Jungle Flower by Prince Matchabelli c1930

Jungle Flower, launched by Prince Matchabelli in 1930, evokes a sense of exotic allure and untamed beauty. The name "Jungle Flower" suggests a bloom that thrives in a lush, wild environment, untouched by civilization. This imagery conjures visions of vibrant, tropical flowers blossoming amidst dense foliage, their vivid colors and intoxicating scents standing out against the deep greens of the jungle. The name alone stirs emotions of mystery, adventure, and an almost primal allure, offering a fragrance that feels both wild and captivating.

Prince Matchabelli likely chose the name "Jungle Flower" to encapsulate the idea of a fragrance that is both rare and irresistible—something that stands out, much like a flower in the jungle, for its uniqueness and beauty. The word "Jungle" suggests an environment that is raw and natural, while "Flower" brings in a sense of femininity and delicate charm. Together, the name suggests a perfume that is powerful yet graceful, bold yet tender—a duality that would have appealed to the modern woman of the time.

For women in the 1930s, a perfume called "Jungle Flower" would have evoked fantasies of distant lands and exotic adventures, at a time when travel to such places was out of reach for many. This was the era of Hollywood films that romanticized exploration and discovery, with moviegoers being enchanted by tales of far-off jungles and tropical paradises. Films like "Trader Horn" (1931) and novels such as "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1932) captured the public’s imagination, making the idea of a "Jungle Flower" perfume resonate with dreams of escapism and the allure of the unknown.

The 1930s was a period marked by both the Great Depression and a burgeoning interest in new forms of entertainment that offered an escape from reality. Perfumes during this time were often designed to evoke a sense of luxury and fantasy. Jungle Flower fit into this context as a fragrance that was both heady and original, offering an olfactory escape into a world of lush, tropical splendor. Its description as "the scent of rare originality" and "a haunting scent of irresistible appeal" positioned it as a unique offering in a market that was beginning to embrace more daring and exotic scents.

While other fragrances of the time often leaned towards more traditional florals or the emerging trend of aldehydic compositions, Jungle Flower stood out for its boldness and its embrace of exoticism. The emphasis on the "luscious scent of hyacinth" highlighted its floral richness, while its overall character suggested a fragrance that was both deeply feminine and powerfully seductive.

In summary, Jungle Flower was not just a perfume, but a symbol of the era's fascination with the exotic and the unknown. It offered women a way to experience the thrill of the jungle, the beauty of a rare bloom, and the allure of a scent that was as unforgettable as it was irresistible.

In the September 1930 issue of Theatre Magazine, readers were introduced to three new perfumes by Prince Matchabelli, each crafted to bring an exotic, tropical allure to the cool autumn nights. The article vividly describes the fragrances, each with its unique character and charm. "Babylon," with its slightly wicked undertones, is suggested as the perfect antidote to the innocence of a "sweet" frock, adding a touch of intrigue and sophistication. "Princess of the Nile," with its spicy scent, is appropriately housed in a bottle shaped like a pyramid, reflecting the ancient and mysterious allure of its namesake.

However, it is "Jungle Flower" that stands out as the author’s favorite. This perfume is celebrated for its ability to capture "precisely, the luscious scent of hyacinths," offering a rich and heady floral experience that is both exotic and irresistible. The fragrance is praised for its authenticity and the way it embodies the essence of a jungle bloom, transporting the wearer to a world of vibrant, tropical beauty.

The article not only introduces these perfumes but also invites readers to embrace the sensual and luxurious qualities they offer, making them ideal companions for the season's chill. Through these descriptions, Theatre Magazine effectively conveys the allure and sophistication of Prince Matchabelli's creations, positioning them as must-have accessories for the modern woman seeking a touch of exotic elegance in her life.

Theatre Magazine, Volume 52, 1930:

"THREE new perfumes by Prince Matchabelli will be available this month to given exotic, tropical lure to these chill autumn nights. 'Queen of Babylon', which is just a bit wicked, will counteract the naivete of a "sweet" frock. 'Queen of the Nile' is a spicy perfume appropriately garbed in a bottle shaped like a pyramid. 'Jungle Flower', my favorite of the three, has captured precisely, the luscious scent of hyacinths."

Based on the names and descriptions, each of these three perfumes by Prince Matchabelli from 1930 evokes a distinct and vivid olfactory experience, transporting the wearer into different realms of imagination and sensory delight.

"Queen of Babylon" conjures an image of a queen of an ancient, opulent city known for its grandeur and mystique. The scent likely carried a seductive and slightly daring character, possibly built on deep, warm base notes such as musk, ambergris or patchouli, infused with a hint of spice to evoke a sense of the exotic and forbidden. The fragrance might have opened with rich, velvety florals, perhaps rose or jasmine, intertwined with a hint of darkness, suggesting an undercurrent of sensuality. "Queen of Babylon" would have been the perfect complement to an evening gown or a night out, adding a layer of mystery and allure to the wearer, making her feel as if she were stepping into an ancient world of luxury and temptation.

"Queen of the Nile" likely embraced the essence of the ancient Egyptian queens, capturing the exotic and enigmatic spirit of the Nile. This perfume, described as spicy and housed in an amber glass pyramid-shaped bottle, may have featured notes of cinnamon, clove, frankincense and myrrh, reminiscent of the spices and resins traded along the Nile River. The heart of the fragrance could have been lush and opulent, with rich floral notes such as lotus or tuberose, offering a deep, intoxicating aroma that lingered on the skin. "Princess of the Nile" would have enveloped the wearer in a sense of regal elegance, making her feel like a modern-day Cleopatra, mysterious and commanding in her beauty.

