Suffragettes, 1920s
It was 77 years ago on July 2, 1937 that famed aviator, Amelia Earhart disappeared without a trace somewhere in the south Pacific as she attempted to be the first female pilot to fly solo around the world. Her shocking disappearance is still regarded as one of the great 20th Century mysteries. But before I get too far ahead of myself, let's go back to the beginning of the turn of the century. The Victorian Era was ending and inventions like the automobile began to open up the world. Women were no longer allowing to be treated like second class citizens and through the Suffragette movement eventually won the right to vote. As part of this new world, the hemlines were lifted and the mood lightened and the woman of the 1920s emerged. When we think of the 1920s, we think of the ubiquitous "Flapper." But what allowed for that sexy, fun and flirty persona also allowed for the rise of women of adventure who took charge of their own lives by living exactly as they wanted.
Vintage Caron En Avion ad and Amelia Earhart
It was during this period that Amelia Earhart first began to fly; 1920 to be exact. Charles Lindbergh completed his famous flight across the Atlantic in 1932 and five years to the day, Amelia Earhart followed suit and became the first female to complete this momentous trek. As a result, she became a national hero and an international star. Today, when we think of women aviators of that period, most can only recall Amelia Earhart, but in fact, there was a large contingency of female aviators from around the globe. As part of this influx of adventuresome and fearless women, in 1929, the 1st Woman's Air Derby (Will Rogers sarcastically named it the "Powder Puff Derby") took place with 20 competitors from around the world in a hard fought and perilous race across the United States from California to Ohio.
It was also during this exciting period in history that the House of Caron began marketing fragrances to "modern women" of that era (Tabac Blonde composed in 1919 was Caron's homage to women's liberation). Founder and In House Perfumer Ernest Daltroff with his long time partner Felicie Vanpouille introduced En Avion (In Flight) in 1933 in celebration of the "modern women" in aviation, most famously Amelia Earhart.
Air Derby Pilots
Aviation in the 1920s was a down and dirty business. Flying was fraught with danger and it wasn't for the weak of spirit. En Avion captures this breed of adventuresome woman and their lust for life as it's a floral perfume that doesn't attempt to be demure. En Avion opens with a waxy spiced neroli that feels thickened like the oil that lubricates the mechanics of the plane. It's pretty, but it's contained under the weight of a leather aviator’s jacket that feels like it's absorbed all the grit from the leather seats to the wood that that makes up the plane's structure. There's a weighty spice that appears as if during the journey a pit stop was made to a small landing field where the pilot rested for a while in a shed used for a an office filled with smoke and drink. Eventually, En Avion settles down into a beautiful jasmine floral as if the plane has ascended into the clouds and the journey becomes one between the heaven and earth. En Avion has a tale to tell and through the rough journey, the danger and the barrage of skepticism from their male counterparts, the fragrance, like these fearless pilots, comes out as a beauty without making any excuses for conquering their dreams.
Caron Les Fontaines Baccarat
En Avion is part of Caron's Haute Perfumerie line of fountain fragrances, which are the most coveted perfumes throughout their 110 year history. According to Romain Ales, President des Parfums CARON, in his interview with Editor in Chief Michelyn Camen, "Les Fontaines Baccarat: they are Caron’s haute couture fragrances, revived some of its finest compositions of extracts in their legendary Baccarat crystal fountains. With the act of filling the perfume bottle at the fountain, the special heritages of these perfumes live on. The perfumes are collected from the little bronze taps into the most wonderful bottles of all sizes, finished with an old world style golden braid".
Amelia Rose Earhart (born 1983) and Amelia Mary Earhart (July 24, 1897- disappeared July 2, 1937)
The heyday of the early 20th Century female aviators ended with the Amelia Earhart disappearance in her quest to complete her around the world journey those many years ago, but her memory lives on through others. Most recently 31 year old Amelia Rose Earhart (no relation), who, on July 11, 2014, successfully flew solo around the world symbolically finishing the flight that her name sake tragically failed to complete in 1937. En Avion pays tribute to those female pilots of yesteryear, but it is timeless; a perfume for today's modern woman who makes her own way on her own terms.
— Steven Lindquist, Contributor and Editor of The Scented Hound
Writer's and Editor's Notes: En Avion Listed Notes: neroli, "spicy orange accord", jasmine, opoponax (although we smell carnation, rose and the base notes definitely include amber). According to Michael Edwards Fragrances of The World 2014 (page 71), En Avion is a rich deep floral Oriental and is listed along with Thierry Mugler Alien (2005) and Guerlain Nahema(1979). Richard Fraysee is the perfumer of the reformulation which Michelyn says smells strikingly close to her Mom's 1960's vintage En Avion Extrait.
To celebrate Amelia Earhart Day July 24, to pay homage to those daring female aviators of yesteryear and to all women who continue to break barriers, Diana Haska the Caron Ambassador at the Caron New York Boutique located at 715 Lexington Ave (entrance on 58 st) on the 3rd floor , is graciously offering one CaFleureBon USA reader a 7.5 ml handpoured flacon of En Avion. Please enter a comment about my review of Caron En Avion and your favorite Carons Paris fragrances. Draw closes 7/21/2014
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.