Ambre de Delhi by Babani - Parfum de Hindou c1921

Ambre de Delhi by Babani: launched in 1921. Subtitled the "Breath of Love" and Parfum de Hindou.

It was a heavy fragrance designed to be used to perfume furs as well as cigarettes, and to be used in perfume lamps. It was also available in a face powder.

 Ambre de Delhi, Parfum Hindou, enchanted and unguessable as India, to deepen the mystery and enchantment of you when you would weave a spell as potent as India's. An exquisite perfume with a characteristic indescribable charm. Recalls the enchanted atmosphere of the Arabian Nights and the scents of the flowers of Araby.  Ambre de Delhi signifies the beauty of stiff brocades and queenly dignified things. Ambre de Delhi is for occasions of magnificence and formality, for gowns of velvet or statuesque brocade. It fits the formality of brocade gowns, of superb furs and priceless jewels. It increases the magnificence of your costume. Ambre de Delhi is supremely elegant. In the crush outside the theatre the fragrance of Babani's Ambre de Delhi is quite noticeable, as women nestle into their sumptuous wraps. This fragrance is particularly successful on fur.

Ambre de Delhi comes in an opalescent bottle, shaped like an Eastern water jar, and enclosed in a gold moire box. The perfume itself is as oddly and differently attractive as its container. 

If you are conventional, dignified, stately - fond of society and beauty - you will choose Babani's Ambre de Delhi and Ligeia.. In the proportion of 1 to 3, these perfumes blend to make another lovely fragrance. For brunettes, mix Ambre de Delhi with Chypre Egyptienne.

Pale moon that sends a silver shaft of light 

Into the scented dusk where lovers meet 

Into the garden where 

A thousand sleeping flowers 

Sigh in sweet sympathy 

And send up their fragrance 

To feed love's flame yet higher 

So much it seems the breath of love itself 

Precious as lovers half told dreams 

Such is 

AMBRE DE DELHI 

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an oriental fragrance for women with a very dominant ambergris note. I would need a sample of the perfume to tell you what it really smells like.

There are no published notes on this composition, but it is described as "a perfume of elegance, fitting the formality of brocade gowns, superb furs and priceless jewels. Ambre is the favorite perfume of Paris this season". It was also described as "a true Oriental odeur, a spicy fragrance with the hint of something smoky and mysterious."

I would say it is a blend of spices, smoky incense, amber and vanilla.

• Top notes:
• Middle notes: spices
• Base notes: ambergris, incense, vanilla

It was suggested that you blend Ambre de Delhi with other Babani perfumes such as Ligeia. As well as another formula of Saigon, Ambre and Afghani.

Harper's Bazaar - Volume 57 - Page 114, 1922:

"Ambre de Delhi is loveliest, perhaps; it is becoming the smartest perfume of the season. But Babani has a fragrance for every mood—Afghani." Ligeia, Ming and even others. and pretty new bottles. $2.50, 56, $12, $20."

Vogue, 1922:

"Elizabeth Arden's haunting Poppye Perfume, in exotic-looking box. $10. Babani Ambre de Delhi, a famous Oriental essence in melon-shaped bottle and gold moire box, $10. French design, attractively boxed, $5."

Sketch, 1922:

"Each one is a rich uncommon odour— prepared by the famous Babani of Paris. AMBRE de DELHI An exquisite perfume with a characteristic, indescribable charm. Recalls the enchanted atmosphere of the Arabian Nights."

Harper's Bazaar, 1922:

"Ambre de Delhi: a perfume of elegance and distinction, in a flat gold bottle, hand decorated in black design. In a gold box, lined with black satin, $12. Ambre de Delhi, in other bottles, from $2.75, 7.50 and up."

