The Original Norell: A Classic Cologne's Bottle Size

The original Norell perfume was launched in 1968 in collaboration with Revlon. It was a green floral fragrance for women, with a fresh, not heavy scent. The perfume was available in a range of sizes, from a 1/16 oz Micro Mini to a full 2 oz bottle of pure parfum. The perfume was also offered in a variety of formats, including parfums, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, and cologne, as well as bath and body products such as Perfumed Body Lustre Lotion and Perfumed Dusting Powder. The parfum flacon was designed with an elegant, minimalist aesthetic in mind, featuring a squat, rectangular shape crafted from clear crystal. The only adornment on the bottle was the name Norell in a simple, lowercase script. The presentation box mirrored the Norell fashion label, with a clean, white background and the word NORELL in bold, capitalized black letters.

The original Norell perfume was launched in 1968

The late 1960s was a time of significant change in the fragrance industry, with American perfumers pushing boundaries to create high-quality, luxury scents that could rival their French counterparts. The launch of Norell was a direct challenge to Estee Lauder's elegance, with a fragrance born from an American icon, infused with Norman Norell's commitment to exceptional quality and style.

Norman Norell, a titan in American fashion, was known for his meticulous attention to detail and dedication to timeless, refined styles. The choice to name the perfume "Norell" was strategic, reinforcing the brand's identity with simplicity and boldness. The name "Norell" resonated with elegance and sophistication, evoking images of chic, well-dressed women in luxurious surroundings.

The scent of Norell captures the essence of Norman Norell's vision, with a unique duality of fresh jasmine and other floral notes blended delicately with sandalwood, creating a scent that felt sophisticated and modern, with an exotic allure. The fragrance was designed to have a "kick," reflecting the fresh, dynamic spirit of the era.

The debut of Norell in 1968 was a high-society spectacle, hosted at New York's prestigious Bonwit Teller as a black-tie affair, reflecting the luxurious and elevated standards of the Norman Norell brand. The event captivated the attention of passersby with giant, colourful images of the Norell perfume bottle, solidifying Norell as a luxury brand that blended fashion and fragrance in a distinctly American style.

The original Norell perfume was an instant success, with first-year sales reaching $1 million, and it continued to gain traction over the years, reaching annual sales of $10 million by 1974. The parfum was offered in various sizes, including 1/16 oz Micro Mini, 1/8 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz formats, providing a range of concentrated floral-green scents.

The Norell product line also included Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum forms, as well as cologne offerings in different sizes, expanding the brand's reach and allowing consumers to experience the fragrance in multiple ways.

The perfume was a collaboration between Norman Norell and Revlon

The perfume Norell was a collaboration between Norman Norell and Revlon. It was launched in 1968 and was the first American designer fragrance. Revlon, an American cosmetics company, was founded in 1932 during the Great Depression by brothers Charles and Joseph Revson, along with chemist Charles Lachman. The company experienced rapid growth as purveyors of manicure tools and, in 1940, entered the cosmetics world with the addition of lipstick to their offerings.

In the 1960s, Revlon was offering products to different segments of the market under brand names such as Princess Marcella Borghese, Ultima II, Natural Wonder, Moon Drops, and Etherea. They marketed their products internationally and successfully sold the "American look" to other countries through the use of top models—a strategy still in use by Revlon today.

Norell was introduced in 1968 and was a partnership between Revlon and Norman Norell. The nose behind this fragrance is Josephine Catapano. Norell is a Floral Woody Musk fragrance for women with top notes of Narcissus, Galbanum, Hiacynth, Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon, and Mandarin Orange. The middle notes include Carnation, Arum Lily, Rose, Coriander, Mimosa, Iris, Gardenia, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Orchid. The base notes are Oakmoss, Vetiver, Myrrh, Musk, Amber, Cedar, Sandalwood, and Vanilla.

Norell by Norell has received numerous reviews, with some describing it as a powerful fragrance that exudes sophistication, elegance, and class. It has been compared to other classic perfumes such as Chanel No. 5 and has been described as a "beautiful chypre with strong dynamic florals and an Oriental backbone."

Today, vintage bottles of Norell can be found for sale online, with some sellers specifying the amount of liquid remaining in the bottle, ranging from full bottles to partially-used ones.

It was created by perfumer Josephine Catapano

Josephine Catapano was an American perfumer born on December 29, 1918, and passed away on May 14, 2012. She studied at Hunter High School and Hunter College before starting her career in the perfume industry. Catapano worked as an executive at International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) and was known for balancing different fragrance notes and creating complex and long-lasting fragrances.

