On Dit by Elizabeth Arden c1937

On Dit by Elizabeth Arden: launched in 1937 and created by Edmond Roudnitska. It was apparently put on hold from production during the war and was re-launched as soon as it was over in 1945.

Femme, 1950:

"On dit (They say)... Rumor at first discreet which comes, goes, flies, from ear to ear. They say...they say...the rumor goes around, the wind passes, the seduction takes its course. It's a perfume by Elizabeth Arden, one of her four creations. They say, very distinguished, pleasing for autumn; Blue Grass charmed spring days with its scent of flowering meadows; My Love and Flower Mist are suitable for all seasons. Flower Mist particularly recommended for young girls for its freshness."

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It was classified as a floral oriental fragrance for women. It starts with a sharp citrus top notes of citron and lemongrass combined with sparkling aldehydes and fresh peaches, a floral heart of jasmine, heliotrope, rose, tuberose and the pungency of carnation, layered over woody, mossy and leafy chypre notes of galbanum, vetiver and musk with fresh saps evocative of the forest. Similar to Mitsouko by Guerlain with its peach effect in the beginning. 

• Top notes: bergamot, citron bark, galbanum, aldehydes, peach, lemongrass
• Middle notes: carnation, Bulgarian rose, Peruvian heliotrope, jasmine, tuberose, iris
• Base notes: vetiver, vanilla, labdanum, patchouli, oakmoss, Mysore sandalwood, cedar, ambergris, musk

Combat, 1955:

"On Dit (flower mist) by Elizabeth Arden: The dapper lemongrass lightens the poignant scent laden with amber and jasmine of this highly feminine perfume. Tuberose and Bulgarian rose, tender iris and oriental sandalwood, have their say in the confession of a warm complexion, and the amorous confidence escapes from the small padded living room for the large spaces of the holidays."

Bottles:

On Dit was housed in various bottles over the years from a luxurious frosted bottle molded with ladies heads to a limited edition ovoid shape molded with wavy lines to lesser expensive bottles. 

The perfume's name means "They Say..." in French, the suggestion is of juicy gossip among Arden's salon patrons and shown as a literal interpretation in the frosted bottle's design of two ladies in bas-relief, one has her hand held discreetly over her mouth as she whispers into the ear of her companion. The top of the bottle represents the curling hairdos of the women and forms an over cap covering an inner glass stopper. This bottle first appeared in 1946 and was made in France. Contrary to what some books or newspaper ads state, the bottles were not made by Lalique. The presentation was known as the "Carousel Package" due to its tented box, a limited luxury edition incorporates a music box and revolves like a merry go round. Bottle sizes: 1.25 oz and 2.25 oz.

Bottle stands 

• 3.75" tall
• 4.25" tall

 

A less expensive bottle for On Dit was a pretty crystal flacon with a flat stopper. This bottle holds 1/4 oz of parfum and stands 2" tall. The gilded foil paper label features the whispering ladies theme.

Harper's Bazaar, 1946:

"Elizabeth Arden's new French perfume, "On Dit",  in a baroque bottle, 1 oz, $ 37.50."

Modern Packaging, 1947:

"Elizabeth Arden's On Dit "Carousel" perfume uses a fragile, frosted French bottle with bas-relief profiles of lovely ladies whispering to one another set on a die-cut platform."

Cue, 1949:

"Elizabeth Arden encloses her Blue Grass, Night and Day and It's You perfumes in heart-shaped, jeweled boxes at $2.25 and $3.25. She also puts a golden flacon of On Dit on a vermillion cushion in a transparent, heart-shaped box. $12."

Cue, 1950:

"His jeweled coronet is the top of a Perfumair, obtainable in any of Miss Arden's fine fragrances. $ 2.75. Or you might prefer her charming little paper weight in all which a bottle of " On Dit "perfume nestles in violet flowers inside a transparent ball."

The New Yorker, 1950:

"Here, in a precious little jewel of a bottle, Elizabeth Arden presents a new way of carrying her lovely perfumes. Perfumair... My Love, It's You, On Dit, Night and Day , White Orchid, Blue Grass."

In 1952, a new version of the On Dit bottle was introduced in the shape of a female torso, with her arms wrapped around her, and her head being the stopper. Made up of frosted glass and accented with or without gilded highlights, this bottle was also made in France. 

Available in two sizes: 

• 3 5/8" tall
• 4.5" tall

The New Yorker, 1952:

"Elizabeth Arden does up On Dit perfume (we're off rose scents for the moment) in giant female torso swathed in drapery— a Lalique job — for $78."

An unusual bottle made up of ribbed pressed glass stands 5 3/4" tall. This bottle appears to have been introduced in 1952. It held "On Dit Eau de France", which I believe was some sort of eau de parfum concentration.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.