Memoire Cherie by Elizabeth Arden: launched in 1956. The Grecian goddess of memory is depicted on the packages.
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral powdery aldehydic semi-oriental fragrance for women with refreshing woodsy notes. It starts with a fresh, green aldehydic top blended with a citrus notes of bergamot, mandarin, and neroli followed by a sweet floral heart of rose, heliotrope, violet and jasmine, resting on a warm, powdery, mossy base of musk, patchouli, styrax, civet, sandalwood, resins and amber.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral powdery aldehydic semi-oriental fragrance for women with refreshing woodsy notes. It starts with a fresh, green aldehydic top blended with a citrus notes of bergamot, mandarin, and neroli followed by a sweet floral heart of rose, heliotrope, violet and jasmine, resting on a warm, powdery, mossy base of musk, patchouli, styrax, civet, sandalwood, resins and amber.
- Top notes: gerbera, sweet pea, aldehydes, mandarin, orange blossom, clary sage, Sicilian bergamot, Mexican neroli, fresh apricot
- Middle notes: hawthorn, tuberose, exotic spices, heliotrope, pond lily, honey, carnation, ylang ylang, orchid, Romanian chamomile, jasmine, tarragon, honey, oriental rose, violet
- Base notes: sandalwood, vanilla, okoume, styrax, resins, privet, patchouli, opoponax, civet, leather, Moroccan oakmoss, ambergris, musk, and Haitian vetiver
Memoire Cherie was such a success that by 1960, it was awarded the grand Coupe D'Or award by the Comite du Bon Gout Francais. In 1969, Fete by Molyneux was awarded the Coupe d'Or du Bon Gout Francois, a prize bestowed by a panel who select each year an article created in Paris that symbolises French good taste.
"Elizabeth Arden has been awarded the treasured Coupe d’Or of France for “Outstanding achievement in the development of Memoire Cherie, the finest fragrance ever created and acclaimed by France.”
Elizabeth Arden' Memoire Cherie, the only perfume to receive the coveted Coupe d'Or, trophy of the Co-mite du Bon Goûte Francais. A gentle floral tribute. Originally retailed for $10 and 17.50.
It was available in the following:
- Parfum
- Dusting Powder
- Perfume Mist
- Flower Mist
- Eau de Parfum Bath Oil
- Bath Essence
- Bath Soap
- Body Lotion (moisture bath)
- Fluffy Milk Bath
- Perfumed Candle
Bottles:
Memoire Cherie was housed in various bottles over the years. The most expensive and coveted in the French frosted crystal "lady" bottle. The perfume was created, bottled and sealed in France, an unusual move by an American perfume company. This bottle was available in two sizes:
- 4.2 oz bottle stands 7 1/4" tall
- 1 oz bottle stands 4.25" tall
- 15/32 oz bottle 3.5" tall
- 7/32 oz bottle stands 3" tall (just under 0.25 ounce)
“Elizabeth Arden presents for Christmas Memoire Cherie Flower Mist. A new flowering just in time for Christmas! This delicate rendering of the world’s most prized perfume lends an aura of enchantment to one’s lighter moments. A memorable present! In a beautiful bottle frosted in bas relief. $4.50”
- 1 oz bottle stands 3.25" tall.
- 1/4 oz bottle stands 2 1/8" tall.
Other bottles:
By the 1960s, Memoire Cherie was available in the following:
- 1/4 oz Parfum
- 1/2 oz Parfum
- 1 oz Parfum
- 2 oz Parfum
"Memoire Cherie by Elizabeth Arden. It's the only perfume in the world to be awarded the Coupe d'Or, France's treasured trophy for the finest fragrance ever created. The perfume certain to find a fond place in her heart for you. $10 to $75. COSMETICS MAIN FLOOR DOWNTOWN AND EAST LANSING STREET"
- Memoire Cherie Perfume Mist introduced in 1957.
- Memoire Cherie Flower Mist launched in December 1963.
- The Weekender Kit was created around 1964.
May 1964:
"Elizabeth Arden makes this spring memorable with the new Memoire Cherie Duet ... The world’s most prized fragrance can now be yours in an enchanting combination, a beautiful golden aerosol atomizer of Memoire Cherie Perfume Mist together with Memoire Cherie Dusting Powder, Remember all your friends all the days of springtime with the Memoire Cherie Duet. And don’t forget yourself! For springtime only $6.00."
Fate of the Fragrance:
The perfume was discontinued sometime in the early to mid 1980s. I could only find advertisements for the fragrance up until 1980.
Irma Shorell, Inc. is the current owner of United States Patent and Trademark Office Registration No. 2,427,336 for the Memoire Cherie trademark for perfume and other fragrance products, but not the formula.
Perfumery comments, "A memorable deception indeed, layers and layers of beauty..each with a different face. Memoire Cherie perfume begins with a classically constructed 50's woody-floral accord, tightly wrapped together; dense and waiting for air. After a moment of hesitation, Memoire Cherie escapes and descends into a rich and wonderful oriental accord; creamy, nutty and sensual beyond belief. It is as if the perfume walked out of the room and came back in a new outfit. This wonderful warm amber musk tone has a gentle floralcy which dances around the base and carries on for hours and hours. At the end, the oriental base settles down below the floralcy and Memoire Cherie walks quietly into the night. " -- Jeffrey Dame
I loved this perfume and used it every day until it was discontinued. I've never found anything to compare since. If they can bring back Blue Grass why not Memoire Cherie?
ReplyDeleteMemoire Cherie was my favourite perfume, and I was very sad when it was no longer available.