"Jungle Flower" evokes the wild, untamed beauty of a tropical rainforest, bursting with life and color. The perfume is described as having "captured precisely, the luscious scent of hyacinths," suggesting a fragrance that is fresh, vibrant, and intensely floral. Hyacinth, known for its rich, sweet, and slightly green aroma, would have dominated the scent, perhaps softened by hints of other lush florals like gardenia or tuberose, and grounded with a touch of green leaves or moist earth to enhance the feeling of being in a jungle. "Jungle Flower" would have been a heady and intoxicating scent, ideal for a woman who embraced her natural beauty and wasn't afraid to stand out. It would evoke a sense of adventure and freedom, allowing the wearer to channel the irresistible allure of a rare and exotic bloom hidden deep within the wilderness.

Each of these fragrances, through their evocative names and carefully crafted scents, would have allowed women of the time to indulge in a sensory journey, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary, and bringing a touch of the exotic into their everyday lives.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a heady floral fragrance for women and was described as "the scent of rare originality. A haunting scent of irresistible appeal." and "has captured the luscious scent of hyacinth."

• Top notes: neroli,  hyacinth, lily of the valley, petitgrain, narcissus
• Middle notes: violet, tuberose, heliotrope, gardenia, jasmine, tuberose, ylang ylang
• Base notes: Abyssinian civet, sandalwood, ambergris, oakmoss

Scent Profile:

The fragrance of Jungle Flower opens with the bright, citrusy essence of neroli, immediately uplifting and vibrant, like sunlight filtering through dense tropical foliage. This initial burst of freshness is soon enveloped by the lush, heady aroma of hyacinth, which brings a rich and intoxicating floral quality, reminiscent of thick petals heavy with morning dew. Lily of the valley adds a delicate yet persistent sweetness, introducing a soft, green freshness that evokes images of shaded woodland glades. The green, woody essence of petitgrain then grounds these florals with its earthy undertones, providing a crisp, almost herbal balance. Finally, the deep, narcotic sweetness of narcissus emerges, adding an element of wildness, a raw, almost untamed edge that hints at the mystery of the jungle.

As the fragrance transitions to its heart, the soft, powdery scent of violet introduces a vintage, nostalgic quality, adding refined elegance to the composition. Tuberose dominates this phase with its lush, creamy aroma, intensely rich and exotic, wrapping around you like a velvet cloak and hinting at the depths of the jungle. Heliotrope brings a soft, comforting layer with its almond-like, powdery sweetness, adding a dreamy, almost ethereal quality to the heart of the fragrance. The rich, velvety scent of gardenia follows, exuding a tropical lushness that captivates and seduces, embodying the exotic allure of Jungle Flower. Jasmine weaves through the heart with its indolic richness, bringing sensuality and depth, while ylang ylang adds a fruity, floral sweetness that complements the other florals, enhancing the overall impression of a jungle in full bloom.

In the base, the deep, animalic scent of Abyssinian civet introduces a primal, almost feral element, adding a layer of raw sensuality that makes the fragrance truly “haunting” in its appeal. Mysore sandalwood brings a creamy, woody warmth to the base, adding depth and a smooth, luxurious finish. Its rich, resinous quality blends beautifully with the other base notes, grounding the composition. Ambergris adds a soft, warm, slightly salty note with a marine-like quality that evokes the vastness of the ocean, enhancing the fragrance's depth and mystery. Finally, the earthy, damp scent of oakmoss rounds out the base, adding a green, forest-like depth that ties the exotic notes back to the earth, completing the lush, mysterious, and irresistibly appealing scent of Jungle Flower.

Bottle:

Jungle Flower bottle, crown shape. photo by VenteSurOffres.com

Fate of the Fragrance:

"Jungle Flower," a fragrance by Prince Matchabelli, remains an enigmatic and alluring creation whose date of discontinuation is unknown. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its end, it is known that "Jungle Flower" was still being sold as late as 1948, nearly two decades after its initial launch in 1930. The longevity of this perfume speaks to its enduring appeal, capturing the imagination and senses of women across generations.

In an era when the world was slowly emerging from the shadows of war, "Jungle Flower" offered a tantalizing escape into a world of untamed beauty and exotic allure. The perfume's name alone evoked visions of lush, tropical landscapes teeming with vibrant flora, a place where the ordinary gave way to the extraordinary. The scent itself, described as "the scent of rare originality" and possessing a "haunting scent of irresistible appeal," likely resonated with women seeking to recapture a sense of adventure and sensuality in a time of rebuilding and renewal.

As women in the post-war period redefined their roles and reclaimed their femininity, "Jungle Flower" provided a fragrant reminder of the power of scent to evoke emotion and create identity. The perfume's rich, floral heart, dominated by the luscious scent of hyacinths, would have been both bold and sophisticated, a reflection of the confidence and resilience of the women who wore it.

The fact that "Jungle Flower" continued to be available in 1948 suggests that it had become a classic in its own right, a testament to its unique composition and the evocative imagery it inspired. Even as new fragrances emerged, "Jungle Flower" maintained its place in the hearts of those who cherished its wild, exotic charm, embodying a timeless appeal that transcended the changing fashions and trends of the day.