ABOUT ME

Welcome!

Hello, and thank you for stopping by!

My name is Grace Elizabeth Arnone (formerly Hummel), though throughout the fragrance community I am better known as Cleopatra's Boudoir, or simply "Cleopatra." I live in beautiful southern New Jersey, where I spend my days researching perfume history, studying antique vanity treasures, and caring for an ever-growing family of rescued cats.

I've been an antique dealer, collector, writer, and perfume historian for over twenty-five years. Since adopting the name Cleopatra's Boudoir in 1999, my mission has remained remarkably simple: to preserve the history of perfume before it disappears.

My Passion for Perfume

"Perfume is one of the most exciting of feminine accessories. It has the power to delight your own senses enormously and to make you appear lovelier to others."

That simple thought perfectly expresses why perfume has fascinated me for so many years.

To me, perfume is far more than something beautiful to wear. Every bottle represents a moment in history. Behind every fragrance lies an extraordinary story involving artists, perfumers, chemists, glassmakers, advertisers, fashion designers, and the people who treasured these scents during their own lifetimes.

Perfume is liquid history.

What began as collecting antique perfume bottles gradually became an obsession with discovering the stories behind them. Before long I found myself researching long-forgotten perfume houses, reading century-old newspapers, searching dusty trade journals, studying bottle patents, and tracking down advertisements that had not been seen in decades. Eventually, I realized I wanted to share those discoveries with others.

Education, Inspiration & Encouragement

One of my greatest joys is helping others discover the fascinating world of perfume collecting and history.

Whether you've inherited a mysterious perfume bottle, discovered an unusual vanity item in an antique shop, or simply want to learn more about a favorite fragrance, I hope my research helps answer your questions.

My goal is to help you better understand your treasures, inspire you to seek out new ones, and encourage you to continue expanding your collection and appreciation of perfume history.

I believe knowledge should be shared freely whenever possible. If I can save someone hours—or even weeks—of research by sharing what I've learned, then I've accomplished exactly what I set out to do.

A Perfume Historian & Detective

I often jokingly describe myself as a perfume historian and detective, because that's exactly what much of my work involves.

I spend countless hours researching both famous and obscure perfume houses, discontinued fragrances, forgotten cosmetic companies, bottle manufacturers, trademarks, advertisements, patents, census records, city directories, museum collections, and period newspapers. Every article represents the careful piecing together of historical evidence from dozens—sometimes hundreds—of original sources.

Whenever possible, I document perfume note lists using original manufacturers' literature, vintage advertisements, books, and trade publications. If no official description survives, I rely on firsthand evaluation of vintage perfume whenever samples are available, while acknowledging that time may have altered the fragrance's original composition.

My greatest satisfaction comes from bringing forgotten perfumes back into the historical record so future generations can appreciate them once again.

My Collections

Like many collectors, my interests have evolved over the years.

Although perfume bottles have always remained my greatest passion, I've also collected RS Prussia, Limoges and Nippon porcelain, antique jewelry, Victorian and Edwardian clothing and accessories, parasols, fans, beaded purses, mourning jewelry, chatelaines, postcards, trade cards, Victorian ephemera, lace, textiles, Meissen and German bisque figurines, Battersea enamel boxes, sterling vanity items, Czech crystal scent bottles, Bohemian glass, Art Deco jewelry, and countless other decorative arts.

Today my collection is smaller and more focused, but every object I have kept continues to inspire my research.

Vintage Perfume Research

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is experiencing perfumes that have disappeared from the marketplace decades ago.

Whenever I obtain vintage perfume samples or unopened bottles, I carefully study them, comparing their aromas with original advertisements, ingredient lists, and historical descriptions. This allows me to reconstruct forgotten fragrance profiles and preserve information that might otherwise be lost forever.

Even partially evaporated bottles or tiny perfume residues can reveal remarkable details about a fragrance's evolution, ingredients, and character. Every surviving sample contributes another piece to perfume history.

