
White Shoulders by Evyan is a classic floral fragrance introduced in 1943. With top notes of foliage, citrus blossom, rosewood, citrus bergamia, and apricot, the scent is a blend of classic florals including gardenia, lilac, amber, oakmoss, and jasmine. The middle notes of the perfume include honeysuckle, which is known for its sweet, floral scent. The perfume has a strong association with spring and summer, and is often described as a clean, romantic fragrance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Top notes | Foliage, Citrus Blossom, Rosewood, Citrus Bergamia, Apricot |
| Middle notes | Woodland Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Honeysuckle, Narcissus, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Tuberose |
| Base notes | Oakmoss, Vetiver, Musk, Sandalwood, Amber, Cedar Wood |
| Other notes | Gardenia, Lilac, Carnation, Lily-of-the-Valley, Orange Blossom, Tonka Bean |
| Scent | Sweet, Floral, Spicy, Clean, Powdery |
| Season | Summer |
| Occasion | Night |
| Longevity | Poor |
| Price | Affordable |
| Age group | All |
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What You'll Learn
- White Shoulders by Evyan: a floral, aldehyde-based scent with honeysuckle notes
- Top notes: Foliage, Citrus Blossom, Rosewood, Citrus Bergamia, and Apricot
- Middle notes: Woodland Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Narcissus, Hyacinth, and Jasmine
- Base notes: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Musk, Sandalwood, Amber, and Cedar Wood
- Perfume history: introduced in 1943/1945, it's a classic fragrance

White Shoulders by Evyan: a floral, aldehyde-based scent with honeysuckle notes
White Shoulders by Evyan is a classic floral fragrance for women, first launched in 1943 or 1945. It is based on aldehydes, with white flower notes including gardenia, jasmine, tuberose, and lily-of-the-valley. The perfume also features sweet peach and African orange flower, with a unique touch of lilac.
Honeysuckle is a notable note in White Shoulders, adding to its ultra-sweet, floral scent. One reviewer describes the perfume as reminiscent of a mature honeysuckle bush in full bloom during the summer—a scent that is almost candy-like in its sweetness. This honeysuckle note is also a favourite of the reviewer's mother, who is a longtime wearer of the fragrance.
The perfume's top notes include foliage, citrus blossom, rosewood, citrus bergamia, and apricot. The middle notes, in addition to honeysuckle, are woodland lily, ylang-ylang, narcissus, hyacinth, jasmine, and tuberose. The base notes are oakmoss, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, amber, and cedarwood.
White Shoulders is a romantic, sensual scent with a nostalgic feel. It has been described as a graceful, crowd-pleasing fragrance, perfect for the refined, chic woman. However, some reviewers note that the perfume has changed hands several times, and the current formulation may be a shadow of its former self.
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Top notes: Foliage, Citrus Blossom, Rosewood, Citrus Bergamia, and Apricot
The top notes of a perfume are the scents that are perceived immediately after the application of the perfume. These scents are usually sharp and fresh and evaporate quickly. The top notes of White Shoulders are Foliage, Citrus Blossom, Rosewood, Citrus Bergamia, and Apricot.
Foliage, as the name suggests, has a green and natural scent. It is reminiscent of leaves and plants and is often used to create a fresh and natural fragrance.
Citrus Blossom, also known as zagara in Italian, has an exotic and powerful fragrance. The scent is described as bright, carefree, and erotic. It is often associated with Italy and is said to have a heavy perfume that can be smelled from a distance.
Rosewood has a floral and slightly rose-like odour. The oil is derived from the Aniba rosaeodora tree, also known as Brazilian rosewood. This tree is now protected, so perfumers use other woods that deliver similar effects.
Citrus Bergamia, commonly known as bergamot, is a small citrus fruit that is a cross between a pear lemon and a Seville orange or grapefruit. Bergamot has a subtle, complex, fresh, and bittersweet scent with fruity and floral tones. It is often used in perfumery for its sweet freshness and is considered the finest flower of citrus.
Apricot can have a lush and sweet scent, similar to the fruit, or a bitter scent like the extract of the apricot kernel. It has been used in perfumery for a long time and can be recreated synthetically to add a soft and fruity note to a fragrance. Alternatively, the scent of apricot blossom can be used, which is pretty, soft, and feminine.
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Middle notes: Woodland Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Narcissus, Hyacinth, and Jasmine
The middle notes of White Shoulders perfume are a bouquet of floral scents, including Woodland Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Narcissus, Hyacinth, and Jasmine. Each of these flowers contributes a unique and captivating fragrance to the perfume's overall aroma.
Woodland lilies, for instance, are known for their sweet and subtle fragrance, with hints of spice and citrus. The scent of lilies is often described as fresh and sweet, evoking a sense of purity and elegance. Ylang-ylang adds a heady, slightly spicy, and exotic touch to the perfume. Its memorable sweetness blends beautifully with other floral notes, creating a delicate and well-rounded scent. Ylang-ylang is believed to have mood-elevating properties and is used in aromatherapy to soothe tension, anxiety, and stress.
