Abano by Prince Matchabelli: launched in 1931. The name refers to the thermal springs and Ancient Roman baths in Abano, Italy. I have also read that the word "abano" means bath in Southern Russia.
It was available in the following:
So what does it smell like? It was classified as an Oriental fragrance for women with a sandalwood rich chypre base.
In 1954, the Abano After Bath Cologne was launched.
Drug and Cosmetic Industry, Volume 33, 1933:
Vogue, 1936:
It was available in the following:
- Parfum
- Shaker Talc
- Dusting Powder
- Body Spray Powder
- Bubbling Bath Salts
- Bath Oil
- Cologne
- Soap
- Tanabano Sun Oil
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It was classified as an Oriental fragrance for women with a sandalwood rich chypre base.
- Top notes: green notes, Paraguayan bitter orange, carnation
- Middle notes: frankincense, French lavender, honey, Mediterranean flowers
- Base notes: patchouli, Tibetan musk, Mysore sandalwood, cedar, oakmoss, Abyssinian ambergris, East Indian vetiver
In 1954, the Abano After Bath Cologne was launched.
Drug and Cosmetic Industry, Volume 33, 1933:
"Tanabano" is the latest creation of Prince Matchabelli. It is a sun oil scented with the "Abano" odeur. The package is a blue flask-shaped bottle with a yellow label, symbolizing the sun and sea, with tin cap.
Vogue, 1936:
"Prince Matchabelli's Abano. Its warm atmosphere is like the light and shadow of a pine forest."
Stage, 1938:
The New Yorker, 1952;
Holiday, 1960:
Industrial Design, Volume 9, 1962:
Congressional Record, 1971:
Vogue, 1971:
"Prince Matchabelli's Abano, which, thank goodness, has finally come out in a perfume, in the famous crown bottle ($1.25 to $35)"
The New Yorker, 1952;
"A bath so soothing, it relaxes tired nerves ... so refreshing, it stirs your senses. Makes you look and feel years, years younger! Abano Bath Oil. ..$1.25 to $12.00. So exotic . . . it's almost sinful!"
Holiday, 1960:
"It's Prince Matchabelli's Abano, the perfumed bath oil that can do what the Ancients knew fragrance could do— soothe the psyche. • Every drop of Abano is a blend of 15 exotic scents ... all carefully blended."
Industrial Design, Volume 9, 1962:
"Prince Matchabelli Abano bath oil package depicts seahorse amidst colored mosaics, creating an exotic effect."
Vogue, 1966:
"drift in serenity... in an Abano bath Abandon your cares to Abano. Abano Bath Oil smooths your body... its fragrance soothes your soul. Drift n Abano — slowly breathe in Abano's exotic fragrance — and feel trouble-making tensions glide away. You emerge, renewed for living, wrapped in a silken robe of lasting fragrance. Abano Bath Oil 1.50 to 16.50. And Abano's new convenient capsules."
Soap, Cosmetics, Chemical Specialties, 1969:
"This plastic apothecary jar, made by Lermer Packaging division of Loral Corp., Scars- dale, N.Y., is new container for "Abano" bath oil capsules from Prince Matchabelli division of Chesebrough-Pond's Inc., New York."
Congressional Record, 1971:
"Abano bath oil, by Chesebrough Ponds (Matchabelli Division)—contains essential oils, volatile terpenes, aromatics, esters, citrus oils, perfume oils. The doctors say that it's interesting to note "what's not in there," so a patient who is sensitive to particular ingredients can.."
Vogue, 1971:
"..and better still when shared with an old friend— Prince Matchabelli's Abano Bath Oil, an out-of-this-world scent that's been getting in hot water since the '30's. Now a whole new generation of water babies are onto its rich, exotic fragrance.."
Fate of the Fragrance:
Discontinued, date unknown. Still being sold in 1977.
Note: Please understand that this website is not affiliated with the Prince Matchabelli company in any way, it is only a reference page for collectors and those who have enjoyed the Prince Matchabelli fragrances.
The goal of this website is to show the present owners of the Prince Matchabelli company how much we miss the discontinued classics such as ABANO and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back the 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.
"abano" is a Georgian word for baths. It is a Georgian word and not South Russian. Capital of Georgia Tbilisi has a whole area with various ancient Turkish bath houses. They are really old and famous in that part of the world. https://georgiaphiles.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/taking-the-waters-the-sulfur-baths-of-tbilisi/
ReplyDeleteA Bano bath oil was first given me by my grandmother and was my signature fragrance until Revlon bought Prince Matchabelli and discontinued it. Cab drivers, subway riders and my boyfriend all commented on how fresh, clean and sensual it was. I wrote Revlon repeatedly to reissue it to no avail. I tried to have it reproduced by noses like Shelly Marx with no success. REVLON! Bring it back. A Bano is a scent for the ages, for young and old and in between. Alida Morgan April 28, 2017
ReplyDeleteIf you hear of it coming back or if signatures are needed. Please message me alafair@outlook.com also i just commented on this post and it needs approval before publishing but its about my grandmother too.
DeleteAlafair
My Grandmother wore Abano Bath oil as her everyday perfume. I remember, as a child, random men stopping her when we were out shopping asking her what perfume she was wearing as it smelled so beautiful and they wanted to get it for their wife or girlfriend. This happened all the time.
ReplyDeleteI asked her once if it was magical!
It did smell so good, her entire apartment smelled like it, her car, gifts she gave had the slight scent of Abano bath oil.
I bought some aromatherapy room spray recently and it brought me back to my grandmother and her Abano, so I looked at the ingredients and it was mainly Frankincense and lavendar and I looked up on the web the notes of Abano and sure enough Frankincense was a big one.
I miss my grandmother so much. I wish it was still for sale. And that she was still here ;)
I loved the lush scent of Abano bath oil, and my mother used to pamper me with a luxurious bath with a few drops of that wonderful stuff. I wish someone would bring it back!!
ReplyDelete