Launched in 1949, My Love by Elizabeth Arden carries a name as timeless and evocative as the fragrance itself. The phrase "My Love," spoken in English, is a universal expression of deep affection, tenderness, and devotion. Phonetically, it is simple and melodic, evoking intimacy and warmth. The name conjures images of handwritten letters sealed with care, stolen glances across candlelit dinners, and the enduring strength of romantic and familial bonds. It resonates with universal human emotion, making it instantly relatable and aspirational to women of the time.
In the post-war era, women were seeking moments of softness, grace, and self-expression, and a perfume called "My Love" would have represented a personal embrace, a cherished memory, or the promise of future joys. It was more than a fragrance; it was a sentiment encapsulated in a bottle, offering women a tangible connection to love in all its forms.
The name My Love translates seamlessly into the language of scent. A vivacious aldehydic light floral fragrance, it symbolizes the buoyant and uplifting qualities of new beginnings and enduring hope. The effervescent aldehydes in the top notes provide a sparkling introduction, much like the exhilaration of love itself, while the floral heart blooms with romantic softness and vitality. The bouquet of delicate jasmine, creamy ylang-ylang, and sweet narcissus reflects love’s multifaceted nature—tender, passionate, and enduring.
The warmth of the base notes, with comforting vanilla, velvety sandalwood, and animalic musk, adds depth and sensuality, mirroring the complexity and richness of true affection. My Love captures the essence of a woman’s inner world—sophisticated, emotional, and timelessly alluring.
The post-war years of the late 1940s were a time of rebuilding and optimism. Women were stepping into a new era of empowerment, balancing traditional roles with newfound independence. Perfumes during this period reflected a desire for elegance and sophistication, offering women a way to assert their individuality while embracing their femininity. Aldehydic florals, popularized by iconic fragrances like Chanel No. 5 in the 1920s, remained a dominant trend, with new variations emerging to suit evolving tastes.
In this context, My Love was both modern and nostalgic. Its vivacious aldehydic opening was in line with the refined glamour of the time, while its lush floral heart and warm base appealed to the romanticism that women craved. Unlike heavier, oriental fragrances or single-flower soliflores, My Love offered a balanced, light-hearted alternative, standing out with its sparkling vivacity and emotional resonance.
For women of the time, My Love was more than a perfume—it was a reflection of their own stories, their connections, and their aspirations. It celebrated love in all its forms, making it a fragrance that felt deeply personal yet universally appealing.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a vivacious aldehydic light floral fragrance for women.
- Top notes: neroli, lavender, petitgrain, green apple, aldehyde C11, aldehyde C12, aldehyde C10, bergamot, lemon, orange, fern, apricot, hawthorn, blackberry
- Middle notes: ionones, tuberose, carnation, peach blossom, lilac, narcissus, fern, orris, violet, jasmine, lily of the valley, geranium, ylang ylang, Bulgarian rose, clove, iso-eugenol
- Base notes: alderwood, galbanum, vetiver, oakmoss, vanilla, benzoin, sandalwood, patchouli, castoreum, musk, ambergris, tonka bean, cedar, leather, opoponax, coumarin
Combat, 1954:
"My Love flower mist by Elizabeth Arden: do you yearn for your teenage springtime? Forget your house, and the vanilla jasmines in the garden and its rose beds, and the fern-embroidered forest path that led there. Forget the woods alders, the blackberry bush...Forget the narcissus that you put in the ear of the one you will never see again...Forget the musky scent of her skin and the smell of beast free from her hair...Forget the native sky, its hawthorn dawns and its evenings of thought...Or, rather, no, don't forget anything, and breathe in this bottle."
Combat, 1955:
"My Love (flower mist) by Elizabeth Arden - forget the house of happiness and the jasmines in the garden, and the rose beds, and the fern-lined forest path that led to it... forget the alder woods, the hawthorn...forget the musky scent of her skin, as if mixed with a taste of apricot...or rather, no, don't forget anything and breathe in this scent."