Arizona Republic, 1924:

"Babani's Ambre de Delhi for occasions of magnificence and formality, for gowns of velvet or statuesque brocade. Ambre de Delhi is supremely elegant. In the crush outside the theatre the fragrance of Babani's Ambre de Delhi is quite noticeable, as women nestle into their sumptuous wraps. This fragrance is particularly successful on fur.  $2.75, $7.00."

The New Yorker, 1925:

"Blend two or more Babani perfumes to create a perfume entirely your own. Blend Afghani with Ligeia. Blend Chypre and Sousouki. Blend Ambre de Delhi with Ltgeia, varying the proportions to make a personal formula. Babani perfumes are imported by Elizabeth Arden in just the bottles and boxes in which they are sealed in Paris."

Arts & Decoration, 1925:

" L'Ambre Antique, or Ambre de Delhi, those exotic scents, petrified tears, found in the bosom of mother earth."

Home Journal, 1927:

"Ambre de Delhi, Chypre Egyptien, Sousouki, Ming, Jasmin, Yasmak, Saigon. $8.50 to $150."

Advertising to Women, 1928:

"AMBRE DE DELHI is for moments of magnificence, for frocks of brocade and formality. It is the perfume for the Opera, for other splendid gatherings. It is good on fur. $5. $7. $9. - SOUSOUKI is soft, appealing."

Harper's Magazine, 1930:

"Some of that Ambre de Delhi that I buy for Sarah?" "Not that melodramatic perfume!" " It puts me back a hundred and fifty a bottle," boasted Mr. Van Tile vulgarly, trying to place a proper value upon his bribe and upon his charming attentions."

Bottles:

Ambre de Delhi was presented in a variety of bottles.

. 

The de luxe crystal flacon, created by Depinoix was of a square shape, entirely covered with gold enamel and hand painted with a black design of a mythological creature. The reverse had a different motif in black enamel tracery. The flacon was fitted with a multifaceted crystal lapidary stopper, also entirely covered with gold enamel. There are four sizes of this bottle: 

• Petit Modele (Small) - 4.25" tall x 2" wide and 1.25" thick
• Moyen Modele (Medium) - 5.25" tall
• Grande Modele (Large) - 7.5" tall x 4" wide x 2" thick.

The other deluxe bottle was an oval shaped, flat bottle, also made of black crystal entirely covered with a gilded overlay and black enameled designs. This size was meant to carry in the handbag. It was presented in a gold paper covered box, lined with black satin satin. Bottle designed by Decor Auziès of Paris. Bottle measures 3"tall x 2.5" wide x 0.5" thick.

 

 

A rare deluxe bottle was the perfume atomizer for Ambre de Delhi, made up of  clear crystal, completely gilded and further enhanced with an enameled dragon in black, it has the Babani label on the bottom, and the metal fittings are marked "Vapo-Baby-Paris." The bottle stands 3" tall. c1920. 

 

 

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.
• Serie 42 - In this Far Eastern bottle, a choice of the following two perfumes: Ambre de Delhi and Saigon

The Boule & the Plat bottles were stock bottles used by Babani to contain their other perfumes.

A rare to find today, the "Boule" shaped bottle was made up of frosted glass and had a stylized frosted glass rose stopper enhanced with gold and black enamel. The bottle had a gilded foil label. This bottle was called the "boule" in the Babani catalog, and was also used for other perfumes by Babani: Ambre de Delhi, Afghani. Rose Gullistan, Saigon. The bottle stands 7.5cm tall. It was housed in a "Hindu" box, lined in silk, and covered with gold embroidery. This presentation originally retailed for 75 francs.

 

 

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

A less expensive bottle was used in the late 1920s and into the 1930s. It is clear crystal with fluted sides. It has a raised enamel silhouette of a teal colored elephant and gold enamel lettering. The bottle is fitted with a frosted glass stopper molded with Art Deco roses. A more luxurious version has gold enamel. The bottles measure 3" tall x 1.75" wide x 1" thick. They were used for other Babani perfumes including Gardenia. 

 

Fate of the Fragrance: