“Ma Griffe” what a wonderful fresh Chypre fragrance. In its distinctive green & white packaging it is as vibrant as a warm spring day. Light and fresh with a burst of Citrus top notes warming down to a floral bouquet of Lily of the valley, Rose, Jasmine & Iris. The base is warm but not sweet with Oakmoss, Sandalwood & Vetiver calming the senses on the warmest of days. Launched by “Parfums Carven” in 1946 it was another winning fragance from “Jean Carles” the expert nose behind many great fragrances of the decade. Green was Madmoiselle Carven’s favourite colour and for us at Sublime Sourcery Ma Griffe is an embodiment of the colour. Perfect for daywear it cuts through the grime and dust of the city, a splash on a strategically placed tissue can counteract the frenzy of sweat and pheromones fighting for space on a crowded tube train. Where a citrus fades fleetingly into the background of the day, Ma Griffe develops, it wins through and it lasts.

“The House of Carven” had been opened in 1945 by Madame de Carven (christened Carmen De Tomaso) who was fast becoming famous for her fashions for petit women. Madame de Carven used the name “Ma Griffe” - “My Signature” twice. First for her stunning green and white striped dress from her first collection in 1945, and then for her perfume “Ma Griffe” Swathed with silk labels and sealed in green and white striped boxes, it was indeed her signature and has endured through 6 decades of great turbulence and tremendous change in every aspect of the fragrance industry. The launch of Ma Griffe in 1946 by Parfums Carven captured the imagination of Paris. The novel idea of dropping little green and white parachutes carrying their precious cargo of Ma Griffe miniatures over Paris really caused quite a stir. Ma Griffe was also the first perfume to be sold onboard planes and in France by the 1950’s the only house to rival “Carven” was Guerlain.

The fortunes of “Parfums Carven” have waxed and waned over the years and distribution rights for this timeless fragrance bought and sold but Ma Griffe remains, a precious green jewel on a pebbled beach of new perfume launches . A jewel to be treasured forever.

The first Ma Griffe bottles were designed by “Tarbe`s“ and the “Duchesse de Noailles” they were lead crystal with silk labels instead of paper.. You may have the luck to find one if you hunt around, well worth the effort , beautifully crafted bottles in a simple design. Refill them with Ma Griffe and rekindle the atmosphere of post war Paris, where hope returned to the hearts of all after the darkness of war. People could pick up the threads of their lives and weave their dreams anew. Imagine a plane showering wonderful perfume and not bombs!!!

The late legendary Judy Garland wore Ma Griffe, We know of no other fragrance associated with her. And on her journey to the “Emerald City” what more fitting fragrance would ‘Dorothy’ have kept in her pocket than Ma Griffe, pure liquid emerald magic, so fitting for that mystical land “Over The Rainbow” that embodies the dreams of us all. ©

Wishing you much magic
Sublime Sourcery


POSTSCRIPT:
Yes Spring is here I thought. And to celebrate what better way than with a new bottle of Ma Griffe. I carefully unveiled the treasure. The latest bottle design encapsulating the sparkling green and gold magic of this timeless perfume. I eagerly pressed the button closing my eyes and breathing it in. IT WAS NOT THERE!!! Where was that distinctive effervescent citrus top? Was it me I thought reaching for a vintage bottle of PDT. No I was not imagining it. I waited for the minutes to drift by and inhaled again. Even worse the wonderful lingering and so distinctive base notes were gone, It disintegrated into a non- descript soapy mess. Sublime Sourcery could NOT recommend this latest recipe - it has been changed

Our recommendation: Scour the world for vintage Ma Griffe. Treat it like liquid gold.