Saturday, July 4, 2015

Hahna by Rosine c1919

Hahna by Rosine: launched in 1919. Created by Henri Alméras. It was subtitled both "L'Étrange Fleur" (The Strange Flower) and "La Fleur Secrète (The Secret Flower)."

The name "Hahna" is a play on the Japanese word "hana" meaning "flower".






Fragrance Composition:



So what does it smell like? It is classified as a green floral oriental fragrance for women. It was described as "a light fragrance that is a blending of many flowers. Well suited to the younger person."
  • Top notes: thyme, mint, green note, bergamot, lotus
  • Middle notes: spices, jasmine, tuberose, lily of the valley, ylang ylang and mignonette
  • Base notes: vanilla, oakmoss, amber, vetiver, sandalwood, musk, tonka bean

It was advertised as the "mysterious flower, magical ylang ylang or enchanted lotus, springing from a tale of the Thousand & One Nights."


Rosine advertisement, 1924:
"Parfum d'Hahna, L'Etrange Fleur. The perfume of damp mosses, of early blooms and shoots unfolding, near the bright waters amongst the mint and thyme. One dreams of the early awakening of spring, the buoyant dash and brilliance of the first fine days. A selection of Poiret's from the Parfums Rosine."



Like French perfumery Molinard had done with their famous Habanita scent - Rosine offered perfumed cigarettes and the ampoules of the exotic scents of Borgia, Le Balcon, Hahna, Maharadjah, Nuit de Chine and others.

Revue des marques de la parfumerie et de la savonnerie,1927:
"The perfume factory erected under the pretty name of Rosine already has fifteen springs. The robust youth places it in the number of the best reputed Parisian Perfumeries. Created by Mr. Paul Poiret, it became in 1925 - (and this to respond to the industrial and commercial development required by the reception given to its products) - an independent company to which Mr. Paul Poiret continues to bring the learned taste and refinement of an artist. Each of his productions has been a new success. Yes, no one knows Nuit de Chine Toute la Foret, Qui Est Tu?, Avenue du Bois, Hahna (the Secret Flower), Arlequinade, Maharadjah, etc.These perfumes, presented in an original and luxurious way,  constitute the whole range of a new and unexpected taste perfectly developed. No woman today is insensitive to Parfums de Rosine."



Bottles:



Hahna came in several size bottles:
  • 1/2 oz
  • 3/4 oz 
  • deluxe bottle which was a 1 2/3 oz size

The usual bottle is square-shaped clear crystal with reserve decoration of molded flowers,  which have been frosted, and fitted with a red bakelite cap imitating red coral. It was housed inside of a square cardboard presentation box wrapped in gilded coral colored red chromolithographed paper printed with Japanese floral decoration including false ideograms. The bottle lays inside of a white satin fitted interior. 

Oregon News, 1920:
""Hahna, L'Etrange Fleur, Rosine, Paris, France," says a flagon of gold and red and this same "strange flower" is in a Chinese kind of box of lacquered gold with flower decorations."




The deluxe version of this bottle is of square-shaped silver metallic or gold biscuit with reserve decoration of stamped flowers, with its bakelite cap imitating red coral. It was housed inside the same bottle used for the crystal edition. Excellent condition. Height: 8.5cm.

 The Gazette Times - Oct 26, 1924:
"Paris sends us these alluring perfumes, created by Rosine, a master perfumer. Only French genius can produce such distinctive odeurs, contained in artistic flasks, charmingly packaged...  Arlequinade, in gold decorated flask, with red tassel. $25. Hahna, L'Etrange Fleur in a gold finished bottle. $22."


Hahna was also presented in a standard omnibus flacon that was used for other Rosine fragrances. It was a less expensive version, made up of clear crystal and fitted with a green glass button stopper. The red paper label is identical to the one used on the other Hahna bottles. These perfume bottles were produced by French glass manufacturer Lefebure.



La parfumerie française et l'art dans la présentation, 1927:
"Is there a prettier name than Rosine? And didn't the fairy who watched over her birth predestined this child to be the queen of perfumes, since her name was derived from the Rose, queen of flowers. So judged his parents. After realizing, and with what success! the symphony of colors in the charming drapes which today model the half-naked of women, the unparalleled artist that is Paul Poiret, did he not take it into his head to create from scratch a perfumery factory which was good to him. What name to give it? By blue that of his daughter. So much so that one would almost suspect that he designed this one for that one at the same time. Perfumes, colors and tones respond to each other, he says in the preface to his catalog, which is itself a marvel. He seems to have intuitively understood the language of flowers, and it is apparently for you, ladies, that he has enclosed questions and answers in these menus, bottles which each constitute an object of art in deep, intimate and complete harmony. with the scent they contain. 
Reading the catalog is a poem. Each perfume name is an evocation of dreams. "Le Minaret" transports us to the land of harems. To smell this perfume so well veiled in its Turkish case, one feels seized by the torpor of the beautiful sultanas, stretched out languorously in the middle of the cushions on the large sofa which calls for caresses. With "Toute la Foret," we are surrounded by greenery. A smell of wet earth, mushrooms, ferns, envelops us. The Fauns pursue the Nymphs. Take care. "La Nuit de Chine" poses a troubling and topical problem. Wait for the response. "Borgia", evokes the scenes of the Grand Guignol, murders and bloodthirsty passions, which are still imbued with the scents of Venice, by the starry nights. "Le Fruit Defendu," this title alone is enough for all women to want it. It is eminently psychological and of all times. But what smell can it have? Try. Why name them all? Whether it's "Hahna, l'etrange fleur" or "Bosquet d'Apollo," of "Antinea" or "Arlequinade", you can be certain, ladies, that the exquisite aromas, the most fragrant flowers, the most delicate balms have been brought together to provide you with the most pleasant of sensations, the annihilation of your senses, in a delicious dream. Here are some views of the Rosine factories, fitted with all the modern refinements."








Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued in 1930 and remaining stock was sold at drastically reduced clearance prices, some leftover stock was still being sold in 1940.

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