Farouche by Nina Ricci c1973

Farouche by Nina Ricci:  launched in 1973. Pronounced "fa-roosh". Created by Michel Hy.  

"Many new perfumes are just chemical mixtures," said Robert Ricci in 1978. "They are 'dead' fragrances that grow boring because they don't have the warm life of natural essences. We use some laboratory-made elements, but a great perfume must be made of mostly natural ingredients." Ricci was touring the United States to promote Farouche, which was introduced there only a few years before. "That makes it still a new perfume. It is not wise to make a blitz, as you say, to introduce a couture fragrance. If it has validity, it must find its patrons, who will tell others, and thus its grows."

Farouche came about when Ricci decided it was time for the Nina Ricci brand to bring out a companion to the immensely successful L'Air du Temps. which is instantly recognizable all over the world due to its Lalique dove bottle. "When you have been identified so strongly with one great perfume, it is most difficult to launch a second with success. But our changing times caused me to think that we should create a new fragrance, with dash, for a sophisticated effect."

Ricci continued, "And there is the problem of translating it into production quantities! That is another difference from all-chemical fragrances. We produce in small quantities, blending with batches from past years, as they do with Champagne. Chemical kinds are simply mixed and run off, as it were."

Michael Hy composed the perfume with over 100 ingredients, with the property of unfolding its full effect on contact with skin, creating a fragrance unique to its wearer.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an aldehydic floral woody fragrance for women. Highly personal scent, memorable meld of jasmine, rose absolute, rare oriental fruits, woodsy blossoms.

It starts off with a fresh aldehydic top note, followed by a radiant light floral heart, resting on a powdery, feminine base. It was reportedly made up of 100 precious ingredients, including a new dosage of woody and fruity scents.

• Top notes: aldehydes, leafy green note, mandarin orange, galbanum, peach and bergamot
• Middle notes: ylang ylang, broom blossom, cyclamen, honeysuckle, Indian carnation, orris, lily, clary sage, jasmine absolute, lily-of-the-valley, rose absolute, geranium and cardamom
• Base notes: orange leaves, sandalwood, amber, musk, oakmoss and vetiver

The American Home, 1977:

"Nina Ricci's new fragrance, Farouche (French for both "wild" and "shy"), is created from jasmine, rose absolute, rare Oriental fruits, and woodsy blossoms— all meant to complement your personality. 2-oz. Eau de Toilette Spray (refillable)."

House Beautiful, 1977:

"Andrea de Portago, who is half Spanish nobility (her father's side) and half Southern belle (her mother's), is the new model and spokesperson for Nina Ricci's "Farouche" fragrance."

Bottles:

The fragrance was available in parfum, eau de toilette, bath oil and perfumed soap. The parfum was quite expensive when it was launched, as the heart shaped one ounce Lalique crystal deluxe flacon retailed at $75.

Vogue, 1977:

"There is a special kind of woman the French call "Farouche. ... In her image, Nina Ricci, Paris, has created a soft but sensuous fragrance. ... And in her honor, has named it Farouche. Perhaps, you are the Farouche woman. The Farouche Deluxe Parfum Flacon is a Lalique Crystal Original bearing the Lalique signature. The longer you know the Farouche woman the more interesting she becomes."

Playbill, 1977:

"Nina Ricci characterizes its Farouche perfume as a lady "independent but not aggressive; strong, but unimpeachably feminine." Sounds like Jackie O. to me. Anyway, Farouche smells lovely, simply lovely, $85 in Lalique crystal."

It was also available in the "Lalique Classical Flacon" shown below, in 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz and 1 oz sizes.

The fragrance was also available in the following:

• 1/5 oz Refillable Parfum Purse Spray
• 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette Splash
• 6.6 oz Eau de Toilette Splash
• 2 oz  Refillable Eau de Toilette Spray
• 3.75 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.

Despite the high quality of the Nina Ricci perfumes, four fragrances were unsuccessful in the American market (Coeur Joie, Capricci, Farouche and Fleurs de Fleurs), yet, they are successful in Europe. Why? Because most American women prefer stronger fragrances rather than the light, flowery scents enjoyed by European women. Furthermore, European women believe femininity is enhanced by a perfume, and they place more importance on the decorative crystal bottles and packaging than American women do. “ The French image of perfume is very romantic, feminine and sophisticated,” says Lina Vitali, vice president of Parfums Nina Ricci, USA in 1989. “The American perfume’s image is more aggressive, sexual and overpowering.”