Added Attraction by Prince Matchabelli (1956)

Added Attraction by Prince Matchabelli was launched in 1956, a year marked by glamour, burgeoning confidence, and a renewed postwar femininity in American culture. The name itself—Added Attraction—was a phrase of the era, used often in the language of advertising and film to suggest an irresistible extra, a compelling bonus, a final flourish that clinches desire. The phrase "Added attraction” evoked images of romantic intrigue, flirtation, and allure—perfectly tailored to the midcentury woman who was being encouraged to cultivate beauty, charm, and self-possession. To name a perfume Added Attraction was to imply that the fragrance was the final detail, the extra something that made a woman unforgettable.

The mid-1950s, often referred to as the "Golden Age" of American consumerism, was a time when femininity was carefully choreographed. Fashion favored full skirts, cinched waists, and soft silhouettes, echoing Dior’s New Look, while beauty advertisements leaned into the idea of polished, poised perfection. Perfume was central to this performance—a final touch that helped a woman project poise, sophistication, or mystery. Added Attraction entered this scene as a warm, musky floral with a mossy, woodsy foundation—notes designed to suggest sensual depth without being overpowering. It was an alluring blend meant not just to be worn, but to be noticed, remembered, and perhaps even longed for.

Women of the time would likely have embraced the name and the scent as part of their beauty arsenal—something subtle enough for day but with the lingering warmth and presence to carry into the evening. It promised a touch of glamour, a trace of mystery, a confident sense of womanhood. The scent’s composition placed it within the broader trends of the 1950s, when chypres and floral-orientals were growing in popularity. However, its musky depth and understated sensuality gave it distinction. Rather than broadcasting seduction, Added Attraction whispered it—a quality that set it apart from both the powdery aldehydic florals of the early '50s and the overtly provocative scents that would soon follow in the next decade.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? Added Attraction by Prince Matchabelli is classified as a floral fragrance for women. It is a vibrant, and warm floral perfume with a musky, mossy, and woodsy base.

• Top notes: aldehyde C-10, aldehyde C-11, Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian lemon oil, French lavender, Syrian cassie, farnesol
• Middle notes: Indian carnation, isoeugenol, amyl salicylate, Bulgarian rose otto, Grasse jasmine absolute, Grasse tuberose absolute, Tuscan violet, ionones, Manila ylang ylang oil, Moroccan orange blossom absolute, hydroxycitronellal 
• Base notes: Atlas cedar, Tibetan musk, Yugoslavian oakmoss, Mysore sandalwood, Abyssinian ambergris, Abyssinian civet absolute, Canadian castoreum absolute, Mexican vanilla, Venezuelan tonka bean, coumarin, Siam benzoin, Sumatran styrax

Scent Profile:

From the first impression, Added Attraction by Prince Matchabelli unfolds like the soft rustle of silk—bright, clean, and head-turning. The top notes burst forth with a radiant interplay of aldehyde C-10 and aldehyde C-11, two classic aroma molecules that create a luminous, soapy sparkle reminiscent of starched linen and cool morning air. C-10 (decanal) lends a slightly waxy, citrusy freshness, while C-11 (undecanal) adds a creamy, green shimmer that softens and diffuses the opening—less sharp than aldehyde C-12, more tender and diffusive, creating the olfactory illusion of distance and elegance.

Citrus anchors this effervescence: Calabrian bergamot, with its gently floral-citrus profile, introduces refinement, while Sicilian lemon oil brings bright, sunny acidity that tingles on the nose, hinting at freshly peeled rinds. Nestled within is a touch of French lavender, adding a whisper of herbal camphor and gentle floral lift, and Syrian cassie absolute, which delivers a powdery, mimosa-like warmth tinged with green spice and honeyed depth. The inclusion of farnesol, a naturally occurring terpene alcohol, reinforces the floral theme, binding head and heart together while extending freshness—its soft rosy nuance rounds the citrus without muting it.

