CLEOPATRA'S BOUDOIR

1000 de Jean Patou was released in 1972.

I have read that it was supposed to be only a limited edition perfume.  It was a totally unique blend of the time, for it contained some of the richest and rarest essences in the world. Viola odorata, rose centifolia, mysore santal, jasmine grandiflorum, and exotic osmanthus from China gave 1000 its extraordinary velvet scent. Osmanthus is the rarest of them all, having been brought by yak from northern China to one Canton market. Known as "the essence of extravagance," the scent is made from a jasmine essence that takes over seven million flowers to produce a single kilogram.

The exotic, sophisticated blend combines:

• Top notes of Chinese osmanthus, bergamot, coriander and Bulgarian rose.

• Middle and base notes of jasmine from Grasse, eucalyptus, angelica, sandalwood from Mysore, patchouli, violet, vetiver, civet, musk and May rose.

The fashion house of Jean Patou asked Jean Kerleo to create a new perfume, which they named 1000 (in French, Mille),  to be envisioned as a "super-Joy."  The resulting scent emerged from a ten year trial and error period in which 1000 different blends were created then rejected but existed in the laboratory, so they named the perfume after it's lab number, 1000.

It was packaged in a jade green flacon, simulating a classic Chinese "snuff" bottle. Patou possessed an antique jade snuff bottle which served as the inspiration for the original black and red bottle for Joy.

1000 was also packaged in the familiar glimmering gold and crystal flacon that also houses Joy. In 1978, a limited edition was released, it was individually hand numbered registered and packaged in its own presentation case of silk and velvet.

1000 was very popular, and the great mystique of the limited edition of 1000, compelled the house of Jean Patou to develop their Eau version, which they released in 1978. The women who wore the rich and rare scent wanted a lighter version companion to the parfum. With Jean Patou's demanding quality standards and the difficulty obtaining the priceless natural ingredients,  it took five years of painstaking efforts to develop Eau de 1000.

All the mysterious floral, woody and spicy notes of the perfume are embodied in the Eau de 1000, and it is perfect as a daily indulgence. Eau de 1000 came in three different flacons,  each in a crystal bottle with tortoiseshell plastic and goldtone cap.

Below are the original 1978 prices:

• 1/4 oz of 1000 parfum in green snuff bottle retailed for $70
• 1/4 oz of 1000 parfum in crystal flacon retailed for $43.50
• 1/2 oz of 1000 parfum in crystal flacon retailed for $87.50
• 1 oz of parfum in crystal flacon retailed for $175

• 1 oz of Eau de 1000 retailed for $45
• 2 oz of Eau de 1000 retailed for $75
• 2 oz atomizer, natural spray of Eau de 1000 retailed for $78

Today you can find 1000 de Jean Patou in the following forms:

• 0.25 oz Parfum
• 0.5 oz Parfum
  
• 1 oz Parfum 
• 2.5 oz Eau de Parfum
• 2.5 oz Eau de Toilette 
• 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette
• 6.7 oz Shower Gel
• 6.7 oz Body Lotion