Etude by Houbigant c1931

Etude by Houbigant: launched in 1931, created by Marcel Billot, was the classic Thirties perfume. The perfume was probably originally named "Douce Quietude" as I saw a reference to this name that Houbigant trademarked in 1920. I believe that the resulting name of "Etude" is a shortened form of Douce Quietude, but I could be wrong.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? I have no published notes on this fragrance. The perfume was described as a "deliciously heavy odor especially adapted for use on furs" which leads me to believe it was an oriental fragrance.

• Top notes:
• Middle notes:
• Base notes:

Femina, 1931:

"You are, Madame, a modern woman: more physically and physically energetic, elegant, pretty, graceful. But do you want to be totally up to date? You need to "condense", "exteriorize", this energy, this grace, these hardly reconcilable qualities that you nevertheless possess. To do this, you just need to know how to choose a perfume, "your" perfume, which is much more difficult to do than you might think. But Houbigant, the master perfumer, helps you: he has just created for you a frank, distinctly characteristic perfume, which harmonizes with your straight gaze, your solid handshake, your fine elegance. "Etude" is its name. "Etude" will now be your perfume attracts. "And you, Sir, it is this perfume that you will offer to the woman of taste, to the modern woman, since it was created for her. "Etude", very precious perfume, a very beautiful gift that will always be accepted with gratitude and joy."

Hearst's, 1932:

"Parfum ETUDE and Parfum FESTIVAL are representative of an exclusive grouping that includes the most precious of parfums."

Vanity Fair, 1932:

"Perfumes should never distort you, never mould you to a type; rather, they should be a true projection of your personality as are the Parfums of Houbigant. They find their final fragrance form only after they have touched your skin, after they have been invested with and individualized by your own distinctive aura. The retarded development of Houbigant Parfums is the result of an exclusive process of blending rare essences ... a process which finds luxurious expression in Parfums ESSENCE RARE, ETUDE and FESTIVAL ... and in three new odeurs."

The New Yorker, 1933:

" ETUDE — The essence of Music expressed in perfume — $25.00 to $45.00."

Bottles:

The Baccarat crystal bottle rests on a silver plated base and is encased in a box of varnished wood.

Ceramic Abstracts, 1932:

" Houbigant has had success with the "Etude" square flask, a pure crystal flacon with a distorting effect. "

Houbigant Etude perfume bottle and stopper in clear glass, metal stopper cover, label, wood and metal box. 3 3/4 in. Photo by Perfume Bottles Auction.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.

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