Top Notes 
Plum
Kumquat
Peach
Heart Notes 
Jasmine
Orange blossom
Lily of the valley
White rose
Queen-of-the-night
Base Notes 
Oriental spices
Precious woods
Turandot
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Turandot
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31
The Decline of a German Success Brand
I am surprised to find that there were ten fragrances from MCM. I only remember "Obelisk," "Blue Paradise," and "1900 MCM." The brand was the epitome of luxury for travel luggage in the 80s. Founded by Michael Cromer, a Munich entrepreneur, whose life and thus the company history has now provided material for a book. It would be too much to outline it here, but anyone interested just needs to search for the keywords MCM company history online. In the luxury miles of high-end boutiques, one will search in vain for MCM today. MCM was catapulted into oblivion through intrigues, probably also naivety and overestimation of itself. Today, the brand is operated in South Korea, and it was said that they wanted to reconnect with old times. Whether they succeed remains to be seen.
However, the fragrances - at least the three mentioned above - are unforgettable. Even today, it happens that a customer stands dreamily at the shelves, testing here and testing there, and then says: "You know, I used to have an MCM fragrance. Is it really not available anymore? I used to get it now and then." And she is right. From time to time, the fragrances appeared at a low price as special offers. But that, too, is now a thing of the past.
While Obelisk was a pure oriental that saw the light of day in the wake of Opium and, like its fragrance cousins Cinnabar or even earlier Amun, transported the fragrance world in the West into 1001 Nights, Blue Paradise was a floral scent that was protected from too much heaviness or even stuffiness by its chypre character. It was easy to wear, had volume, and had a large following among women who at that time shied away from entering a high-end perfumery and preferred to reach for the relatively upscale fragrances on the drugstore shelf.
1900 lay somewhere between the two fragrances. Not as oriental-spicy as Obelisk, but also not as floral as Blue Paradise. It was actually a floral-oriental, but we didn't know that term back then. These fragrances had their heyday at that time, and Coco or Jil Sander N°4 were significantly more successful than the relatively insignificant MCM as a fragrance label. The luxury image of the leather goods was never achieved by the fragrances. Nevertheless, 1900 is a finely crafted representative of this direction. More subtle than Coco, thus more suitable for everyday wear with an elegant floral note, but warmer and almost powdery due to the restrained oriental note compared to the Chanel scent. The rather creamy fruit notes merge with the floral theme of the fragrance and end in a subtle oriental finish, which shows a remarkable longevity for this rather inexpensive fragrance. MCM does not need to hide behind more prestigious scents.
Back then, you could really find MCM fragrances in every department store, in every drugstore at a price that any woman could save from her household budget, but their quality could have measured up to significantly more expensive perfumes. Seen this way, the customers back then were like me today: An Hermés bag is far beyond my means. An Hermés fragrance gives me a piece of luxury. It was just like that back then, because only the jet set could afford MCM bags, or those who considered themselves to be. The fragrances gave the average consumer Ottilie the feeling of belonging.
However, the fragrances - at least the three mentioned above - are unforgettable. Even today, it happens that a customer stands dreamily at the shelves, testing here and testing there, and then says: "You know, I used to have an MCM fragrance. Is it really not available anymore? I used to get it now and then." And she is right. From time to time, the fragrances appeared at a low price as special offers. But that, too, is now a thing of the past.
While Obelisk was a pure oriental that saw the light of day in the wake of Opium and, like its fragrance cousins Cinnabar or even earlier Amun, transported the fragrance world in the West into 1001 Nights, Blue Paradise was a floral scent that was protected from too much heaviness or even stuffiness by its chypre character. It was easy to wear, had volume, and had a large following among women who at that time shied away from entering a high-end perfumery and preferred to reach for the relatively upscale fragrances on the drugstore shelf.
1900 lay somewhere between the two fragrances. Not as oriental-spicy as Obelisk, but also not as floral as Blue Paradise. It was actually a floral-oriental, but we didn't know that term back then. These fragrances had their heyday at that time, and Coco or Jil Sander N°4 were significantly more successful than the relatively insignificant MCM as a fragrance label. The luxury image of the leather goods was never achieved by the fragrances. Nevertheless, 1900 is a finely crafted representative of this direction. More subtle than Coco, thus more suitable for everyday wear with an elegant floral note, but warmer and almost powdery due to the restrained oriental note compared to the Chanel scent. The rather creamy fruit notes merge with the floral theme of the fragrance and end in a subtle oriental finish, which shows a remarkable longevity for this rather inexpensive fragrance. MCM does not need to hide behind more prestigious scents.
Back then, you could really find MCM fragrances in every department store, in every drugstore at a price that any woman could save from her household budget, but their quality could have measured up to significantly more expensive perfumes. Seen this way, the customers back then were like me today: An Hermés bag is far beyond my means. An Hermés fragrance gives me a piece of luxury. It was just like that back then, because only the jet set could afford MCM bags, or those who considered themselves to be. The fragrances gave the average consumer Ottilie the feeling of belonging.
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