Seamus Hammond
Ma Griffe, the first perfume from the house of Carven, was launched in 1946 and remains popular today. It was initially designed for younger women, marking the introduction of chypres aimed at professional women. The fragrance is a delicate blend of floral and woody notes, creating a unique and captivating aroma. The scent has since been reformulated, with the latest version released in 2020. While it is still in production, it seems to have left the UK market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Production | Still in production |
| Brand | Carven |
| Perfumer | Jean Carles |
| Year of Launch | 1946 |
| Perfumers | Bruno Jovanovic, Carlos Benaim, Jean-Marc Chaillan, Loc Dong |
| Fragrance Family | Chypre |
| Fragrance Notes | Bergamot, Lemon, Gardenia, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Musk, Tonka Bean, Styrax, Tomato Leaves, Cocoa Pod, Cedar |
| Target Audience | Younger women, Sophisticated women |
| Bottle Size | 1.6 Oz |
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What You'll Learn
Ma Griffe is still in production today
Ma Griffe, the first perfume from the house of Carven, is still in production today. It was composed in 1946 by perfumer Jean Carles and was intended for younger women, marking the introduction of chypres aimed at professional women. The name "Ma Griffe" means "My Signature" in French, but also "My Claw," conveying a sense of strong personality and power.
The fragrance is a delicate blend of floral and woody notes, creating a unique and captivating aroma. It opens with a burst of bergamot, lemon, and gardenia, followed by an abundance of jasmine, sandalwood, rose, and ylang-ylang. The base notes are vetiver, musk, tonka bean, and styrax, adding a soft, woody character to the scent.
Ma Griffe has undergone several reformulations over the years, with the newest version promising to be an "outdoor fragrance without the heavy overtones." Despite these changes, the fragrance remains iconic and is still as fresh and powdery as the original version from 1946.
The perfume has left a lasting impression on its wearers, with some recalling how it made them feel like a princess, and others describing it as an "undying love." It continues to be a popular and elegant choice for sophisticated women, known for its timeless and luxurious character.
Today, Ma Griffe is recognized as one of the most fascinatingly historic fragrances still in production, a true piece of history that has successfully bounded forward into the modern day.
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It was the first perfume from Carven
Ma Griffe was the first perfume from Carven, composed in 1946 by perfumer Jean Carles. It was designed for Carven by Jean Carles, the creator of other peculiar fragrances like Tabu and Miss Dior. The perfume was intended for younger women, which was an innovation at the time. The name "Ma Griffe" means "My Signature" or "My Claw" in French, like an affirmation of a strong personality and power. The scent is a delicate blend of floral and woody notes, creating a unique and captivating aroma.
The perfume was created just after World War II, with the optimism of the future in mind. It was meant to herald the coming era of post-war prosperity and was marketed to young women who could now put the challenges of the past behind them and celebrate their youth. The scent structure seems to echo the era of its origins, with the dark clouds of the war, loss, and austerity.
Ma Griffe has a sharp, feisty verve, courtesy of styrallyl acetate, chosen by master perfumer Jean Carles to be the scaffolding for the foliage and flowers, particularly gardenia. The overall effect is a fresh, aggressive fragrance, which was totally unique at the time of its creation. The top notes include an explosion of hesperides, bergamot, and citron, enveloped in the freshness of green gardenia. The heart notes feature an overdose of jasmine, combined with santal, rose, and ylang-ylang. The base notes reveal a masculine touch with vetiver, accompanied by musk, tonka bean, and styrax.
Ma Griffe has undergone several reformulations over the years, with the newest version featuring more lemon, light floral, and powdery hints. However, the vintage versions from the 1970s to 1990s are said to smell largely the same, with powdery, buttery, green, and vague notes. Despite the changes, Ma Griffe remains a classic fragrance that continues to captivate and intrigue those who experience it.
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It was intended for younger women
Ma Griffe by Carven is a timeless and elegant fragrance that was first launched in 1946 and remains popular today. It is a luxurious fragrance designed for sophisticated women. The scent is a delicate blend of floral and woody notes, creating a unique and captivating aroma.
