Colony by Jean Patou c1937

Colony by Jean Patou: launched in 1933. Created by Henri Almeras as an homage to the French colonies. Colony was available in parfum .

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is described as a warm and exotic fruity chypre perfume.

• Top notes: aldehydes, pineapple, ylang ylang, bergamot
• Middle notes: carnation, iris, oak, opoponax
• Base notes: vanilla, leather, musk, Bourbon vetiver, oak moss, castoreum, Mysore sandalwood, costus

L'Amour de l'art, 1950:

"Colony by Jean Patou: drop by drop, the fragrant soul of vanilla, fruits and flowers open to the sun distills this perfume with exotic and warm notes."

Marie-Claire, 1937:

"Colony by Patou: Warm and fresh at the same time. Dominant note: exotic fruit. To belong to the elite of the cosmopolitan world. For her pleasure, or her business, she always has one foot in London, one in New York."

 Femme, 1946:

"Nostalgia for the fortunate islands will cruelly grip you when you open "Colony," from Patou, you will no longer be able to hold off sailing towards the equator and the enchantments of musk, perfumes and spices that this magnificent aroma suggests! Scent of brunette, but also of blonde with a spicy contrast. Blonde Creoles are said to be the most charming. For the real blondes of Paris, "Amour Amour", and for all, "Joy," based on rose and jasmine: the aristocracy of perfumes!"

Vogue, 1937:

"Colony, Jean Patou's newest triumph in perfume, is exotic and mysterious — reminiscent of strange Oriental places and tropical nights. To carry out the illusion of the East, it is packed in a beautiful crystal flacon with a golden lotus for a stopper. The box is of woven jute tied with a grass ribbon."

Perfumery and Essential Oil Record, 1938:

"Contrast is the keynote in the packaging of the new Patou perfume " Colony." The box has a rough linen cover and a hemp ribbon, in keeping with the robust atmosphere imparted by the sailing vessel on the label. But inside is a Baccarat cut-glass flacon of baroque design; the perfume itself is strong and exotic rather than fragrant."

original 1937 bottle, photo by Rago Arts

c1930s-1950s flacon, photo by ebay seller assovintage.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown. Still being sold in 1954.

The perfume was reformulated by Jean Kerleo and relaunched in 1984 as part of the exclusive Ma Collection, reissued scents from Patou's catalog of discontinued perfumes as well as some new editions. This version was discontinued sometime in the mid 1990s.

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a fruity chypre fragrance for women.

• Top notes:  pineapple, bergamot  
• Middle notes: ylang-ylang, carnation, iris, opoponax
• Base notes: leather, musk, oakmoss, vetiver 

Available as:

• 1 oz Parfum
• 2.5 oz Eau de Toilette Splash
• 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
• 0.20 oz Eau d Toilette Splash Mini Bottle

Limited Crystal Edition, from 1994, replicating the original bottle and box from 1937. Photo by Drouot.

2014 Version:

Colony was reformulated by Thomas Fontaine and relaunched in 2014 as part of the Collection Heritage , a line of reformulated and relaunched Jean Patou classic fragrances.

So what does it smell like? It is described as an Aromatic Green fragrance for women.

• Top notes: fruits
• Middle notes: flowers, exotic spices
• Base notes: foliage

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