Note: Please understand that this website is not affiliated with the Estee Lauder company in any way, it is only a reference page for collectors and those who have enjoyed the Estee Lauder fragrances.


The goal of this website is to show the present owners of the Estee Lauder company how much we miss the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back your favorite perfume!


Please leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the perfume, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or what occasion, any specific memories), who knows, perhaps someone from the company might see it.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Youth Dew by Estee Lauder c1953

Youth Dew by Estee Lauder: Launched in 1953. Created by IFF perfumers Josephine Catapano and Ernest Shiftan, who was called "Mr. Nose, USA".

Fragrance Composition: 


So what does it smell like? It is classified as an oriental fragrance for women. It starts with a fruity, spicy top, followed by an exotic, spicy floral heart, resting on a warm, balsamic base. Basically it is an exotic, warm, balsamic, oriental with rich floral notes.
  • Top notes: spice oils, bergamot, peach, aldehydes, orange
  • Middle notes: wallflower, spicy carnation, cloves, cassie, ylang ylang, cinnamon, rose, orchid, jasmine
  • Base notes: amber, Peru balsam, tolu balsam, benzoin, vanilla, olibanum, patchouli, oakmoss, frankincense, musk, vetiver, civet

In a 1961 newspaper article it was said that one ounce of Youth Dew, "a currently favorite perfume, contains the essence of 9,600 jasmine flowers from France (at $700 a pound for jasmine absolute); 480 roses from Francel 80 roses of a different variety from Morocco; 1,750 orange blossoms; 60 tuberoses; the amount of orris absolute grown on 15 square feet of iris plantation near Florence; the peel of half a bergamot from Calabria; the handscraped peel of 15 oranges, sandalwood and cardamom oils from India, estragon oil from Spanish tarragon leaves; three animal fixatives and 35 laboratory-made aromatic chemicals."


Fragrance and Wellbeing: Plant Aromatics and Their Influence on the Psyche, 2013:
"Clove was also present in the "Mellis accord", which was a widely used base in spicy oriental fragrances including Youth Dew, Opium and Coco. The mellis accord, which makes up an important part of the fragrance here incorporates amyl salicylate in addition to benzyl salicylate, with the patchouli and hydroxycitronellal (which has a linden blossom-like, sweet, green, radiant odor), spices, woods and coumarin. Since then restrictions have been placed on some of these, so it will have been modified."


Bottles:


By the 1960s, Youth Dew was available in the following:
  • Eau de Parfum Spray
  • 1 oz Bath Oil
  • Perfumed Lingerie Discs
  • Creamy Milk Bath
  • Coolspray Talc
  • Box of Three Soaps
  • Dusting Powder
  • 1/2 oz Parfum
  • Creme Sachet Perfume
  • Body Satinee



The Youth Dew Bath Oil came in three sizes: 1/2 oz, 1 oz and 2 oz.


The eau de parfum bottle with the blue bow wrapped around the center was first introduced in 1968. It was called the boutique spray.


When you think of Youth Dew, you probably think of the Bath Oil that has been popular since the 1950s. But there were a whole range of ancillary products that followed.

A 1953 article talks about Estee Lauder’s new Youth Dew products:
“The head of a cosmetic house has created a line of bath products for head to foot beauty. More than a fragrance accessory, the emollient Youth Dew bath oil is intended by the manufacturer to keep the body supple and smooth. A bath lotion de sachet infused with the same clinging fragrance is meant for shower addicts or as an after bath skin toner. Others in the bath product quartet are a soap in a pale Fragonard blue, and the velvety finish of bath powder."

The skin perfume was more highly concentrated than the bath oil, it was the purest concentration of essences and was meant to last longer than normal perfumes.


I have scoured vintage newspaper and magazine articles to create a complete list of the Youth Dew products and the years they have been introduced. Please understand that some products may have came out years earlier than the dates given. You can use this guide to help you date any Youth Dew product you have.


The Youth Dew eau de parfum, bath oil and other bath products are still available, but most of the items below are discontinued.


The Youth Dew Products:
  • 1951 Youth Dew Estoderm Cream
  • 1953 Youth Dew Facial Cleanser
  • 1953 Youth Dew Facial Mask
  • 1953 Bath Oil
  • 1953 Soap
  • 1953 Estoderm Concentrate
  • 1953 Talcum powder
  • 1953 Lotion de Sachet
  • 1953 Youth Dew Foundation
  • 1953 Dusting Powder
  • 1953 Bath Powder
  • 1954 Youth Dew Emulsion
  • 1954 Skin Lotion
  • 1955 Lotion de Heat
  • 1956 Youth Dew Face Powder
  • 1958 Eau de Parfum
  • 1958 Youth Dew Dewy Freshener
  • 1958 Flowing Emulsion
  • 1959 Body Satinee
  • 1959 Aerosol CoolSpray Bath Powder, a spray on talc
  • 1961 Creamy Milk Bath, rich grains of fragrance to smooth and soften the skin
  • 1963 Scented Shampoo
  • 1963 Cologne
  • 1965 Hair Set
  • 1965 Skin Perfume
  • 1964 Spray Shower Oil
  • 1964 Hand Cream
  • 1965 Hair Spray
  • 1965 Antiperspirant
  • 1965 Crème Sachet
  • 1966 Scented Candle
  • 1966 Room Spray
  • 1966 Lingerie Pellets
  • 1966 Drawer Liner paper
  • 1966 Chiffon de Parfum crème perfume
  • 1967 Moisture bath
  • 1968 After Bath Friction Lotion
  • 1968 Parfum de Sachet, a liquid sachet to dab on
  • 1970 Bath Crystals


Bottles:


Youth Dew was presented in various bottles over the years. My personal favorites are those used for the Parfum. The most common of these was a frosted glass snuff bottle with a matching frosted glass stopper in the shape of an open quince flower. This bottle was made in France by Pochet et du Courval  and not Lalique as many people claim. The bottles are marked "Bottle Made in France and HP".



This bottle did not make its first appearance until 1985, when Youth Dew was finally given "Parfum" status, prior to this it was only available in Bath Oil, Eau de Parfum, Cologne, Body Satinee and Pure Fragrance Spray.


Frosted bottle with quince flower stopper:
  • 0.12 oz mini bottle stands 2.25" tall 
  • 0.25 oz bottle stands 2.5" tall
  • 0.5 oz bottle stands 3.5" tall.
  • 1 oz bottle stands almost 4" tall.




Quince Flower Parfum Bottle:

This is a beautiful frosted glass laydown bottle in the shape of an open quince flower blossom. The bottle has a gilded metal cap fitted with a light green tassel. This bottle holds 0.25 oz of parfum and came with a light green silky pouch. This bottle was also introduced in 1985.



French Glass Parfum Flacon:

This is not an antique Victorian  scent bottle as I often see it described, it is actually a limited edition from 1969, a 0.25 oz French glass bottle of Youth Dew perfume, seldom seen with the tag on it.





1 comment:

  1. It is VERY important to include the fact that Josephine Catapano ( the first American Female Perfumer of great importance) who worked at I.F.F. was the creator of Youth Dew with Estee.. Some other sites give some of the male perfumers credit for the creation of this amazing classic perfume. However it is Josephine's creation along Estee's vision for the perfume that made it all happen.

    Josephine Catapno went on to create Fiji for Guy Laroche, as well as Norelle and many other important perfumes. She was a wonderful individual who truly loved creating great fragrances.

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