Anisha Riggs
Elizabeth Taylor was a British-American actress with a passion for fine jewellery, which inspired the perfume line she launched with Elizabeth Arden Inc. (then a division of Parfums International, now owned by IFF). Her first fragrance, Passion, was released in 1987, followed by a men's version in 1989. In 1991, she released White Diamonds, which became an enormous commercial success, with total sales of US$1.5 billion as of 2018. Elizabeth Taylor fragrances were made in collaboration with perfumers Carlos Benaïm and Sophia Grojsman.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First perfume | Passion, released in 1987 |
| First perfume for men | Passion, released in 1989 |
| Number of perfumes | 16-20 |
| Perfumes made in collaboration with | Perfumers Carlos Benaïm and Sophia Grojsman |
| Perfumes made in collaboration with | Elizabeth Arden Inc., a division of Parfums International (now owned by IFF) |
| Popular perfumes | White Diamonds, Violet Eyes, Diamonds and Emeralds, Diamonds and Rubies, Diamonds and Sapphires, Sparkling White Diamonds, Brilliant White Diamonds, White Diamonds Lustre, White Diamonds Night, Love & White Diamonds, White Diamonds En Rouge, White Diamonds Legacy |
| Inspiration for the perfume line | Her love of fine jewellery |
| Features of White Diamonds | Floral perfume with notes of rose, jasmine, neroli, narcissus, and Egyptian tuberose; sold in a bottle decorated with small imitation white diamond gemstones |
| Advertising campaign for White Diamonds | $20 million, including a national tour of department stores, magazine advertisements, and a short film starring Taylor |
| Sales of White Diamonds | US$1.5 billion as of 2018 |
| Awards | Named "Fragrance of the Year" by The Fragrance Foundation in 1992 and inducted into the foundation's Hall of Fame in 2009 |
| Charity | 20% of all sales in perpetuity directed to her charity, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation |
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What You'll Learn
Elizabeth Taylor's first perfume, Passion
Passion is a rich, sensual, floral oriental fragrance with notes of ylang-ylang, lilies of the valley, gardenias, roses, jasmines, honey, dark herbs, spices, incense, woods, civet, mosses, and vanilla. The scent has been described as dark, erotic, glamorous, mysterious, smoky, and sweet. It is long-lasting and affordable, with a soft, warm, and spicy scent that lingers on the skin.
The perfume was an instant hit and won a Fifi Award (the Oscars of the fragrance industry). It is considered the first major celebrity fragrance in the world and can be found in drugstores and various retailers like Walmart, Walgreens, and Target.
Passion has a male counterpart, which was launched in 1989. The current formula of the female version is considered very short-lived, but the male version is also liked by many. The perfume is now considered perfectly unisex and can be layered for a unique scent.
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White Diamonds, starring Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor, the British-American actress, created the White Diamonds perfume in 1991. It was her second perfume, following the success of her first fragrance, Passion, which was released in 1987. Taylor partnered with Elizabeth Arden Inc., then a division of Parfums International, to create the scent. The floral perfume features notes of rose, jasmine, neroli, narcissus, and Egyptian tuberose.
The iconic scent was an enormous commercial success, with total sales of US$1.5 billion as of 2018. The perfume was so popular that it even inspired a range of flanker scents, including Sparkling White Diamonds in 1999 and Brilliant White Diamonds in 2001. To date, there have been several innovative, White Diamonds-inspired fragrances, including White Diamonds Lustre in 2014, White Diamonds Night in 2016, Love & White Diamonds in 2017, and White Diamonds En Rouge in 2019.
To generate excitement for the launch of White Diamonds, Elizabeth embarked on a multi-city promotional tour, visiting department stores across the U.S. The perfume was also accompanied by a $20 million advertising campaign, which included magazine advertisements and a short film. The now-iconic video, titled "White Diamonds, Starring Elizabeth Taylor," features the actress uttering the famous line, "these have always brought me luck," while referencing a sparkling pair of diamond earrings.
The success of White Diamonds cemented Taylor's passion for fine fragrances, and she went on to release a total of 16 different scents, including the iconic White Diamonds. The sales of her perfumes, particularly White Diamonds, were her principal source of income during her later life, and she purportedly earned more from the scent than from any of her Hollywood roles. Beginning in 2011, Taylor stipulated that 20% of all sales be directed to her charity, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
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The success of White Diamonds
Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds is a floral aldehyde fragrance for women, launched in 1991. It was Taylor's second perfume, following the success of her debut scent, Passion, in 1987. White Diamonds was an enormous commercial success, with total sales of US$1.5 billion as of 2018. The perfume's success has been credited with popularising the trend of celebrity-branded perfumes.
The top notes of White Diamonds are aldehydes, lily, neroli, orange, and bergamot, with middle notes of Egyptian tuberose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, narcissus, carnation, Italian orris root, Turkish rose, and cinnamon. The base notes are musk, amber, sandalwood, oakmoss, and patchouli. The perfume is sold in a bottle adorned with small imitation white diamond gemstones, paying homage to Taylor's passion for fine jewellery.
