Seamus Hammond
Charlie is a line of fragrances produced by the American cosmetic and perfume house Revlon. The original fragrance, launched in 1973, was designed to fill a gap in the market for middle-class and young American women. The perfume was an incredible success, becoming the world's top-selling perfume within three years. The advertising campaigns for the scent were notable for featuring Shelley Hack, Charly Stember, and Naomi Sims, who became the first African American woman to feature in a cosmetic company's advertising. The perfume has been described as a floral-aldehyde fragrance with citrus, bergamot, hyacinth, green leaf, tarragon, peach, and aldehyde top notes, and sandalwood, musk, vanilla, oakmoss, and cedar base notes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch Year | 1973 |
| Brand | Revlon |
| Target Audience | Young, working women |
| Ad Campaign Models | Shelley Hack, Charly Stember, Naomi Sims, Lauren Hutton, Sharon Stone, Cindy Crawford |
| Ad Jingle Singers | Bobby Short, Mel Tormé, Little Richard |
| Top Notes | Aldehydes, Hiacynth, Galbanum, Jasmine, Gardenia, Citrus, Bergamot, Green Leaf, Tarragon, Peach |
| Middle Notes | Lily-of-the-Valley, Geranium, Jasmine, Coriander, White Lily, Violet, Cyclamen, Carnation, Orris Root, Rose |
| Base Notes | Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Musk, Vanilla, Cedar, Cedarwood |
| Variants | Charlie Blue, White, Red |
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What You'll Learn
Charlie by Revlon: a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women
Charlie by Revlon is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance for women that was launched in 1973. It was designed to fill the gap in commercial perfumery for middle-class and young American women. The top notes of this perfume are aldehydes, hyacinth, galbanum, jasmine, and gardenia, while the middle notes are made up of lily-of-the-valley, geranium, jasmine, coriander, white lily, and violet. The base notes are oakmoss, sandalwood, vetiver, musk, and vanilla. The perfume was presented as a floral-aldehyde fragrance, opening with aromas of lemon blossom, hyacinth, and peach.
The middle notes of rose, orris root, lily-of-the-valley, cyclamen, and carnation add a unique touch to the composition, while the base notes of vanilla, sandalwood, oakmoss, musk, and cedar provide a strong finish. Charlie by Revlon was an instant success, becoming the world's top-selling perfume within three years of its launch. The advertising campaigns for the scent featured models Shelley Hack, Charly Stember, and Naomi Sims, who became the first African American woman to feature in a cosmetic company's advertising. The television ads portrayed Hack and Stember wearing pantsuits, making them the first women to wear pants in fragrance ads.
The fragrance was marketed towards young, working women, and the ads were said to represent the "new woman" of the era. The scent and its advertising inspired many, including Oprah Winfrey, who dedicated a segment of her talk show to discussing the impact of Charlie's advertising. The perfume was praised for its longevity, with some reviewers commenting that it lasts for hours and can even be smelled after a shower.
Charlie by Revlon has become a legendary perfume, with many fond memories and associations attached to it. It has undergone some reformulations over the years, with the current version being a lighter interpretation that emphasizes cedarwood and oakmoss aromas. Despite the changes, Charlie remains an iconic fragrance that has left its mark on the world of perfumery.
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The original 1973 scent
The original Charlie fragrance, created in 1973, was a huge success, reaching customers worldwide. It was designed to fill a gap in the market for middle-class and young American women. The perfume was named after Charles Revson and was released by the American cosmetic and perfume house Revlon.
The fragrance was originally launched to compete with Estée, a perfume by Estée Lauder. Charlie's ad campaigns featured models Shelley Hack, Charly Stember, and Naomi Sims, who became the first African American woman to be featured in a cosmetic company's advertising. The television ads featured Hack and Stember wearing pantsuits by Ralph Lauren, making them the first women to wear trousers in fragrance ads. The target audience was young, working women, and the ads were said to represent the "new woman" of the time.
The fragrance has been described as a floral-aldehyde scent with citrus, bergamot, hyacinth, green leaf, tarragon, peach, and aldehyde top notes, cyclamen, carnation, orris root, lily of the valley, jasmine, and rose middle notes, and sandalwood, musk, vanilla, oakmoss, and cedar base notes. The scent is long-lasting and has been described as powdery, with a strong impact.
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The impact of its advertising
The advertising for the Charlie fragrance line by Revlon has had a significant impact on its success and cultural perception. The original fragrance, launched in 1973, was designed to fill a gap in the market for middle-class and young American women. The advertising campaigns reflected this, targeting young, working women and presenting them as the "new woman" of the era. The use of models Shelley Hack, Charly Stember, and notably, Naomi Sims, the first African American woman to feature in a cosmetic company's advertising, was instrumental in shaping the fragrance's image.