Narcissus, a flower with a rich history in perfumery, adds a unique floral touch. With notes of green leaves and a hint of summer lawns, it provides an intense yet cool aroma. Hyacinth, a flower with Greek origins, has a scent that develops as the flower blooms. It begins with a light, ethereal floral fragrance and transforms into a potent and intoxicating scent with a damp greenness.
Jasmine, the final middle note, adds complexity to the perfume. Its scent can vary, ranging from a cold, minty freshness to a sweet decay, reminiscent of overripe fruit. Jasmine is a versatile flower used in various interpretations, each with its distinct scent profile.
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Base notes: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Musk, Sandalwood, Amber, and Cedar Wood
The base notes of a perfume are the longest-lasting and usually the most intense. They are the foundation of the fragrance and can be described as the scent that lingers on the skin after the lighter top and middle notes have evaporated.
White Shoulders by Evyan is a women's fragrance that includes a blend of classic florals and base notes of oakmoss, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, amber, and cedarwood.
Oakmoss has a distinctive, idiosyncratic smell that is bittersweet and leathery, bordering on earthy and airy. Some people liken it to smoked meat, such as aged ham, or to old dollar bills. It can also smell creamy, smoky, woody, and bitter, like pine and herbs.
Vetiver has a unique scent that is earthy, woody, and grassy, with hints of citrus. It is reminiscent of a dewy lawn or damp clumps of soil.
Musk is a complex scent that can range from smelling like dry saliva or hot skin to old barnyard or fecal. However, white musk tends to smell fresh and clean, like soft skin or freshly shampooed hair.
Sandalwood has a sweet, woody, and slightly smoky fragrance. It is often used in men's colognes and body washes, where it takes on a musky-sweet character.
Amber is an accord made up of various notes, including vanilla, benzoin, labdanum, and sometimes patchouli. It has a deep, dark, and sharp scent with a certain resinous smokiness and a hint of vanilla.
Cedarwood has a woody fragrance that can be disappointing in perfumes, smelling like lead pencils and sour vomit. However, fresh-cut cedarwood and cedar in saunas or wood chips are described as heavenly.
These base notes combine to create a long-lasting and intense fragrance that forms the foundation of the White Shoulders perfume.
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Perfume history: introduced in 1943/1945, it's a classic fragrance
White Shoulders is a classic floral perfume based on aldehydes and white flowers, including gardenia, jasmine, tuberose, and lily-of-the-valley. It was first introduced sometime between 1943 and 1945 by the design house of Evyan, also known as the Evelyn Westall Company of New York. The company was founded by Austrian Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff, a chemist, and his British wife, Evelyn Diane Westall, who was also known as Lady Evyan. The perfume was named in honour of Evelyn's beauty, specifically her white shoulders.
The couple wanted to challenge the French perfume industry, which was the established leader in fragrance creation at the time. They believed that high-quality fragrances could be made in the United States, and they set out to prove it with their new line, Evyan. This endeavour was particularly successful during World War II, when patriotism was high and Americans wanted to spend their luxury dollars on domestic products. White Shoulders was initially priced rather high at around $3, compared to other fine perfumes of the day that started at $1.
White Shoulders became an iconic fragrance and is considered the iconic American fragrance. It has been described as beautiful, sweet, sexy, powdery, radiant, maternal, refined, approachable, fresh, gracious, and warm. The original presentation of the perfume was packaged in round peach satin and cream lace powder-style boxes, with square bottles decorated with vertical pinstripes and plain glass stripes. The scent has since been reformulated a few times, but it remains a great choice for those seeking a true vintage fragrance.
The perfume has changed hands over the years, with ownership transferring from Hartnell/Evyan to Elizabeth Arden, and it has been sold by companies such as Parfums International Ltd. Despite the changes in ownership and formulation, White Shoulders has retained its iconic status and is still widely available today, offering a sense of nostalgia and gracefulness.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, White Shoulders by Evyan is a floral perfume with notes of honeysuckle, along with other flowers like gardenia, jasmine, tuberose, and lily-of-the-valley.
The top notes include foliage, citrus blossom, rosewood, citrus bergamia, and apricot. The middle notes are woodland lily, ylang-ylang, narcissus, hyacinth, and jasmine. The base notes are oakmoss, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, amber, and cedarwood.
White Shoulders is a classic, floral perfume with aldehydes and a mix of sweet and exotic notes. It is described as a romantic, crowd-pleasing, and graceful scent.
Yes, White Shoulders is a vintage perfume that was introduced in the 1940s. It is considered a timeless and nostalgic scent.
White Shoulders is widely available at general stores like Walmart and Amazon, as well as drugstores and department stores. It is usually sold at affordable prices.











































