Normandie by Jean Patou c1935

Normandie by Jean Patou: launched in 1935. Created by Henri Almeras in honor of the maiden voyage of the SS Normandie.

Jean Patou's designer's Sue et Mare designed the interior of the boat as they did for Patou's own boutique interiors as well as other Patou perfume presentations. 

It is reported that Jean Patou commissioned a famous metal worker to create a miniature of the ship cast in silver plated pewter to be the presentation of the perfume. 

The 15ml glass parfum bottle was held in its main smoke-stack and featured a screw-off cap. 

These exquisite perfume bottles were presented to each lady who was held a first-class ticket on the maiden voyage of the Normandie.

The picture below shows the Art Deco interior of the SS Normandie.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is described a floriental perfume with warm, woodsy notes.

• Top notes: aldehydes, neroli, ylang ylang 
• Heart notes: orange blossom, orris root, rose, Grasse jasmine, carnation, styrax, opoponax, fruits 
• Base notes: Bourbon vetiver, oak moss, vanilla, musk, amber, Virginia cedarwood, benzoin 

Bottles:

After the maiden voyage was complete, the perfume Normandie was later available in a wider distribution in both parfum and parfum-cologne (Patou's version of a long lasting eau de cologne, starting in 1936).

The New Yorker, 1935:

"tell of the glories of that great big steamship, but Patou's newest perfume, christened Normandie, will be forever memorable. ... For $20 you can buy a bottle of Normandie sunk in a decorative metal model of the new queen of the seas, in regulation bottles; in smaller sizes, it is $5."

Harper's Bazaar, 1935:

"Normandy" perfume is as breath-taking as its namesake. The perfume bottle is set in a metal model of the French Line masterpiece."

A perfume bottle from the S.S. Normandie's maiden voyage the perfume bottle in pewter in the shape of the Normandie, issued by Jean Patou and inscribed 'Normandie/Jean Patou/Paris-France' with glass bottle and stopper inset in the middle center. Measures 7 x 3¼ in. (17.8 x 8.9 cm.). Photo by Christie's Auction. Price realized: $1,315 in 2004.

Bottle used for the parfum and the parfum-cologne, shown below.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued in 1940.

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 has also been discontinued.

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an ambery floral chypre oriental fragrance for women.

• Top notes: fruits, neroli and ylang-ylang
• Middle notes: orange blossom, rose, orris root, jasmine, vetiver, styrax and carnation
• Base notes: benzoin, oakmoss, cedar, woods, vanilla and musk

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 

A commemorative re-edition perfume bottle from the S.S. Normandie's maiden voyage. The perfume bottle by Jean Patou in stainless with label 'Normandie/Jean Patou/Paris'is numbered 14 from a limited edition of 1000, was made in 1985 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the S.S. Normandie's maiden voyage in 1935, in the original box. Measures 9 x 3½ x 4½ in. (22.9 x 8.9 x 11.4 cm.) box. Photo by Christie's Auction. Price realized: $1,016 in 2004.