Bigarade (1971)

Bigarade by Nina Ricci: launched in 1971. Created by Francis Fabron of Roure. Bigarade is a Bigarade-type aldehyde perfume, characterized by fresh, tonic, and subtly floral notes. Its composition features bitter orange, mandarin, neroli, clary sage, and opoponax, giving it a lively, vibrant citrus personality.

The fragrance highlights the bright and zesty nuances of bitter orange, from which it takes its name, and it seduces with a persistent, natural charm. Designed for a woman who is fresh, attractive, light, and free of heavy artifices, Bigarade is an ideal daytime fragrance, evoking a cheerful, energetic, sporty, and springlike atmosphere.

The French name refers to the bitter Seville oranges and the fragrance is built upon this theme. A light and airy fragrance that was suggested to be worn from 9 to 5 either at the office, casually hanging out with friends or playing sports.

The Amarillo Globe-Times, 1972:

"You were ripe for an orange fragrance. Bigarade has it's own twist! Nina Ricci's new Bigarade means bitter orange. As tangy with herbs and spices as a candle shop; vibrant as a blossom. A wake-up, sunny-day fragrance that's definitely citrus. But no lemon or lime citrus. Too new for that. Too Nina Ricci for that. Almost too fresh to be bottled. That's Bigarade. To splash, spray, pat or stroke on in the morning . . . to color happily your whole day. The Bigarade collection, including Eau de Toilette, bath and body care $2.50 to $12.00."

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an aldehydic bitter-sweet aromatic chypre fragrance for women. Bigarade is a Bigarade-type aldehyde perfume, characterized by fresh, tonic, and subtly floral notes. Its composition features bitter orange, mandarin, neroli, clary sage, and opoponax, giving it a lively, vibrant citrus personality.

The fragrance highlights the bright and zesty nuances of bitter orange, from which it takes its name, and it seduces with a persistent, natural charm. Designed for a woman who is fresh, attractive, light, and free of heavy artifices, Bigarade is an ideal daytime fragrance, evoking a cheerful, energetic, sporty, and springlike atmosphere.

• Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, mandarin, neroli, bitter orange and Seville orange
• Middle notes: clary sage, orange blossom, herbs and spices
• Base notes: opoponax, labdanum, oakmoss, sandalwood, patchouli, ambergris, musk, vetiver

Bottles:

The original Bigarade fragrance was available in Eau de Toilette concentration only. The EDT splash was available in four sizes and the EDT sprays were available in 4 oz luxe atomizer and a 2 oz refillable atomizer. Bath and body products were introduced: perfumed soap, perfumed bath foam, deodorant spray, and perfumed talc. These products were still available in 1977/1978.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued probably in the 1980s.