DeleteI feel the same, I loved that perfume and would be so happy if they brought it back again.
DeleteI agree
DeleteSince Irma Shorell holds the trademark "Memoire Cherie" for their own version of the fragrance, Elizabeth Arden wouldn't be able to use that name again, however, since they still have the formula somewhere in their archives, they could resurrect the fragrance and use a different name. Maybe advertising could say, "If you loved our original Memoire Cherie perfume and mourned it's loss, you will love it's new modern incarnation, "Mémoire Sucré" (Sweetened Memory) and relive those cherished memories. " My other new name ideas for the perfume are "Beau Souvenir" (Beautiful Memory), "Mémoire Prisé" (Prized Memories), "Précieux Souvenir (Treasured Memories).
ReplyDeleteI still grieve the loss of Memoire Cherie. I remember stealing my first bottle from my older sister and using it ever since. When it was discontinued I went all over town buying up all I could get my hands on. Now that I am a senior citizen, I long for my scent to return.
ReplyDeleteI loved Memoire Cherie Perfume and I would love to see it come back. It was a fragrance I have never been able to come close to . Please, please bring it back
ReplyDeleteMemoire Cherie was a heavenly perfume and it would be wonderful if it could be brought back in it's original form. Please, please bring it back !
DeleteI agree.
DeleteI wish they would bring Memoire Cherie back too. It was the only perfume I loved and wore all the time. Friends associated the scent with me. Men were always telling me how wonderful I smelled and women always wanted to know what perfume I was wearing. I've never had such an overwhelming reaction since then. I have no idea why they would discontinue such a popular scent.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally with the comment above 06 12 14. Memoire Cherie was the only perfume my late husband liked and whenever I wear it now I think of him. I love it. Please bring it back.
ReplyDeleteI've written to Elizabeth Arden twice asking if they would please bring back Memoire Cherie. I have found nothing like it since it was discontinued.
ReplyDeletePleeeeeease bring back Memoire Cherie........ divine!
ReplyDeleteOH I agree with all of the above comments.. and..To whom is concerned and knows how to do a redo of this old perfume and could make it smell just like it smelled in the late 60ties.and restoring,now might be a profitable thing ! !. Please Bring it back!!! ( especially the perfume mist & the oily spray. in the silver and pink round cannisters..and with gold name trim) . .I'd buy stock in your company,,..as nothing has ever come close to that fabulous blend of warm as well as fresh fragrances these days,imo !ha. I received both cannisters as a HS graduation gift.frommy
ReplyDeletesisgter in laws well groomed mother.. .unknowing how GTEAT that gift really was..nor the cost of both.. then....I just misted some on , the first day fo school that Fall & OH .The compliments I got from both perfumes & from perfect strangers at a large university campus.from that point on ..This was when I was just passing by.even outdoors . and rushing thru other students to class.ONe time I got stopped in my tracks by some uppperclassmen guy saying "OH MY,. what are you wearing..as YOU smell wonderful!!(and no that was not a come on.. as ..He had a steady GF & he wanted to buy it for her!) .... This was some 50 years ago. !.It could have made a great commercial.for Elizabeth Arden . back then.. ALL THE TRUTH!
I buy and wear this perfume wherever and whenever can. Can be found sometimes on ebay, but buyer beware, they can be fakes. Please bring back this haunting elusive fragrance Elizabeth Arden.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorites, along with Youth Dew. Someone gave me this for Christmas 1971. I still have the empty glass perfume bottle with stopper. I can't throw it away. Every so often I just take the lid off and smell it. I once saw a description of the perfume as "icing on the cake" to describe how you feel when wearing it. I miss it so much.
ReplyDeleteI received so many compliments as a teenager when I wore my grandmothers favorite fragrance and this was in the mid 80s,the best was from a complete stranger on the street that said I reminded them of Springtime. If they have the original formula, bring it back under another name,it was heavenly and I could be always reminded of my grandmother and my youth!
ReplyDeleteI graduated High School in 1965 and my sister bought me a bottle for graduation. I loved, loved, loved it. It was a magical time for me, being on my own for the first time, falling in love and always wearing it on my dates. It became my signature perfume. This is definitely a perfume Elizabeth Arden should bring back.
ReplyDeleteThis was my Mother's signature perfume and the scent of my childhood. Why oh why are true classics discontinued only to be replaced with generic formulas which, to me, all smell the same. Many modern perfumes simply have no charm and will quickly be forgotten. Please please please, Elizabeth Arden - listen to the voice of so many of us who would dearly love to see this re-launched.
ReplyDeleteI purchased an original, 80% in bottle. I don't remember it smelling this strong.Im disappointed!
DeleteMarie, July 29th 2019
ReplyDeleteMy first boyfriend bought me this perfume in 1967, and I immediately fell in love with it and with him even more for being so generous. He then bought me the full set including dusting powder body lotion etc. Needless to say he became my husband and we were married for 49 years. It was his favourite perfume too, and he called me his Cherie. Oh how I miss him and my Memoire Cherie.
This perfume is heaven on earth.Bring it back!
ReplyDeleteI was known from 1967 for wearing Memoire Cherie it became my identity with pupils friends and family. I was devastated when Elizabeth Arden discontinued it and I never found out why? Such a successful product and you stop making it..madness! For years I have designed own brand products, clothing, jewellery etc. I have even tried to produce a perfume but never came close to the beauty of Memoire Cherie. Please bring it back.
ReplyDeletePlease, bring g it back!!
ReplyDeleteCan't understand discontinuing something that sold and worked for so many women - obviously a man's decision - and rather daft. One of the best perfumes ever.
ReplyDelete