On the Wind
Bourjois

I did find a little bottle of it, after reading HouseOfPhlegethon's review, which seemed dreamy, and it is. Like a sweet afternoon garden party with ladies who've spent their mornings in preparation. The scent is just beautiful, heady roses in the sun, little cakes with vanilla frosting waiting on the table. Blossoming orange trees shading the table. One of the ladies is wearing a flowery sachet powder. They sip Oolong tea. It makes me want to nap in the sun as if I had nothing at all to do.

The fragrance doesn't last very long, I suspect it's decades old, but my bottle at least has no hint of decay. I want to spritz it on my sheets. I'll have to find more.

Pretty little glass bottle shaped like an ribbed urn, with a jaunty 12 sided daffodil yellow bakelite cap and a gold on yellow label which matches the arabic style script. I am all about pretty packaging.

1950 saw the debut of 'On the Wind,' by Parfums Bourjois, France and New York, and my research says it was especially made for the Canadian market, which made me jealous!

Some History...

Established by Alexandre-Napoleon Bourjois 28 Place Vendome, Paris in 1886, when he purchased a toiletry shop from M. Poison, an actor who made theatrical cosmetics, along with toiletries, and perfumes. The business was called Bourjois after it's new owner.

This next is really interesting, from the bourjoisperfumes.blogspot.com:

"In 1917, Pierre and Paul Wertheimer took over direction of Bourjois, with a new focus on modern, contemporary style. They wanted to move away from the traditional floral fragrances. Their fragrance 'Mon Parfum' was launched in 1919, with the idea that. 'My perfume reflects my personality.'"

Here is where it becomes really interesting:

"The Wertheimer Brothers who'd made a fortune thru theatre and vaudeville by peddling their theatrical cosmetics, met Coco Chanel while she was dancing as a showgirl. The Wertheimer's cut a deal with her and they would also the be the owner of Chanel perfumes.

During its existence until 1974, when the US plant was closed, Bourjois introduced 124 different fragrances, including four used only in bath oil and soap products, one used in a children's product line, and seven introduced by a subsidiary company, Woodworth of Rochester.

The most successful line was Soir de Paris or Evening In Paris which debuted in 1928. You might find a perfume bottle by Gilot, named Soir de Paris, this is not a typo, this perfume-cosmetics line was trademarked in 1925, prior to Bourjois.

Some of Bourjois' luxury boxes were manufactured by the company F. Bouvet & F. Gaud as well as Jean Martin.

Jean Helleu, a French painter, also worked as a perfume and cosmetics advertising artist, and was the artistic designed for Bourjois and Coty.

The bottles for Talis were produced by Cristalleries de Saint-Louis. The bottles for Mon Parfum were made by Baccarat. The glass factory of Verreries Brosse supplied many bottles for Bourjois perfumes after WWI.

The perfume bottle for their best selling 'Kobako' was made by Verreries Brosse. Its red bakelite presentation case was made by Eduard Fornells."

Of note, the modern "Bourjois" line begging in 1924, included perfumer Henri Robert.

So, my little bottle has a fine pedigree. I wish I knew if Henri Robert was it's father!

This is a great, old-fashioned floral oriental fragrance. Slight bit of aldehydes, some incense, rose, citrus notes, jasmine, gentle geranium, and a touch of vanilla.

It is slightly powdery on top. Some sweetness in the middle. Because my bottle is old, it doesn't have much for longevity. Overall, the notes that last longest are the rose, geranium, and incense. It is worth a try, if you can find a bottle.