Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:00 |
When I was 11, I wore my first cologne … quite unintentionally I might add. My mother, while applying a few generous splashes to my stepfather's jaw, swooped in over me and dried her hands on my cheeks. I recoiled in horror, wincing and gagging and flapping my arms for added effect. But when I retreated to my bedroom (slamming my door in a little mock-huff), I revelled in the aroma, and for a moment, felt very "grown up." The cologne was Drakkar Noir.
Fragrance releases targeting children are becoming more and more prolific in recent years. It got me thinking: At which point in history did we first see commercially available toiletries for young children? It's a difficult question to answer.
As children, we tend to emulate the actions of our parents or guardians. In many a mirror, young girls have played with makeup, and boys have dragged make-believe razors across their face. It appears that personal grooming rituals are instilled at a very young age.
In short, there is very little information that can support a definitive answer. In the 1940s, U.S. cosmetics firm Helene Pessl, Inc. advertised "Good Grooming" gift sets aimed at little ladies and young lads, and traded with the sub-moniker "Originators of Children's Cosmetics."
Later, in 1959, Coty released a eau de toilette called "Little Miss Coty" (few examples of which are found today); the name suggesting a perfume for the daughters of Coty's discerning clientele. Cosmetics giant Avon (with its enduring 125-year history), produced a number of novelty toiletries for children in the 1960s and '70s, including "Flower Talk" and "Her Prettiness."
It was 1982 when French perfumer Annick Goutal brought a scent for her daughter called "Eau de Charlotte" to market, inspired by cocoa and jam. But it was during the '90s that the genre perhaps really took off. Guerlain launched "Petit Guerlain," to which Givenchy and Bvlgari responded with "Tartine et Chocolat" and "Petits et Mamans," respectively.
It wasn't long before Disney marketed perfumes based on the cast of their cartoons and fictitious characters, and suddenly, it seemed, scents for the under-5 set became commonplace.
Perfume appreciation and age-old grooming rituals are now being enjoyed by pre-schoolers … but really, is it all bad? Scented oils and lotions created for babies are usually alcohol-free, and many recognize that massage and touch are very important in an infant's development. A dot of perfume behind the ears or on the back of a child's hand now and then will hardly be to a child's detriment, particularly when one considers what they put in their mouths!
Just a decade or two ago, children were covered in scented talcs … today, it's in a fine mist of toilet water. When used conscientiously and with adult supervision, I see no good reason why junior can't smell his best, too.
Appropriate?
There has been much debate for years as to whether fragrances are appropriate for children, and opinions are divided. Culturally, we in the West tend to cry "foul," while other cultures exist in which infants are regularly anointed with perfumed oils and balsams.Fragrance releases targeting children are becoming more and more prolific in recent years. It got me thinking: At which point in history did we first see commercially available toiletries for young children? It's a difficult question to answer.
As children, we tend to emulate the actions of our parents or guardians. In many a mirror, young girls have played with makeup, and boys have dragged make-believe razors across their face. It appears that personal grooming rituals are instilled at a very young age.
Who Started It?
I wondered which house or perfumer identified this, and pioneered a billion dollar global market.In short, there is very little information that can support a definitive answer. In the 1940s, U.S. cosmetics firm Helene Pessl, Inc. advertised "Good Grooming" gift sets aimed at little ladies and young lads, and traded with the sub-moniker "Originators of Children's Cosmetics."
Later, in 1959, Coty released a eau de toilette called "Little Miss Coty" (few examples of which are found today); the name suggesting a perfume for the daughters of Coty's discerning clientele. Cosmetics giant Avon (with its enduring 125-year history), produced a number of novelty toiletries for children in the 1960s and '70s, including "Flower Talk" and "Her Prettiness."
It was 1982 when French perfumer Annick Goutal brought a scent for her daughter called "Eau de Charlotte" to market, inspired by cocoa and jam. But it was during the '90s that the genre perhaps really took off. Guerlain launched "Petit Guerlain," to which Givenchy and Bvlgari responded with "Tartine et Chocolat" and "Petits et Mamans," respectively.
It wasn't long before Disney marketed perfumes based on the cast of their cartoons and fictitious characters, and suddenly, it seemed, scents for the under-5 set became commonplace.
Modern-day Fragrances for Kids
Today it appears every successful television and movie franchise would like a slice of this ever-expanding market. Barbie, Hello Kitty, X-Men, Pirates of the Carribbean, Hannah Montana, and Harajuku Lovers all have their own perfumes.Perfume appreciation and age-old grooming rituals are now being enjoyed by pre-schoolers … but really, is it all bad? Scented oils and lotions created for babies are usually alcohol-free, and many recognize that massage and touch are very important in an infant's development. A dot of perfume behind the ears or on the back of a child's hand now and then will hardly be to a child's detriment, particularly when one considers what they put in their mouths!
Just a decade or two ago, children were covered in scented talcs … today, it's in a fine mist of toilet water. When used conscientiously and with adult supervision, I see no good reason why junior can't smell his best, too.
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