My earliest memories of fragrance came from my mother, my cousin Deanie, and grandmother. My grandmother always wore Joy by Jean Patou; she never changed. She had one fragrance, day and night, any occasion—period. My mother was a little bit more trendy with her love and interest in fragrances, changing them out for different purposes or occasions. But I distinctly remember her wearing Red by Geoffrey Beene! And then my cousin Deanie wore this fragrance called Bandit by Robert Piguet. Bandit stood out because of the name and box, and because the woman who wore it was so wonderful. I just always attributed that to her, feeling like she made such great choices that all felt like they were part of who she wanted the world to see, you know?
— Designer Marc Jacobs (who has just released Perfect) on his early perfume memories. Read more in Marc Jacobs on His New Fragrance, Self-Care in Quarantine, and the Industry Change He Wants to See at Vogue.
Well, I guess I’m gonna be that guy: Geoffrey Beene never had a fragrance called Red. (In a rare show of restraint, his house launched only five scents.) Giorgio Beverly Hills did, though, and Bill Blass did a trio of scents called Nude, Hot, and Basic Black, in identical bottles with colour-matched packaging, so Hot was in a red box with a red cap on the bottle. I wonder if it’s one of these Jacobs is thinking of.
It’s not in Basenotes, but there was a Geoffrey Beene Red from 1976/77 onwards…not sure when it was discontinued. One of my aunts wore it. I just did a search and found a few vintage ads and almost-empty bottles out there. I remember it smelling pretty darn good, and I *think* I knew someone who was still wearing it in the early 90s, although I’m not as sure about that.
Well, I stand corrected! Thanks for letting me know.
Thanks J, you know way more than I do!