In 1953, Catapano created Estée Lauder's first fragrance, Youth Dew, which became a perennial best-seller and helped establish the brand's reputation. This fragrance was a bath oil that also functioned as a perfume. She also created other iconic fragrances, including JHL and the Guy Laroche Fidji.

Throughout her career, Catapano received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the perfume industry. In 1980, she received the Cosmetic Career Women's Award, and in 1993, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society of Perfumers.

Norell, a floral woody musk fragrance for women, was launched in 1968 with Josephine Catapano as the nose behind it. The top notes of this fragrance include narcissus, galbanum, hyacinth, lavender, bergamot, lemon, and mandarin orange. The middle notes consist of carnation, arum lily, rose, coriander, mimosa, iris, gardenia, ylang-ylang, jasmine, cardamom, cinnamon, and orchid. The base notes are oakmoss, vetiver, myrrh, musk, amber, cedar, sandalwood, and vanilla.

Norell by Norell is described as a powerful fragrance that exudes sophistication and elegance. It captures the essence of the 1960s and is considered a timeless classic. The complex blend of floral and woody notes creates a unique and captivating scent, making it a favourite among those who wear it.

Josephine Catapano's legacy in the perfume industry continues to inspire and influence perfumers today. Her creations, including Norell, showcase her talent for crafting intricate and long-lasting fragrances that stand the test of time.

The scent is described as a green floral fragrance

The scent of Norell is described as a green floral fragrance. It is a floral with green overtones, fresh, not heavy, described by Norell as a fragrance with a kick to it. It starts with a fresh leafy green top, followed by a green mixed floral heart, resting on a powdery floral base.

The top notes introduce a lively blend of verdant elements, giving the impression of dew-kissed leaves in a secluded garden at dawn. Green notes mingle with the delicate, herbal whisper of reseda, grounding the fragrance with its subtle pepperiness.

Lavender brings a clean, calming aroma, softened by mandarin orange’s sweet zest and the bright tartness of bergamot. Hints of narcissus add an earthy floral depth, while galbanum injects a slightly bitter, resinous edge that anchors the fragrance in a crisp verdancy, punctuated by a final squeeze of lemon's citrusy clarity.

As Norell unfolds, it blossoms into a lavish floral heart that is as vivid as it is romantic. Hyacinth imparts a cool, green sweetness, almost aquatic in nature, while mimosa adds a honeyed warmth with a soft, airy quality. The aromatic spice of coriander threads through, mingling with the clove-like bite of carnation and the creamy depth of gardenia. Orris root weaves a velvety texture through this floral tapestry, balancing the sharper florals with its powdery smoothness.

Meanwhile, cinnamon and cardamom add a hint of warmth and spice, their earthy piquancy lending a subtle oriental touch. At the heart of this bouquet, jasmine absolute and ylang-ylang interlace their intoxicating, exotic sweetness, complemented by the velvety richness of Bulgarian rose, imbuing the fragrance with a sense of timeless femininity and sophistication.

The perfume was an instant success, with first-year sales reaching $1 million

The original Norell perfume was an instant success, with first-year sales reaching $1 million. The launch of Norell marked a turning point in the fragrance world, as it was the first American designer fragrance to achieve such a level of prestige. The perfume's success reflected American consumers' desire for high-quality, homegrown luxury.

The late 1960s was a time of significant change in the fragrance industry, with American perfumers pushing boundaries to create high-quality, luxury scents that could rival French perfumes. Norell, created in collaboration with Revlon, embodied designer Norman Norell's vision of American elegance and sophistication. The perfume's name, "Norell," was a strategic choice, reinforcing the brand's identity with simplicity and boldness.

The scent of Norell, crafted by renowned perfumer Josephine Catapano, was a departure from the heavy, heady scents of previous decades. It introduced a fresh, green floral profile that felt bold and modern. The fragrance opens with a burst of green, leafy notes, followed by a bouquet of Bulgarian rose, jasmine absolute, and hyacinth in the heart, and a warm, woody base of sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, and musk.

The debut of Norell by Norell in 1968 was a high-society spectacle, with a black-tie event hosted at New York's prestigious Bonwit Teller. The event reflected the luxurious and elevated standards of the Norman Norell brand and the perfume itself. The perfume was available in select high-end stores like Nan Duskin and John Wanamaker in Philadelphia, catering to an elite clientele across the East Coast.

Upon its release, Norell retailed at $50 an ounce, positioning it as a luxury fragrance on par with French offerings. The first-year sales of $1 million affirmed its status as an instant success and a symbol of American luxury and sophistication.

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