[And Sarah Félix created "L 'Eau des Fées" and "La Parfumerie des Fées"]

Rev Hist Pharm (Paris). 2015 Dec;63(388):423-44.
[Article in French]

Abstract

century, the parisian perfumery of Sarah Felix was famous especially for her cosmetic "L'Eau des Fées" ("Water of the Fairies"), a dyeing supposed to give back to the old hair the color of their youth. Sarah Felix, sister of the famous actress Rachel, exercised several jobs before becoming perfumer. At first, she was actress, then she tried ... oyster culture in Normandy ! Abandoning these activities, Sarah Felix became really a businesswoman in Paris. She dedicated herself to perfumery, in particular to "L'Eau des Fées", from 1866. To launch its product, she was associated to competency characters (engineer, pharmacist, physician) and benefited from the protection of the imperial family. A lawsuit between the associates and the 1870 war hindered the company's early days, but "L'Eau des Fées" provided with quality pledges, imposed itself definitely. The "Parfumerie des Fées" completed the range of its cosmetics with creams, powders, etc. Sarah Félix paid attention to present "L'Eau des Fées" as a dye devoid of toxicity. Was it really the case and could il be sold nowadays? These two issues are discussed in the last part.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • English Abstract
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • History, 19th Century
  • Humans
  • Paris
  • Perfume / history*

Substances

  • Perfume

Personal name as subject

  • Sarah Félix