CLEOPATRA'S BOUDOIR

 In this guide I have listed the various perfumes presented by Bichara of 10 rue de la Chausse-d'Antin, Paris France.

The Bichara perfume company was established in 1896 by Bichara Malhame (from Beirut), who styled himself as "The Syrian Perfumer". The company was first located in Rouen and Dieppe. His perfumes were advertised as "parfums enivrants" (intoxicating perfumes).

The hair dye "Extrait de Henne Bichara" of 1899 was so successful that it financed the introduction of luxury perfumes. Bichara maintained that luxury image through it's shop and constant exposure in the French press. It was advertised as "Allah est grand et Bichara est son parfumeur" (Allah is good and Bichara is his perfumer"). Bichara also produced fine hennas for the hair, Le Henne Bichara, and kohl eye makeup called Mokoheul, this eye cosmetic was probably introduced in 1913 and stayed very popular into the 1920s. Another eye cosmetic was Cillana which I found reference in a 1913 ad. These two eye cosmetics were advertised as for "charme, beaute, sante des yeux", (charm , beauty and eye health). Eau des Roses Syrie was a skin brightener which also freshened the skin.

Around the turn of the century, the company became immensely successful with Sarah Bernhardt as his muse, who publicly endorsed perfumes. Bichara perfumes were her favorites.

Bichara's client included the playwright Edmond Rostand who called Bichara " the poet of perfume". Other notable clients were: Gabriel Faure, Gabriele d'Annunzio, and Edouard de Max.

 Bichara supplied the Royal Egyptian court. In the 1920s, he opened a luxury fashion shop in London, introducing "couture made perfumes". The company exported worldwide.

One of his finest perfume presentations was for the 1928 perfume Ramses II, in a tall, obelisk shaped bottle decorated with Egyptian hieroglyphs. The bottle was manufactured by the Cristalleries de Saint-Louis. This bottle is rarely found today and when it does surface, it commands high prices fit for a pharaoh himself. This bottle came in two sizes.

Another fine perfume presentation was for the perfume Myrbaha, launched in 1913, Baccarat bottle, frosted stopper in shape of pharaoh's head with grey patina. I have seen this bottle also used for Nirvana, Ambre, Yahvahna and Chypre perfumes. 5 7/8" tall. I have also had this stopper on a very rare pyramid shaped bottle before. The pharaoh's head stopper was most frequently seen on the bottle shape below, as well as the more rare pyramid shaped base.

 The pyramid based bottle held Myrbaha perfume, and probably the other scents too. I have had the fortune of owning this perfume bottle in the past and had sold it on ebay around 2002.

Early labels on cosmetics and perfumes, portrayed Bichara seizing the mythological Fortune by the hair with the inscription "Comment Bichara saisit la fortune" ( How Bichara grabs good fortune). An appropriate image since Bichara's original fortune was made on the hair product "Le Henne Bichara". The labels were redesigned in the 1920s by FL Schied in Art Deco style. Bichara also appeared on a Baccarat stopper portraying himself as an Egyptian pharaoh.

 Bichara Malhame died in 1930 and was succeeded by his daughter, Rose but the quality of perfume presentations declined and character of company changed, exemplified by Handle with Care in 1945. Bichara continued production into the 1950s.

 The "Intoxicating Perfumes" of Bichara:

• 1913 Nirvana
• 1913 Myrbaha
• 1913 Yahvahna
• 1913 Ambre
• 1913 Nahila
• 1913 Violette Des Damas
• 1913 Ambre Egyptien
• 1913 Ambre D'Abyssinie
• 1913 Mokoheul (kohl eye makeup)
• 1913 Eau de Roses de Syrie (skin freshener)
• 1913 Roses de Syrie
• 1913 Eau d'Albanie
• 1913 Chypre de Limassol
• 1913 Syriana
• 1913 Therapia
• 1913 Emirah
• 1913 Fullah
• 1913 Leila
• 1913 Cillana
• 1913 Sakountala
• 1917 Saisit la Fortune
• 1921 Cabiria
• 1921 Rose Dame
• 1921 Liliana
• 1922 Delices de Pera
• 1922 Bosphora
• 1922 Gaudika
• 1928 Ramses II
• 1930s 8 Mai
• 1945 Handle With Care
• 1953 Viens

Some photos on this guide were provided by the following websites:

Passion for Perfume

Museu del Perfum

Rago Arts & Auction Center

ebay seller inartis

Please take a moment to check out their sites.