Afghani by Babani c1919

Afghani by Babani: launched in 1919. It was subtitled "Essence of the Far East." It was suggested to be used to perfume cigarettes.

Afghani, perfume as full of romance and color as nighttime in the Far East - colorful, riotous, untamed - matches those moments of rebellion when you must wear gorgeous evening frocks in primitive hues and dance quite madly for relief. Afghani is for your moods of rebellion and fire. Do you have a frock of startling color or amazing cut? Or a simple sport costume of superb swagger? Then match these toilettes with Babani's Afghani. It is a perfume of reckless good style. 

Afghani is a ruby liquid, with pungent, sweet odor. A touch of musk. An elusive odour blended with a rare amber conveying a subtle suggestion of Oriental splendour and luxury. It comes in a cut spherical bottle, enclosed in a gold moire box. Suitable for the individualistic and temperamental type.

It was suggested that you blend Afghani with other Babani perfumes.

• If you are worldly, sophisticated, smart - fond of adventure and attention - you will choose Babani's Afghani and Yasmak. Blend in the proportions of 2 to 1, to make another personal perfume. 

• If you are demure, but with a hidden sparkle - fond of nature and travel - you will choose Babani's Afghani and Jasmin. For your third perfume, you will blend equal parts of these. 

• For those with a medium type complexion, mix Yasmak with Afghani. 

• Blend two parts of Ligeia with one of Afghani.

 

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? There are no published notes on this composition, but the "essence of the far East" was described as having "a ruby liquid with pungent, sweet odor. A touch of musk. An elusive odour blended with a very rare amber conveying a subtle suggestion of Oriental splendour and luxury."

It is classified as an oriental fragrance for women, but I would need a sample of the perfume to tell you what it really smells like.

• Top notes:
• Middle notes: rose, jasmine, orange blossom
• Base notes: ambergris, musk, vanilla

Arizona Republic, 1924:

"Babani's Afghani is colorful, daring. It is for your moods of rebellion and fire. Do you have a frock of startling color or amazing cut? Or a sport costume of superb swagger? Then match these toilettes with Babani's Afghani. It is a perfume of reckless good style. $2.75, $7.00."

Bottle:

The luxurious flacon used for the "Afghani" parfum was an Indo-Persian style decanter of colorless glass. Its bulbous belly has six, slender fluted curves, its narrow neck is decorated with a frieze painted gold, ruby red and green emerald, imitating jewels. The stopper forming a lacquered rose is enameled in gold, ruby red and emerald green. Model published by the Parisian Society of Glass (SPV). The rare bottle stands 5" tall. The flacon was also used for other Babani perfumes including Secret de Babani and Rose Gullistan.

Other bottles included the following:

• Serie 31 - the "Boule," a frosted glass ball or melon shaped flacon with frosted rose stopper.
• Serie 30 - the "Plat," a flat colorless glass flacon fitted with a flat, frosted glass stopper molded with flowers.

Both of these bottles were stock bottles used by Babani to contain their other perfumes.

No. 1003. Our twelve extracts in an elegant gold box.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.