Mink and Pearls by Jovan c1968

"Luxury beyond expectation...without furs, without jewels, you could be in Mink & Pearls.."

Jovan introduced Mink and Pearls in 1968. In its advertisements, it was touted as the most luxurious fragrance ever blended and Jovan claimed it had a secret "narcotic, floral note" hidden deep inside which was probably the tuberose. The perfume was meant to change with the wearer's chemistry to produce an individualistic scent.

"You could wear it for a thousand nights and never repeat the same emotions."

Bernard Mitchell, president of Jovan, said that he got the idea for Mink & Pearls from a mink rancher in Wisconsin who remarked that the hands of his workers gt soft and smooth during pelting season. This intrigued Mitchell, who upon his own research, found that mink oil was a wonderfully rich emollient and decided to produce a bath oil that contained it. The decision to put the bath oil inside pearl capsules had evolved while trying to conjure the image of pure luxury.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral mossy animalic chypre fragrance for women. It was a beautiful modern floral blend of over 140 exquisite perfume oils, starting with a dry, fresh top, followed by a narcotic floral heart, based on a warm, woody, mossy base.

• Top notes: aldehydes, lemon, orange, bergamot, hyacinth, galbanum, clary sage
• Middle notes: jasmine, rose, heliotrope, cinnamon bark, angelica root, rosemary, lavender, nutmeg, bitter almond, carnation, tuberose, narcissus, jonquil
• Base notes: patchouli, galbanum, cedarwood, myrrh, musk, amber, tonka, leather, castoreum, oakmoss

The fragrance was available in perfume, eau de cologne and eau de toilette. Mink and Pearls was expanded into a bath line which included scented mink oil filled bath pearls, these super emollient capsules mimicked the look of 9mm pearls but dissolved to make your skin sensually soft and scented, the capsules and housed inside a goldtone and crystal look boutique case. Also included in the bath line was the Essence of Milk Bath Oil, bath powder, Mink oil bath soap, perfumed dusting powder, cologne towelettes, bubble shower, shampoo and fragrance candle.

Fate of the Fragrance:

By 1978, Mink and Pearls disappeared off the shelves, however, it remains a sought after scent today.