Heidi Norton
Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché is a popular perfume for women that was first released in 1932. The scent is floral-sweet with notes of bitter orange, clary sage, cyclamen, heliotrope, tuberose, tarragon, violet leaf, gardenia, lily of the valley, jasmine, ylang-ylang, oakmoss, benzoin, sandalwood, and musk. It was a favourite perfume of college girls in the 1960s and was also worn by celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson. Today, it is considered a vintage perfume that is sought after by collectors and enthusiasts of classic fragrances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release year | 1932, relaunched in 1957 |
| Top notes | Bitter orange oil, clary sage, cyclamen |
| Middle notes | Heliotrope, tuberose, tarragon, violet leaf, gardenia, lily of the valley, jasmine, ylang-ylang |
| Base notes | Oakmoss, benzoin, sandalwood, musk |
| Description | Floral-sweet, sunny, fun, carnal, clean, bright, fresh, mature, sultry, strong, confident, exotic, musky, sweet, intimate, sexy, dark |
| Similar perfumes | Gardenia Passion by Annick Goutal, Fracas by Robert Piguet, Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia |
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What You'll Learn
Celebrities who wore it
Jungle Gardenia by Tuvache was worn by several celebrities, including Joan Bennett, Barbara Stanwyck, Natalie Wood, Joan Crawford, and Annette Funicello. During the filming of *King Kong*, actress Fay Wray wore Jungle Gardenia and believed that the giant ape recognised her by her scent. In the film *This Property is Condemned,* Natalie Wood wore this perfume as well.
The fragrance was also worn by Auntie Mame, a character in the famous Broadway play and movie of the same name, starring Rosalind Russell. The play was later adapted into a musical starring Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur.
Elizabeth Taylor wore Jungle Gardenia around the time she filmed *Cleopatra*. It is rumoured that Michael Jackson wore the perfume when he performed due to his friendship with Taylor.
In addition, the perfume was popular among celebrity musicians. Courtney Love listed it as one of her favourite smells, calling it "loud and insane but really rare – no one wears it".
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Notes and scent journey
Tuvaché's Jungle Gardenia is a complex and captivating fragrance that takes the wearer on a scent journey through a lush, exotic garden filled with white flowers. It is a bold, confident, and exotic scent that evokes the feeling of being lost in an entire South American jungle, surrounded by the heady fragrance of blooming flowers.
The perfume's top notes feature a unique combination of bitter orange oil, clary sage, and cyclamen, creating an initial impression that is both herbal and citrusy. As the fragrance begins to unfold, the heart notes of heliotrope, tuberose, tarragon, violet leaf, and ylang-ylang emerge, adding depth and complexity to the scent. The tuberose, in particular, stands out with its bubble gum-like sweetness, while the violet leaves and jasmine contribute to the overall floral allure.
As the fragrance continues to evolve, the base notes of oakmoss, benzoin, sandalwood, and musk come into play, providing a sensual and intimate finish. The sandalwood adds a beautiful, mossy depth, while the musk lends a soft, powdery quality to the scent, creating a lasting impression that is both warm and inviting.
The scent journey of Jungle Gardenia is one of transformation and discovery, with new notes revealing themselves over time. It is a rich and indulgent fragrance that leaves a lasting impression, taking the wearer on a sensory journey through a lush, floral landscape with each spray.
The perfume has a strong presence and above-average projection, ensuring that a little goes a long way. Its longevity is remarkable, with its scent lingering on the skin for hours, providing a delightful and captivating experience that transports the wearer to a different world.
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Vintage bottles
Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché was first launched in 1932 and later relaunched in 1957. The scent was reformulated a few times, including in 1950 by Jovan and in 1995 by Coty. The perfume was discontinued in the early 1980s.
The perfume was sold in various sizes and forms, including:
- Skin perfume (2 oz, 4 oz, and 8 oz)
- Spray mist (2 oz)
- Bath perfume (splash form in ½ oz and 1 oz bottles, and spray mist in 5/8 oz)
- Pure perfume oil (5/8 oz metered spray mist, one dram purser flacon, half ounce, and one ounce size bottles)
- Dusting powder
- Spray powder mist
- Soap bars (three hand-sized)
- Spray bath oil (3 ½ oz)
- Crème Jungle (8 oz)
Some original bottles of Jungle Gardenia came with a booklet titled "The Romance and Drama of Perfume by Bernadine de Tuvache, Creator of the Costliest Perfumes in the World." The perfume was also sold as a body powder, which can be found online in two sizes in the original formulation by Tuvache.