Scent Profile:
The first impression of My Love opens with a radiant burst of aldehydes—C10, C11, and C12—their sparkling, effervescent quality immediately reminiscent of crisp linens and frothy bubbles. They bring a champagne-like brilliance, elevating the rest of the composition with their vivacity. The tangy freshness of bergamot and lemon creates a juicy, citrus medley, brightened by the sweet zest of orange and the sharp green nuances of petitgrain, distilled from citrus leaves and twigs. A delicate floral-citrus bouquet is introduced by neroli, its honeyed bitterness blending seamlessly with the herbal freshness of lavender and the crisp, dewy crunch of green apple.
Fruity undertones from apricot and blackberry add a playful, tart sweetness, while hawthorn lends a soft, almond-like floral nuance, tempering the top with a tender warmth. The fern accord weaves through the opening, introducing hints of earthiness and green vitality, creating a bridge between the sparkling aldehydic opening and the lush heart.
As the aldehydes fade, the floral heart unfolds in waves of layered complexity. Bulgarian rose blooms with opulent richness, its velvety petals deepened by the creamy sweetness of tuberose and the intoxicating sensuality of jasmine. Ylang ylang adds a tropical warmth with whispers of banana-like sweetness, while the airy powderiness of lilac and violet dances lightly above the deeper florals.
The spicy floral complexity of carnation emerges, underscored by the clove-like heat of iso-eugenol and clove. Ionones add a modern, violet-like twist with a delicate, powdery elegance that blends effortlessly into the rooty richness of orris and the narcotic complexity of narcissus. Peach blossom and lily of the valley introduce a gentle sweetness and freshness, while geranium contributes a green, slightly minty quality, balancing the bouquet with verdant brightness. The fern note continues to weave through the heart, tying the florals to the top’s green freshness.
As the florals soften, the base reveals itself with a warm, enveloping depth. Sandalwood lends its creamy, woody smoothness, accented by the dry, resinous warmth of cedar and the earthy bitterness of vetiver. The richness of oakmoss and galbanum gives a forest-like dampness, grounding the scent with a mossy, green depth.
The gourmand touch of vanilla intertwines with the almondy sweetness of tonka bean and the soft, balsamic warmth of benzoin. These sweeter notes are tempered by the smoky, slightly leathery edge of opoponax and leather. Castoreum and ambergris add animalic whispers of sensuality, while musk provides a soft, skin-like warmth. The powdery, hay-like quality of coumarin wraps everything in a comforting cocoon, while patchouli adds a dark, earthy richness to complete the base.
In its entirety, My Love feels like a tapestry of eras—an ode to classic perfumery with its aldehydic top and lush floral heart, yet grounded in modernity with its multifaceted base. Each layer unfolds like a love letter, blending brightness, sensuality, and depth into an unforgettable experience.
Bottles:
The My Love parfum bottle is a masterpiece of elegance and symbolism, crafted by the renowned French glassmaker Verreries Brosse. The design harmonizes romance and artistry, evoking the charm of bygone eras. The base of the bottle takes the form of a squat urn, its clear glass surface showcasing the precious golden liquid within. The smooth, curvaceous shape feels timelessly classic, suggesting a sense of stability and refinement.
The pièce de résistance is the stopper, an intricate frosted glass feather that transforms the bottle into a whimsical representation of an inkwell with a plumed pen. The feather's delicate details—each barbed line, curve, and taper—imbue it with a lifelike quality, making it seem as though it could take flight or pen an eloquent letter. This playful yet sophisticated element ties seamlessly to the fragrance’s name, My Love, calling to mind handwritten love notes and poetic declarations of affection.
Sketch, 1949:
"MY LOVE PERFUME ... romance for your love at Christmas, in its plumed bottle and gold lined box 5 guineas."
Mademoiselle, 1962:
"As romantic as its name suggests, Elizabeth Arden's My Love perfume comes in a distinctive plume-topped bottle. A light and appealing floral scent, one-quarter ounce. $8.50."