If you happen to have vintage perfume bottles, samples, discovery sets, or fragrance miniatures that you no longer want, I would be deeply grateful if you would consider donating them to support my research. Your generosity helps preserve the history of perfumery for collectors, historians, and fragrance lovers everywhere.

Helping Collectors

Over the years I've been fortunate to help countless collectors identify unusual perfume bottles, date fragrances, research manufacturers, and better understand the treasures they own.

I also offer perfume bottle and vanity item appraisal services, including both simple value estimates and comprehensive historical appraisals. Information about these services can be found on the "What Is Your Perfume Worth?" page.

Animal Rescue

When I'm not surrounded by perfume bottles and antique reference books, you'll probably find me caring for cats.

Animal rescue has always been an important part of my life. I foster kittens for a local shelter, care for neighborhood community cats, and have opened my home to numerous strays over the years.

My current feline family includes Buddy, Princess, Astraea, Sox, Roseberry, Roxy, and several rescue alumni who never quite managed to leave. Every one of them has their own unique personality, and they constantly remind me that preserving lives—whether through history or rescue—is equally worthwhile.

Memberships & Recognition

Throughout my career I've been privileged to contribute to a number of organizations and publications devoted to fragrance history and appreciation.

These include membership in the International Perfume Bottle Association (IPBA), serving on Sniffapalooza's Fragrance Advisory Board, participating on Allure Magazine's Beauty Panel, writing for Fragrantica, The Perfume Magazine, and authoring more than two hundred vintage perfume guides for eBay. I've also been active within numerous online fragrance communities for many years, helping collectors identify bottles and research forgotten perfumes.

While I greatly appreciate these opportunities, my greatest reward continues to be hearing from readers who rediscover a beloved fragrance from childhood, identify a mysterious bottle inherited from a grandparent, or simply develop a deeper appreciation for perfume history.

(Please note that the following mentions were my original Cleopatra's Boudoir blog that was unfairly deleted by Google's AI)

I am happy to report that some of my knowledge about perfume bottles was featured in a 2008 article for SmartBuy by Business Line. The article is titled "On the scent trail".

Thank you to the Kovels for consulting my knowledge for their article on reproduction perfume bottles.

The warmest thanks to the friendly owners of the resurrected Parfums Cherigan, who published my review of their absolute gem, The Purple Bar, which has since replaced vintage Shalimar as my signature fragrance.

The deepest thanks goes to my friend Jana Menard over at the Fragrance Vault, a top-notch perfumery that specializes in high end, niche and vintage fragrances.

My (now defunct) eBay guides were featured in the article:

 “Tips and Guides on Types of Perfume” by www.patisseriedeliceroyal.com

Beauty Bible Blog has this to say about Cleopatra's Boudoir:

 "We've always had a 'thing' for vintage perfumes and perfume bottles (though not quite in the league of our friend Roja Dove and his world-class flacon collection). So on our peregrinations through cyberspace we were pleased to stumble across a US website - Cleopatra's Boudoir - which focuses on old bottles, the websites where you can find them, discontinued scents (how we long to have smelled Bonne Belle's Gadabouts, Lundborg's Stolen Secret or Atkinson's A Nosegay, for instance...) - and also features a blog about the author's fragrant vintage 'finds'. (Recent postings include Cobra by Weil, Fabergé's Straw Hat, or - oh, an old chypre favourite of Jo's, this - Sikkim, which was briefly revived by Lancôme about five years ago, but then disappeared once again into the ether.) We say: this Temple to Ancient Perfumes is a must-have addition to the blog-roll for any fragrance fiend. "

Thank you to Wanderlust and Pixie Dust and the Jazz Age on Facebook for featuring my article on Boudoir Dolls.

Thank you to Runway Magazine for featuring me in your Guerlain article.

Thank you to The Perfume Magazine for featuring my articles on vintage fragrances.

Thank you to Lizzie Ostrom, also known professionally as Odette Toilette for credit given to my blog in her book, Perfume, A Century of Scents.

