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.