Prince Matchabelli facts for kids
Prince Matchabelli is a famous line of perfume. It was first created by Prince Georges V. Matchabelli. He was a prince from the country of Georgia and also a talented chemist.
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The Prince's Journey
Prince Georges V. Matchabelli was born in Georgia. At that time, Georgia was part of the large Russian Empire. When the old Russian government changed, Georgia became its own independent country in 1918. It even had its own ambassadors to other nations. Prince Matchabelli was the Georgian ambassador to Italy.
Fleeing to America
However, in 1921, another powerful country, the Russian SFSR, took over Georgia. Because of these big changes, Prince Matchabelli had to leave his home country. He moved far away to the United States after the Russian Revolution.
Starting a New Life
In New York City, Prince Matchabelli and his wife, Princess Norina Matchabelli, started a new life. Princess Norina was an actress known as Maria Carmi. They opened a small shop together. It was called Le Rouge et le Noir, which means "The Red and the Black." This name came from a famous book.
The Perfume Company Begins
In 1926, the Prince and Princess started the Prince Matchabelli Perfume Company. Prince Matchabelli himself would mix special perfumes for his customers.
First Perfumes and Bottles
The first three perfumes they created were named Princess Norina, Queen of Georgia, and Ave Maria. The company quickly became known for its unique perfume bottles. These bottles were shaped like crowns, just like the Matchabelli family crown. Princess Norina designed these special bottles, which came in different colors. They were first introduced in 1928.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, the Prince Matchabelli company was sold several times.
Company Sales History
- In 1936, Princess Norina sold the company to a perfume maker named Saul Ganz.
- In 1941, the company was sold again, this time to the Vicks Chemical Company.
- In 1958, Vicks sold Prince Matchabelli to Chesebrough–Pond's.
- Later, in 1987, a very large company called Unilever bought Chesebrough-Pond's.
- Finally, in 1993, the Prince Matchabelli brands were sold to Parfums de Coeur.
