Antinea by Rosine c1922

Antinea by Rosine: launched in 1922. Antinea, ou au fond de la Mer (Antinea, or at the bottom of the sea), whose fragrance was inspired by the deep sea and the mythological island of Atlantis. Antinea was the well-known legendary figure invented by Pierre Benoit in his novel L'Atlantide.

Fragrance Composition:

So what did it smell like? It was described as having the scent of "salt marshes and the sharp, bitter and pungent seaweed." I would imagine it was a type of chypre fragrance.

Antinea had a low level of the C-12 MNA aldehyde which gave it facets of fresh amber, aldehydes, moss, citrus, tuberose, metallic, waxy, and coumarin.

• Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot 
• Middle notes: tuberose, rose, jasmine
• Base notes: oakmoss, vetiver, tonka bean, ambergris, sandalwood, vanilla, civet, labdanum

It was described as "the bitter scent of seaweed."

Bottles:

Antinea was housed inside of a small polished metal flask mimicking a inro box, a traditional Japanese decorative case for holding small objects and suspended from a cord to an obi waist sash when wearing kimono. This is in tune with Poiret's love for all things Oriental. The silvertoned metal flask was fitted with a translucent rose and yellow tinted stopper, a green satin cord. It was packaged in a cardstock box covered with gold paper and lined with satin.

Antinea was also contained inside clear glass bottles which mimicked the shape and style of the metal box, and fitted with the same stopper as the metal flacon.

1921 ad

In 1912-1913, atomizers with Rosine fragrances were launched along with their matching saucers on which they rested. These were extremely thin and fragile blown glass and in the shape of hookah bases. They were hand painted at the Martine workshop. These atomizers were available for all the Rosine scents, but the first was for the perfume Antinea, ou au fond de la Mer.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued in 1930 and remaining stock was sold at drastically reduced clearance prices.