The juxtaposition of the clear glass base with the frosted stopper creates a striking contrast, amplifying the bottle’s visual appeal. The frosted glass diffuses light softly, enhancing the ethereal, romantic aura of the design. Every detail of the presentation—from the choice of materials to the bottle’s shape—speaks to the delicate beauty and enduring allure of love, making the My Love bottle not just a vessel for perfume but a collectible keepsake steeped in sentimentality and artistic craftsmanship.
Canadian Saturday Night: A Magazine of Business & National Affairs - Volume 67 - Page 30, 1951:
"My Love Flower Mist ... the newest, lighter-than-air version of this enchanting fragrance ... in the crystal perfection of an exquisite bottle . . . $6.00 From France, comes Elizabeth Arden's newest, most romantic fragrance . . . the exquisite plumed bottle."
Home Journal, 1953:
"My Love for your love. Be- ribboned, a tiny replica of the plume bottle rests on a red velvet cushion. Elizabeth Arden. $3."
Harper's Bazaar, 1954:
"Christmas Pyramid encloses jeweled Perfum- air of Blue Grass Perfume ... 2.50; My Love or On Dit ...3.00 to $33.00. Repetition Sequence of Elizabeth Arden Perfumes created, bottled, sealed in France . . . Blue Grass . . . 5.00 to 25.00; My Love or On Dit pound jar of bath salts $19.50. Elizabeth Arden's On Dit perfume now in her new, classically simple "Repetition" bottle. An ounce, $17.50."
The New Yorker, 1954:
"My Love, the gift of gifts! Distilled in France, bottled there, too, in golden shine and splendor, Elizabeth Arden's romantic My Love Perfume has a gentle pervasiveness and great elegance."
Programme, 1955:
"Elizabeth Arden's three great Perfumes . . .Each fragrance is packaged alike in a distinguished mauve package, bearing the symbol of its identity. . . the plume for My Love . . . the spirited horse for Blue Grass . . . the lovely intaglio head for On Dit."
Consumer Reports, 1956:
"My Love (Elizabeth Arden, NYC). Good. Not very lasting. 7/32 oz., $6; 1 oz, $17.50; 2 oz., $27.50."
The New Yorker, 1960:
"It is the Perfume Atomizer in a cut-crystal and gilt flacon that has been expressly designed to hold your choice of the great French fragrances by Elizabeth Arden: Mémoire Chérie, No. 450, My Love, Blue Grass and Valencia. 3.50."
Cue, 1965:
"Elizabeth Arden's Memoire Cherie, in a soft lilac color, is flower- shaped, comes in a good-sized cake at $2.75, or three at $7.50. The same beauty house's My Love soap, ideally heart- shaped and a delightful shade of rose- red, may be had in hand size in boxes of three ($3.50) or bath size (three for $5.00). Perfume, cologne and bath powder in these same two Arden scents, so aptly named ."
Fodor's Europe, 1970:
"Elizabeth Arden. Her best known are "Memoire Cherie"; "On Dit"; "My Love"; and the ever popular "Blue Grass" which was created in Paris."
Fate of the Fragrance:
My Love was introduced by Elizabeth Arden in 1949, capturing the romantic optimism of the post-war era. This vivacious aldehydic floral fragrance resonated deeply with women of the time, embodying both femininity and modernity. The name itself, My Love, evoked an emotional connection, aligning perfectly with the societal mood of rekindled passions and new beginnings. The fragrance's popularity ensured its continued presence on vanity tables for decades, even as trends evolved.
Though the exact date of its discontinuation is unknown, My Love remained available to perfume enthusiasts into the early 1970s, suggesting a loyal following long after its initial release. This extended availability reflects its enduring charm and timeless appeal. Its presence during a time when the fragrance market was rapidly changing—from opulent florals to the emerging popularity of fresh, green, and chypre scents—indicates that My Love held a special place in the hearts of those who cherished it.
By the time it began to fade from shelves, My Love had secured its legacy as a quintessential Elizabeth Arden creation. The memories it evoked and the beauty it encapsulated ensured its place not only in fragrance history but also in the personal histories of the women who wore it. Today, collectors and connoisseurs treasure its exquisite flacons and the stories they tell of love, artistry, and the golden age of perfumery.
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