Anisha Riggs
White Shoulders is a women's fragrance launched by the design house of Evyan in the 1940s. It was created by Austrian Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff and his British-born wife, Evelyn Diane Westall, also known as Lady Evyan. The fragrance is inspired by classic French perfumes and features a blend of classic florals, including gardenia, lilac, amber, oakmoss, and jasmine. With its soft floral and powdery scent, White Shoulders has become an iconic and classic American fragrance, popular among women from the 1940s to the present day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launched by | The design house of Evyan |
| Launched in | 1940s (dates vary from 1943 to 1949) |
| Fragrance | Gardenia, lilac, amber, oakmoss, jasmine, lily, tuberose, orris, civet, benzoin, musk |
| Type | Soft floral perfume |
| Inspired by | Classic French perfumes |
| Packaging | Peach and lace, later with a feminine silhouette |
| Bottle | Square with vertical cut pinstripes and plain glass stripes |
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What You'll Learn
White Shoulders' ingredients
White Shoulders is a women's fragrance launched by the design house of Evyan in 1949. However, some sources state that it was launched earlier in the 1940s, with dates ranging from 1943 to 1947. The perfume was created by Austrian Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff and his British-born wife, Evelyn Diane Westall, also known as Lady Evyan. The couple aimed to challenge the French perfume industry with their New York-based company, Evyan.
White Shoulders is classified as a Floral Aldehyde and is known for its sweet, floral, and powdery scent. The perfume features a blend of classic florals, including top notes of gardenia, lilac, and jasmine. It also has base notes of civet, oakmoss, amber, benzoin, and musk, contributing to its complexity. The combination of these ingredients creates a soft, romantic, and innocent fragrance that has become an iconic and classic American scent.
The original presentation of White Shoulders featured unique packaging. The perfume was packaged in round peach satin and cream lace powder-style boxes. The bottles were square, adorned with vertical cut pinstripes and plain glass stripes, and topped with a round stopper. The lace motif on the boxes paid homage to Lady Evyan's signature off-the-shoulder lace evening gowns and her collection of heirloom laces.
Over time, White Shoulders has remained popular, with both vintage and new formulations available. The perfume has changed hands from Hartnell/Evyan to Elizabeth Arden, but the iconic packaging and scent have endured, making it a beloved fragrance for generations.
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The perfume's creators
The creators of White Shoulders perfume are Austrian Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff and his British-born wife, Evelyn Diane Westall, also known as Lady Evyan. The couple founded the company Evyan, named after Evelyn, in New York. Walter Langer was a chemist with a passion for creating a perfume line for American women that was not influenced by French perfumery.
The company's goal was to showcase American perfumery and compete with European, particularly French, perfume manufacturers. The couple wanted to create a fragrance that embodied American patriotism during World War II. The result was White Shoulders, a perfume that became an iconic symbol of American perfumery.
The original White Shoulders fragrance was packaged in round peach satin and cream lace powder-style boxes. The bottles were square with vertical cut pinstripes and plain glass stripes, topped with a round stopper. The packaging paid homage to Lady Evyan's signature off-the-shoulder lace evening gowns and her collection of heirloom laces.
The scent of White Shoulders is described as a blend of classic florals, including gardenia, lilac, amber, oakmoss, and jasmine. It is a soft, floral, and powdery fragrance, with a romantic and innocent character. The perfume has remained popular over the years and can be found in vintage and new formulations, with its iconic packaging recognised by many American women.
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Its floral scent
White Shoulders is a floral perfume with a soft, powdery scent. It was launched by the design house of Evyan in the 1940s (dates vary from 1943 to 1949) and was meant to showcase that American perfumery could compete with European perfumery, specifically French perfumes.
The floral notes in White Shoulders include jasmine, lily, gardenia, lily of the valley, tuberose, and orris. These sweet and rich floral notes come together to create a thoroughly intoxicating scent. The perfume also has complex base notes of civet, oakmoss, amber, benzoin, and musk, which add depth and warmth to the fragrance.
The floral scent of White Shoulders has been described as ultra-sweet, almost like candy, and reminiscent of springtime. It is considered a classic and iconic American fragrance, with a romantic and innocent character. The perfume has remained popular over the years, with both vintage and new formulations available in thrift shops, antique markets, modern drugstores, and online.
The original presentation of White Shoulders reflected the elegance and femininity of the fragrance. The bottles were square, with vertical cut pinstripes and plain glass stripes, topped with a round stopper. The packaging featured peach satin and cream or peach-coloured lace, paying homage to Lady Evyan's signature off-the-shoulder lace evening gowns and her collection of heirloom laces.
White Shoulders has a rich history and is considered a timeless fragrance, evoking feelings of romance and innocence with its delicate floral scent.
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The packaging design
Over time, White Shoulders changed hands from Hartnell/Evyan to Elizabeth Arden, but the core elements of its packaging remained consistent. The iconic peach and lace theme, with its feminine silhouette, has endured and become instantly recognisable to generations of American women. The colour peach, or a variation of dusty pink, has been a defining feature of the fragrance's visual identity, creating a sense of warmth and softness that complements the floral notes of the perfume.
Today, White Shoulders continues to be a beloved and sought-after fragrance, with its packaging design playing a pivotal role in its enduring appeal. The combination of delicate colours, intricate textures, and feminine silhouettes has contributed to the fragrance's iconic status, evoking a sense of nostalgia and elegance that transcends generations. While the specific design elements may have evolved, the core essence of the packaging remains true to its original concept, solidifying White Shoulders' place in the history of American perfumery.
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White Shoulders' popularity
White Shoulders is a perfume created by New York-based company Evyan, founded by Austrian Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff and his British-born wife, Evelyn Diane Westall, also known as Lady Evyan. The couple aimed to challenge the French perfume industry by creating a perfume for American women without the pretentious connections to France. They were successful in their endeavour, and White Shoulders became a very popular fragrance.
The perfume was first launched between 1935 and 1949, with sources giving various dates between 1939 and 1949. It was released during World War II, a time when patriotism was high in the United States, and Americans wanted to spend their luxury dollars on domestic products. The high price of White Shoulders, initially set at around $3, contributed to its prestige, as many "fine" perfumes of that era were priced at $1.
The scent of White Shoulders is described as a classic floral with notes of aldehydes, white flowers (including gardenia, jasmine, tuberose, lily-of-the-valley, lilac, lily, and orris), and complex base notes (such as amber, benzoin, musk, civet, and oak moss). It is considered a refined, feminine, soft and light fragrance, perfect for evenings and springtime.
White Shoulders remains popular even today, with both vintage and new formulations available in thrift shops, antique markets, modern drugstores, and online. It has become an iconic fragrance, especially in the United States, and is often associated with nostalgia and memories of grandmothers or older generations.
Despite its popularity, some critics argue that the fragrance has not aged well and may be considered dated. However, for many, it remains a timeless and elegant scent, evoking feelings of joy and nostalgia. White Shoulders continues to be a beloved fragrance, with a dedicated following, and its popularity has endured over the years.
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Frequently asked questions
White Shoulders is a blend of classic florals including gardenia, lilac, amber, oakmoss, and jasmine. It also has base notes of civet, benzoin, and musk.
White Shoulders was launched by the design house of Evyan in the 1940s.
Evyan was founded by Austrian Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff and his British-born wife, Evelyn Diane Westall, also known as Lady Evyan.
The exact launch year is unclear, but sources suggest it was launched sometime between 1943 and 1949.
White Shoulders has been described as ultra-sweet, floral, powdery, and romantic.