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Similar perfumes
Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché is a floral-sweet fragrance with notes of clary sage, bitter orange, heliotrope, tuberose, tarragon, violet leaf, gardenia, lily of the valley, jasmine, ylang-ylang, oakmoss, benzoin, sandalwood, and musk. The perfume has a strong scent that lasts for hours, and some have described it as "carnal".
Gardenia Passion by Annick Goutal
Recommended by a user on Reddit, whose mother used to wear Jungle Gardenia, this perfume is described as having a "very...fecal" scent, reminiscent of "rotten vegetation" when first applied. However, the scent improves over time, developing into a pleasant fragrance.
Fracas by Robert Piguet
Also suggested on Reddit, this perfume has a strong and long-lasting scent. It is described as "divinely beautiful, strong, confident, and exotic" and is imagined to be worn by celebrities like Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, and Sofia Vergara.
Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia
A few commenters have mentioned Elizabeth Taylor's Gardenia perfume as a good alternative to Jungle Gardenia. One person says that it smells better, fresher, and more realistic than Jungle Gardenia, with a nice touch of sweetness.
Forever Florals Gardenia
According to a reviewer, this perfume has a more accurate gardenia scent than Liz Taylor's version, though it is also quite musky.
Jovan Island Gardenia
Described as a "distant cousin" of Jungle Gardenia, this perfume is available at drugstores. It has a similar scent to Jungle Gardenia but lacks the same strength, depth, and complexity.
These perfumes may be good alternatives for those seeking a similar scent to Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché, especially if you are unable to find the original fragrance, which has been discontinued.
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The brand Tuvaché
Tuvaché is a New York-based perfume company that was popular in the 1930s, 1950s, and 1960s. The brand's backstory is quite charming: it adopted a French name (complete with an accent grave) to compete with the popularity of French scents at the time.
Tuvaché's most famous perfume is Jungle Gardenia, which was launched in 1932 and relaunched in 1957. The scent is a rich, lush, sexy, and dark blend of clary sage, bitter orange, heliotrope, tuberose, tarragon, violet leaf, gardenia, lily of the valley, jasmine, ylang-ylang, oakmoss, benzoin, sandalwood, and musk. The top notes are bitter orange oil, clary sage, and cyclamen, while the middle notes are heliotrope, tuberose, tarragon, violet leaf, gardenia, lily of the valley, jasmine, and ylang-ylang. The base notes are oakmoss, benzoin, sandalwood, and musk.
Jungle Gardenia was a favourite perfume of college girls in the 1960s and was often given as a consolation prize on the game show Truth or Consequences as Tuvaché was one of the main sponsors. The perfume was sold in various forms, including as a skin perfume, bath perfume, spray powder mist, dusting powder, soap bars, bath oil, and crème.
In the late 1960s, Coty bought out Tuvaché and released Jungle Gardenia under the Tuvaché name. Coty discontinued the perfume in the early 1980s but reformulated and re-released a new version in 1995 in association with Tuvaché, which some say was close but not the same fragrance. Today, vintage Tuvaché perfumes are sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.
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Frequently asked questions
Jungle Gardenia is a popular floral-sweet perfume by Tuvaché for women, released in 1932.
The perfume has a strong scent of tuberose with notes of gardenia, jasmine, clary sage, bitter orange, and sandalwood. Some have described the scent as "fun and gorgeous", "divinely beautiful, strong, confident and exotic", and "a queen among princesses".
It appears that Jungle Gardenia was discontinued in the early 1980s. However, some sources mention that it was reformulated and re-released in 1995, and that it is now being made again by Eternal Fragrances.
You may be able to find Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché on Amazon or the Vermont Country Store.
Jungle Gardenia was a favourite perfume of college girls in the '60s. It was also worn by celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Joan Crawford, and Dorothy Parker.