Thank you to author Gregory N. Daugherty for the credit of my site in his book, The Reception of Cleopatra in the Age of Mass Media, published in 2022.

A huge thank you for the sincerest recognition to Amelia over at The Vintage Perfume Vault, of whom I quote the following: 

"...but my favorite Houbigant catalog (the most historically complete and accurate to this point) has been published online at Fragrantica by member Grace E. Hummel. Many of you may know her also as Cleopatra of Cleopatra's Boudoir- to me she is a hero of the free information movement on the Internet and especially in the area of vintage perfume, without parallel."

Thank you to Ms Dow Antiques for the sincere gratitude for my entry on Ahmed Soliman: 

"According to the excellent perfume bottle history blog Cleopatra's Boudoir.." 

Thank you to my friends over at the Perfume Passage for including me as one of their resources. 

Thank you to both Neatorama,  DailyKos and Atlas Obscura for mentioning me regarding Tear Catcher Perfume Bottles.

Thank you to New Yorker State of Mind for mentioning my site in your article. 

Thank you to the Kovels for including my information about fake perfume bottles on your website.

Thank you to the Kafkaesque blog  (the author wishes to remain anonymous) for mentioning my Guerlain perfume blog. 

Thank you for Eden Botanicals for crediting my blog.

Thank you always to my supportive friends over at Fragrantica for mentioning me and my knowledge.

Thank you to my friends, Pauline & Joan, the Turco sisters, over at Scentserely for crediting me as a reference. Don't forget to check out their very informative volume, The Crown Top Book.

Thank you for medium.com for mentioning my information about fake perfumes.

Thank you to my dear friend in fragrance, Andre Moreau over at Raiders of the Lost Scent for the credits.

Thank you to The Perfumed Guillotine for mentioning my Guerlain blogsite.

Thank you to Love Vintage for including this site in your article on perfumes.

Thank you to The Broke Costumer for mentioning my ebay guides (which are now, unfortunately defunct) in your article on Egyptomania.

Thank you to Born To Be A Unicorn for mentioning my Guerlain blog.

Thank you to virago over at ask.metafilter for mentioning me and my blog.

Thank you to Big Girl Rhapsody for mentioning me in your article on Angelique.

Thank you to The Artful Rabbit for mentioning my blog in your article on vintage perfume.

Thank you for the credit in your thesis Mari Khasmanyan .

Thank you for the credit Muse in the Wooden Shoes.

Thank you to Scent Grail for adding me to your references a a "gold mine about dating vintage perfumery."

Thank you to MSU for including my info on Langlois, note: used my old web address.

Thank you to Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art for the credit on my post of Niki de Saint Phalle

Thank you to Mary May Robertson for the credit in her book, The Marriage between Perfume and the Lyric Stage.

Thank you to Uri M. Kupferschmidt for the credit in his book, The Diffusion of "Small" Western Technologies in the Middle East.

Thank you to Jilene Chua for credit in the publication, Monsieur: meanings and practices of elegance 1920-1924.

Thank you to Eva Berville for credit in the publication La maison de haute couture Maggy Rouff de 1929 à 1948

Thank you to the Tinker Cottage Museum for the credit on their article on Victorian Beauty Trends.

Thank you to Sheila Ann Byle for credit in your thesis on my favorite subject: The Essence and Use of Perfume in Ancient Egypt.

Thank you to the Beaufort County Government for credit (on my defunct blog) in your Archaeological Data Recovery at Mitchelville (38BU2301) Hilton Head Island Airport Improvements Study Area.

Thank you to Gregory Daugherty for credit in The Reception of Cleopatra in the Age of Mass Media.

Thank you to Cherry Cheng for mentioning my site in the interview with the Dry Down Diaries.

A Final Word

Thank you for visiting Cleopatra's Boudoir.

Whether you're here to identify an antique perfume bottle, research a long-forgotten fragrance, explore the history of a perfume house, or simply indulge your curiosity, I hope you'll find something that inspires you.