When it was first launched, Ma Griffe was intended for younger women. This was unusual for perfumes at the time, which were not typically designed for youthful spirits. The perfume was designed to appeal to professional women, such as secretaries at new firms, with a sense of detachment and intelligence.
The name "Ma Griffe" means both "My Signature" and "My Claw" in French, conveying a sense of strong personality and power. The fragrance was designed to be an affirmation of a woman's strength and a subtle warning: "don't mess with me!" This assertive character is expressed through both the name and the scent itself.
Ma Griffe was the first perfume from the house of Carven, composed in 1946 by perfumer Jean Carles. It has since gone through several reformulations, with the newest version aiming to be an "outdoor fragrance without the heavy overtones" of previous iterations.
While Ma Griffe is still in production today, it appears to have left the UK market, making it difficult for some to find legitimate sources for the perfume. However, it continues to captivate wearers with its intriguing scent and elegant freshness.
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It was composed in 1946 by Jean Carles
Ma Griffe, a perfume by Carven, was composed in 1946 by Jean Carles, a renowned perfumer known for creating peculiar fragrances such as the outrageous Tabu and the elegant yet dirty Miss Dior. This fragrance holds a unique place in the history of chypre perfumes, a family of scents characterised by their fusion of citrus and woody notes.
Jean Carles' composition for Ma Griffe is a delicate blend of floral and woody notes, resulting in a captivating aroma. The perfume opens with a burst of bergamot, lemon, and gardenia, providing a fresh and elegant introduction. At its heart, Ma Griffe reveals an abundance of jasmine, enhanced by notes of sandalwood, rose, and ylang-ylang. This combination adds a lush, green floral character to the fragrance.
The base of the perfume is where its true uniqueness lies. Here, a masculine note of vetiver is complemented by soft musk, tonka bean, and styrax. This blend creates a sense of detachment and intelligence, as described by Elena Vosnaki in her blog, Perfume Shrine. The absence of the usual sweetness in the tonka bean note further contributes to the perfume's distinctive character.
Ma Griffe was the first perfume from the house of Carven, and it was designed for younger women, marking a departure from the typical target audience of perfumes at the time. The name itself, meaning "My Signature" or "My Claw," reflects a strong personality and a sense of warning, conveying both assertiveness and power.
Today, Ma Griffe remains an iconic fragrance, still as fresh and powdery as its 1946 original. Its timeless and elegant character has endured, continuing to captivate sophisticated women who appreciate its sultry and luxurious nature. The perfume's longevity and continued popularity are a testament to Jean Carles' masterful composition, which has left an indelible mark on the world of perfumery.
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It has top notes of bergamot, lemon and gardenia
Ma Griffe, the first perfume from the house of Carven, was composed in 1946 by perfumer Jean Carles and is still in production today. It was intended for younger women, marking the introduction of chypres aimed at professional women.
Ma Griffe has top notes of bergamot, lemon, and gardenia. It is a delicate blend of floral and woody notes, creating a unique and captivating aroma. The bergamot and lemon top notes give the fragrance a burst of freshness, while the gardenia adds a creamy, spicy, and elegant scent.
The combination of these three top notes produces a distinctive and assertive character, reflecting the fragrance's name, which means both "My Signature" and "My Claw." This duality conveys a sense of strong personality and power, as well as a warning of "don't mess with me!"
The overall impression of Ma Griffe is that of a sophisticated, timeless, and elegant fragrance. It is described as a "mystery [that] intrigues and entices with a personal touch." The top notes of bergamot, lemon, and gardenia are carefully selected and blended to create a unique and memorable olfactory experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Ma Griffe perfume is still made and remains popular today.
Ma Griffe is made by Carven and was first launched in 1946.
Ma Griffe means "My Signature" in French, but it also means "My Claw", which is an affirmation of a strong personality and power.
Ma Griffe is a chypre floral with notes of bergamot, lemon, gardenia, jasmine, sandalwood, rose, ylang-ylang, vetiver, musk, tonka bean and styrax.
I cannot find specific retailers for this product, but it appears to be available on fragrance specialist websites.
