Prada's First Ladies: Unveiling The Debut Cologne

Prada's first cologne for ladies was released in 1990 and was exclusive to the brand's boutiques. It had no name, only the Prada logo, and is now a rare find. Prada's first mass-market fragrance for women, Prada Amber (also known as Prada Eau de Parfum), was released in 2004.

Prada's first fragrance

Prada (1990) is a thick rose chypre, with sweet golden honey and Bulgarian rose oil over bitter patchouli and oakmoss, tempered by sweet benzoin. It has been described as a "noble chypre breed" with a strong tilt to the East.

Prada Amber (or Prada Eau de Parfum) is a fluffy, amber-chocolate luxury fragrance. It is described as having a fusion of classic and modern elements. It was created by 'star' perfumers Max Gavarry and Carlos Benaïm.

Prada Amber

The top notes of Prada Amber include bergamot, bitter orange, mandarin, and mimosa. The middle notes are patchouli, rose, and pink pepper, and the base notes are benzoin, sandalwood, musk, labdanum, and tonka bean. It is an oriental, woody fragrance, with a dominant amber accord.

Prada Candy

The composition includes an elegant mix of musks, a sensual balsamic vanillic accord of benzoin, and sweet modern caramel. It is available as 30, 50, and 80 ml Eau de Parfum.

Prada's history

The Early Beginnings

Prada, the iconic Italian fashion house, was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother Martino. They opened a store called Fratelli Prada (Prada Brothers) in Milan, specialising in fine leather goods and luggage. Mario's daughter, Luisa, eventually took over the business, and in 1978, her daughter Miuccia Prada became the custodian of the family enterprise.

Miuccia Prada's Vision

Miuccia, young and fashion-conscious, brought new life to the brand. With a doctorate in political science and a feminist perspective, she collaborated with her husband, Patrick Bertelli. They focused on reinventing the original leather designs, introducing stylish luggage and handbags. In 1978, Prada accessories made their Vogue debut, marking the beginning of Prada's transformation into a global fashion line.

Expansion and Diversification

Prada expanded rapidly, introducing totes and backpacks in 1979, followed by shoes in 1984. They debuted their first line of womenswear in 1988, with a lower waist, narrow straps, and basic colours. This was followed by the launch of a secondary line, Miu Miu (Miuccia's nickname), in 1992, and menswear in 1993. The brand's popularity grew steadily, with new boutiques and features in glossy magazines.

Foray into Fragrances

Prada's first foray into fragrances began in the early 1990s with the release of their first fragrance, simply called "Prada" (1990). This exclusive scent was only available in their boutiques and bore the Prada logo without a specific name. However, it was short-lived, and Prada later replaced it with their Exclusive Collection of four perfumes in 2003-2004.

Prada Amber: The First Mass-Market Fragrance

In 2004, Prada launched its first mass-market fragrance, Prada Eau de Parfum, also known as Prada Amber. This fragrance caused a stir in the industry due to its innovative use of amber notes. Prada Amber was described as a fusion of classic and modern, with a fluffy amber-chocolate luxury scent. It established Prada as a significant player in the perfume industry, leading to the creation of iconic scents and fragrance collections.

A Growing Fragrance Empire

Prada continued to build its fragrance empire, introducing the Prada Candy collection, which included scents like Prada Candy Eau de Parfum, a blend of caramel, honey, and vanilla. They also offered exclusive, numbered artisan fragrances, such as Orange Flower, Tuberose, and Violet. In 2015, they launched Les Infusions de Prada, a collection created by Daniela Andrier, exploring the universe of Prada through scent.

In conclusion, Prada's history in ladies' cologne began with the exclusive and unnamed "Prada" fragrance in 1990, followed by a more widespread launch of Prada Amber in 2004, which cemented their presence in the fragrance market and led to numerous successful scent collections.

Prada's other fragrances

Prada's first-ever fragrance was released in 1990, and was exclusive to the brand's boutiques. It had no name, only the Prada logo. This original scent is now largely forgotten, and the brand has since released a wide range of fragrances for men and women.

Prada's first mass-market fragrance, Prada Eau de Parfum, was released in 2004. Also known as Prada Amber, it was a fluffy, amber-chocolate luxury fragrance.

Prada fragrances are produced in collaboration with perfumers Daniela Andrier, Anne Flipo, Carlos Benaïm, Nadège Le Garlantezec, Antoine Maisondieu, Shyamala Maisondieu, Max Gavarry, and Clement Gavarry.

• Prada Candy: a gourmand series with a subtle caramel warmth
• Infusion: an elegant, powdery collection
• Luna Rossa: sports fragrances
• Olfactories: exclusive fragrances with numbered, single-note scents such as Orange Flower, Tuberose, Opoponax, and Violet
• Prada Paradoxe: a floral, amber scent
• Prada La Femme: a range of fragrances including 'Absolu', 'Intense', 'L'Eau', and 'Velvet Edition'
• Prada L'Homme: a range of fragrances including 'Absolu', 'Intense', 'Velvet Edition', and 'Water Splash'
• Les Infusions de Prada: a collection of fragrances created by Daniela Andrier, including Iris, Iris Cèdre, Fleur d’Oranger, Vétiver, Oeillet, and Amande

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