If you ever have a question, discover new information, or simply wish to talk about perfume history, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy collecting,

Grace Elizabeth Arnone

"Cleopatra's Boudoir"

cleopatrasboudoir@gmail.com

Join Me Beyond the Blog

While Cleopatra's Boudoir serves as my permanent archive of perfume history, my research is always evolving. Every week brings new discoveries, forgotten advertisements, rare bottles, historical documents, and fascinating stories waiting to be explored.

If you'd like to follow along as these discoveries unfold, I warmly invite you to visit my Patreon, where I share behind-the-scenes research, works in progress, updates on current projects, and discussions that offer a glimpse into the detective work behind each article.

You are also welcome to join my private Facebook community, Perfume & Vanity Exchange!, where collectors and enthusiasts gather to buy, sell, trade, identify, and discuss vintage perfumes, perfume bottles, vanity accessories, and other beautiful collectibles.

 

 

 

FRAGRANCES I WEAR:

I often get emails asking me what my favorite perfumes are or what is in my perfume wardrobe. I prefer the following in reference to fragrances: Ambery fragrances (formerly known as orientals), opulent florals, woody, vanilla, spicy, incense, gourmand, sweet, heady, seductive, tobacco, musky, animalic. I am currently coveting the Shalimar Ode de la Vanille scents.

This is just a small list but I wear the following perfumes:

• Alien by Thierry Mugler
• Alien Absolue by Mugler
• Ambre Gris by Balmain
• Angel by Thierry Mugler
• Angel Leather by Mugler
• Bal a Versailles by Jean Desprez
• Balenciaga Paris by Balenciaga 
• Balenciaga Paris L'Essence by Balenciaga 
• Bhagavan by Durrani
• Black Cashmere by Donna Karan
• Black Orchid by Tom Ford
• Boucheron by Boucheron (vintage version)
• Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan
• Casmir by Chopard
• C'est la Vie by Christian Lacroix
• Chergui by Serge Lutens
• Cobra by Weil
• Coco by Chanel (vintage version)
• Cornubia by Penhaligon's (vintage version)
• Cuir Mauresque by Serge Lutens (need this)
• Datura Blanche by Keiko Mecheri (Original - one of my go-to perfumes)
• Dior Addict (original)
• Divine Decadence by Marc Jacobs
• Douceur de Vanille by Les Néréides
• Fleur Nocturne by Isabey
• Fracas by Robert Piguet
• Gardenia by Isabey
• Hypnotic Poison by Dior
• Indulge by Eadward
• Insolence by Guerlain
• Intense Tiare by Montale (need this)
• Jaipur by Boucheron
• Jovan White Musk
• Jungle Elephant by Kenzo
• Juju by Joots
• L de Lolita Lempicka
• L de Lolita Lempicka Fleur de Corail
• L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain
• La Route d'Emeraude by Isabey
• Lolita Lempicka
• Love in Black by Creed
• Love, The Key To Life by Linda Gerlach
• Lys Noir by Isabey
• Metallica/Metalys by Guerlain (need this)
• Mon Précieux Nectar by Guerlain
• Nilang by Lalique (vintage version)
• Objet Céleste by Volnay
• Organza Indecence by Givenchy
• Oro by Roberto Cavalli
• Oropuro by Laura Tonatto (love this, need more)
• Poison by Christian Dior (vintage version only)
• Prends Moi by Isabey (need this)
• Pure by DKNY
• Pure Poison by Christian Dior
• Python by Trussardi
• Safanad by Parfums de Marly (need this!)
• Sahara Noir by Tom Ford
• Samsara by Guerlain
• Shalimar by Guerlain
• Shalimar Ode de la Vanille sur la Route du Mexique by Guerlain
• Shalimar Parfum Initial by Guerlain
• Shalimar Parfum Initial L'Eau by Guerlain
• Songes by Annick Goutal
• Sweet Oriental Dream by Montale (need this)
• Tabac Blond by Caron (need this)
• Tendre Nuit by Isabey (need this)
• The Purple Bar by Cherigan
• Violetta by Penhaligon's