The television ads, featuring jingles by Bobby Short and Mel Tormé, played a significant role in the fragrance's popularity. The ads portrayed Hack and Stember wearing pantsuits by Ralph Lauren, making them the first women to wear pants in fragrance ads. This imagery conveyed a sense of female independence and self-sufficiency, resonating with the feminist consciousness of the time. The ads were described as playful and empowering by some, reflecting the changing societal norms and aspirations of women in the 1970s.
However, the advertising for Charlie also sparked controversy. One notable ad depicted a female model patting a male model's backside, with the copy "She's very Charlie." While some praised it as playful and a representation of female self-sufficiency, others criticised it as "sexist" and "in poor taste." This ad sparked a debate about the portrayal of women in advertising and the boundaries of acceptable taste.
The impact of Charlie's advertising extended beyond the initial campaign. Subsequent ads in later decades featured prominent models and actresses such as Lauren Hutton, Sharon Stone, and Cindy Crawford, with jingles by Little Richard. The fragrance's association with strong, independent women resonated with consumers, and Charlie became a symbol of female empowerment. This was evident in a 2007 segment of Oprah Winfrey's talk show, where she discussed the impact of Charlie advertising and how it inspired her to embody the confidence and fabulousness of the "Charlie girl."
Overall, the advertising for the Charlie fragrance line played a pivotal role in its success and cultural resonance. By targeting young, working women and portraying them as independent and self-sufficient, Charlie's advertising campaigns captured the spirit of the women's movement in the 1970s. While some ads sparked controversy, the fragrance's association with female empowerment left a lasting impression, influencing cultural perceptions and shaping the fragrance industry's approach to marketing.
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The evolution of the fragrance
Charlie is a line of fragrances produced by the American cosmetic and perfume house Revlon. The original fragrance, launched in 1973, was a floral aldehyde scent for women. The top notes of the original fragrance include aldehydes, hyacinth, galbanum, jasmine, and gardenia, while the middle notes bring together lily-of-the-valley, geranium, jasmine, and coriander. The base notes are oakmoss, sandalwood, vetiver, musk, and vanilla.
The fragrance was designed to fill a gap in the market for middle-class and young American women, with its advertising campaigns reflecting this. The original ads featured models Shelley Hack, Charly Stember, and Naomi Sims, who became the first African American woman to be featured in a cosmetic company's advertising. The ads were said to represent the "new woman" of the era, with Hack and Stember wearing pantsuits and driving cars, reflecting female self-sufficiency and independence.
Over time, the fragrance evolved, and subsequent advertising campaigns in later decades featured Lauren Hutton, Sharon Stone, and Cindy Crawford. The scent also inspired a men's fragrance, making Charlie a line of fragrances for both women and men.
While the original fragrance is beloved by many, some have noted that the formula has changed over the years, with newer versions, such as Charlie Blue, having a lighter interpretation of the original scent. These newer versions maintain the core of the original fragrance but with subtle differences, such as a greater emphasis on cedarwood and oakmoss aromas. Despite these changes, Charlie remains a legendary fragrance, evoking nostalgia and a sense of independence and strength for those who wear it.
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The different versions of Charlie
Charlie is a line of fragrances produced by the American cosmetic and perfume house Revlon. The original fragrance, launched in 1973, was designed to fill a gap in the market for middle-class and young American women. It was also one of the first fragrances purchased by women for themselves, rather than being bought for them by men.
The original fragrance is described as a floral-aldehyde scent, with citrus, bergamot, hyacinth, green leaf, tarragon, peach, and aldehyde top notes, cyclamen, carnation, orris root, lily of the valley, jasmine, and rose middle notes, and sandalwood, musk, vanilla, oakmoss, and cedar base notes. The current formulation is a lighter interpretation, with more emphasis on cedarwood and oakmoss aromas.
Over the years, there have been several variations of the original Charlie fragrance, including Charlie Blue, which is described as having a more powdery quality. Some consider this version to be the closest to the original, while others feel it lacks the presence and depth of the 1973 scent.
The advertising campaigns for Charlie fragrances have been notable, featuring models Shelley Hack, Charly Stember, and Naomi Sims, who became the first African American woman to feature in a cosmetic company's advertising. The ads were designed to represent the "'new woman' of the era, with Hack and Stember wearing pantsuits and driving cars, portraying images of female independence and strength.
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Frequently asked questions
Charlie is a line of women's and men's fragrances produced by the American cosmetic and perfume house Revlon.
Charlie was released in 1973.
The fragrance includes top notes of aldehydes, hyacinth, galbanum, jasmine, and gardenia. The middle notes are lily-of-the-valley, geranium, jasmine, coriander, white lily, and violet. The base notes are oakmoss, sandalwood, vetiver, musk, and vanilla.
