Cosmetics firm established by Florence Nightingale Graham, who later adopted the name Elizabeth Arden. She opened her first salon with a partner around 1909; later, she started producing face creams and makeup, and the one salon led to a chain of salons across the United States and Europe. Arden was at one time one of the wealthiest women in the US, and she is frequently credited with making color cosmetics "acceptable" in polite society.
Arden died in 1966. The brand was bought by Eli Lilly in 1971, and later sold to Unilever, who in turn sold it to FFI Fragrances in 2000; later still, FFI changed their name to Elizabeth Arden Inc. In 2016, Elizabeth Arden was acquired by Revlon.
The first big fragrance under the Elizabeth Arden brand name was Blue Grass in the 1930s. Later well-known releases include Red Door (1989), Sunflowers (1993), 5th Avenue (1996), Green Tea (1999).
Fragrance brands under the Elizabeth Arden umbrella
Fragrance brands currently owned by Elizabeth Arden Inc include Halston, Elizabeth Taylor, Britney Spears, Gant, Hilary Duff, White Shoulders, Daytona 500, Danielle Steel, Mariah Carey and Geoffrey Beene Grey Flannel. In 2006, the company also acquired a number of brands from Riviera, including Badgley Mischka, Alfred Sung, Hummer, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Rowley, Lulu Guinness and Bob Mackie. In 2008, Elizabeth Arden added the Liz Claiborne brands to their portfolio, including Juicy Couture, Usher, Curve by Liz Claiborne, Lucky Brand, Liz, Bora Bora and Mambo.
Recent additions include Rocawear, Alberta Ferretti, Kate Spade, John Varvatos, Ed Hardy, True Religion, BCBG Max Azria, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj.
Recent fragrances from Elizabeth Arden
2005: After Five 5th Avenue
2006: Provocative Interlude, Red Door Velvet, Green Tea Revitalize
2007: Mediterranean & Green Tea Tropical
2008: Mediterranean Breeze, Green Tea Lotus, Red Door Shimmer
2009: Pretty, Green Tea Exotic, 5th Avenue Style
2010: 5th Avenue Gold, Green Tea Lavender
2011: Pretty Hot, Green Tea Camellia
2012: Curve Appeal, Green Tea Cherry Blossom, Sunflowers Dream Petals, Red Door Aura
2013: Green Tea Honeysuckle, 5th Avenue NYC, Untold
2014: Green Tea Yuzu, Sunflowers Summer Bloom, Untold Eau Légère, Untold Absolu, Red Door 25, Green Tea Bamboo
2015: Curve Sport, Untold Eau Fraîche, 5th Avenue NYC Premiere, Green Tea Cucumber, Green Tea Jasmine, Sunflowers Morning Gardens, Always Red
2016: 5th Avenue Only NYC (travel retail), Green Tea Nectarine Blossom, Always Red Femme, Green Tea Mimosa
2017: White Tea, Sunflowers Sunlight Kiss, 5th Avenue Uptown NYC (travel retail)
2018: Green Tea Fig, Sunflowers Sunlight Kiss, My Fifth Avenue
Where to buy
You can find Elizabeth Arden and associated brands in department stores, at the online fragrance discounters, or at the brand's online shop (see link below).
Website
Further reading
See all articles on Now Smell This tagged Elizabeth Arden.