As the fragrance deepens, the heart reveals itself: a lush and romantic bouquet with spiced edges. At its core is Indian carnation absolute, spicy, clove-like, and full-bodied—further accentuated by isoeugenol, a key component of clove oil that sharpens and defines the carnation’s peppery warmth. Amyl salicylate, a soft green-floral synthetic, adds a cushion of meadow-like sweetness, setting the stage for the grand florals to bloom. Bulgarian rose otto contributes a complex aroma—green and honeyed, with hints of wine and fruit—while Grasse jasmine absolute, indolic and rich, weaves through with creamy, slightly animalic sensuality.

The opulence continues with Grasse tuberose absolute, whose narcotic, buttery fullness gives the fragrance its vintage glamour. Softening this intensity is Tuscan violet, with its powdery, suede-like softness, supported by ionones, aroma chemicals that echo the violet’s ethereal presence and provide the powdery signature so typical of mid-century perfumes. Manila ylang ylang oil adds exotic banana-floral lushness, and Moroccan orange blossom absolute infuses the heart with a radiant, citrus-floral light. Hydroxycitronellal, a classic synthetic used to recreate lily-of-the-valley and fresh muguet notes, brings clarity and a soft, dewy glow to the floral ensemble.

The base of Added Attraction settles in with the gravity and sensuality expected of a mid-century floral built for allure. Atlas cedar offers a dry, pencil-shaving woodiness, grounding the heart in earthy restraint. Tibetan musk tincture contributes a soft, almost powdery warmth—animalic, but muted by time and tradition. Yugoslavian oakmoss absolute, deep and foresty, delivers that essential chypre soul: damp earth, crushed green leaves, and cool shadows beneath old trees.

Luxurious Mysore sandalwood, creamy and sweet with a touch of spice, lends a meditative calm to the blend—its distinction lies in its milky smoothness and gentle persistence, unmatched by sandalwoods from other regions. Abyssinian ambergris, softly marine and sweet, gives the perfume a rounded, almost mystical softness, harmonizing perfectly with the musk and floral base. The animalics continue with Abyssinian civet absolute and Canadian castoreum, both used in trace amounts for depth: civet gives a musky-sweet hum, while castoreum adds a leathery, resinous accent.

Finally, sweetness lingers with Mexican vanilla, warm and soft as velvet, paired with Venezuelan tonka bean, which adds hints of almond and tobacco. Coumarin, naturally present in tonka, is further enhanced here, blending hay-like sweetness with powdered charm. Siam benzoin and Sumatran styrax, both balsamic resins, finish the fragrance with a gentle resinous trail—sweet, smoky, and slightly ambered, a perfect frame to the romantic floral core.

Added Attraction is a study in balance: aldehydic lift and floral depth, animalic warmth and powdery softness, vintage richness and enduring femininity. It captures the aura of a woman who knows her charm—not overbearing, but unforgettable.

Bottles:

Fate of the Fragrance:

Added Attraction by Prince Matchabelli was launched in 1956, during a golden era of postwar glamour and femininity. The name itself—Added Attraction—suggested a whisper of mystery, an extra spark that made a woman unforgettable. It wasn’t just a perfume; it was meant to be the final touch, the “added” allure that completed a look or a mood. Reflecting the social optimism and elegance of the 1950s, the fragrance quickly found its place among Matchabelli’s more sophisticated offerings.

The perfume remained on the market for well over a decade, with records showing it was still being sold as late as 1969. Its longevity suggests that Added Attraction resonated with women through a period of immense cultural change—from the tailored refinement of the late '50s to the more expressive styles of the Swinging Sixties. It bridged two worlds: one of structured suits and gloves, and another of bolder femininity and new freedom. Whether worn with a cinched-waist dress or a mod miniskirt, the scent’s musky florals and mossy, woodsy base lent an air of understated seduction.

Though its official discontinuation date remains unknown, by the early 1970s, Added Attraction had quietly disappeared from counters, leaving behind only memories and the occasional surviving bottle—a fragrant echo of mid-century charm and mystery.