easter presentation box, Ht. 2 in. Photo by Rago Arts and Auction Center


1960s Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass mini perfume bottle, glass, plastic screw top, labels, plastic box. Mother's Day presentation. 2 1/8 in. Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.







Blue Grass was housed in very unusual triangular bottles in the 1980s. These appear to have been produced for the Italian market.






Fate of the Fragrance:


Blue Grass was reformulated and relaunched in 1989.




Blue Grass Elizabeth Arden for women
Current reformulated bottle.


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