To promote the launch of White Diamonds, Taylor embarked on a multi-city tour, visiting department stores across the US and sharing a first look at the fragrance's commercial. The now-iconic video, titled "White Diamonds, Starring Elizabeth Taylor," features Taylor uttering the famous line, "these have always brought me luck," while wearing a sparkling pair of diamond earrings.
White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor remains a timeless and iconic fragrance, capturing the glamour and sophistication that the legendary actress was known for.
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Elizabeth Taylor's collaboration with Elizabeth Arden
Elizabeth Taylor was an English-American actress who began her career as a child artist in the 1940s and became one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. She was also a fashion icon with a passion for fine jewellery, which inspired the perfume line she launched in collaboration with Elizabeth Arden, a global prestige beauty products company.
In 1987, Elizabeth Taylor blended her love of fine fragrances with her entrepreneurial spirit by releasing her first perfume, Passion, in collaboration with Elizabeth Arden, Inc. This was followed by the launch of the men's companion Passion scent in 1989. In 1991, the best-selling White Diamonds was introduced, which remains a bestseller even two decades later. To generate excitement for the launch of White Diamonds, Elizabeth embarked on a multi-city promotional tour, visiting department stores across the US.
Taylor personally supervised the creation and production of each of the 11 fragrances marketed under her name. She worked with master perfumers to ensure that each scent was a glamorous peek into her unique and exciting lifestyle. She was so passionate about the quality of her perfumes that she not only wore them herself but refused to wear anything else.
The unprecedented success of her fragrances helped establish the trend of celebrity-branded perfumes in later years. According to her biographers, she earned more through her fragrance collection than during her entire acting career. Elizabeth Arden, in its statement on Taylor's death, said:
> With the launch of her first fragrance in 1987, Elizabeth Taylor's Passion, she built a fragrance empire and one of the most successful brands in fragrance history. White Diamonds remains a bestseller almost 20 years after its 1991 introduction, a testimony to her transcendent and enduring appeal. Our best tribute to Elizabeth Taylor will be to continue the legacy of the brands she created and loved so much.
Other gem-inspired fragrances in the Elizabeth Taylor collection include the Fragrant Jewels collection—Diamonds and Emeralds, Diamonds and Rubies, Diamonds and Sapphires—which were launched in 1993. Violet Eyes, a tribute to Taylor's unique and celebrated eye colour, was the latest fragrance in the line, and the last scent introduced before her death in 2011.
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The inspiration behind Elizabeth Taylor's perfumes
Elizabeth Taylor was a fashion icon with a passion for fine jewellery, which inspired the perfume line she launched with Elizabeth Arden. Her first fragrance, Passion, was released in 1987, followed by a men's version in 1989.
Taylor was hands-on with her fragrance creations, guiding the process from concept to scent development to visual marketing, bottle design, and product distribution. She was one of the first celebrities to use fragrance to build a lifestyle and brand image that appealed to consumers.
Taylor's best-selling fragrance, White Diamonds, was introduced in 1991. It was inspired by two of her passions: the lush beauty of her gardens and her love of diamonds. The scent features floral notes of honeysuckle, gardenia, and amber, as well as top notes of Amazon Lily, Neroli Bigarade, Aldehydes, Tagette Oil, and Bergamot. The heart notes include Tuberose, Jasmin, Narcisse, Rose, Muguet, and Ylang Ylang, while the base notes are Amber, Oakmoss, Patchouli, and Sandalwood Mysore.
The White Diamonds fragrance and its iconic diamond-inspired collar became a classic in the fragrance industry. To promote the scent, Taylor embarked on a multi-city tour, visiting department stores across the US and sharing a commercial in which she utters the famous line, "these have always brought me luck," while holding a pair of diamond earrings. The success of White Diamonds led to a series of innovative, White Diamonds-inspired fragrances, including Sparkling White Diamonds, Brilliant White Diamonds, and White Diamonds Night.
In addition to her gem-inspired fragrances, Taylor also created scents that paid tribute to her unique eye colour, such as Violet Eyes, and her cherished garden, such as Gardenia. Taylor's passion for quality perfumes and her sophisticated, feminine sensuality have been reflected in her fragrance line, contributing to their massive commercial success. Today, the House of Taylor, in partnership with Revlon, continues to expand her fragrance empire.
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Frequently asked questions
Elizabeth Taylor fragrances were made in collaboration with perfumers Carlos Benaïm and Sophia Grojsman. She also partnered with Elizabeth Arden Inc., then a division of Parfums International (now owned by IFF).
The first fragrance in the Elizabeth Taylor line was Passion, which debuted in 1987.
White Diamonds, released in 1991, was Elizabeth Taylor's second perfume.
There are 16 different Elizabeth Taylor fragrances in total, including White Diamonds and Passion. However, one source mentions that there are 20 perfumes in the Elizabeth Taylor fragrance base.
Elizabeth Taylor was a fashion icon with a passion for fine jewellery, which served as inspiration for her perfume line.
