Lanvin released Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça in 1924, a perfume whose name alone carries a lighthearted charm. Pronounced as "comb-see, comb-sah", the French phrase literally means “so-so” or “like this, like that.” Far from being dismissive, however, it conveys a playful shrug, a whimsical indifference, or a teasing nonchalance. Jeanne Lanvin’s choice of name was witty and modern, perfectly attuned to the spirit of the 1920s—a perfume for young women who carried themselves with confidence, laughter, and a sense of irony. In its very title, the fragrance suggested an irreverence toward tradition, a delight in spontaneity, and a refusal to take life—or perfume—too seriously.
The phrase itself evokes images of sparkling wit and carefree charm. It suggests a lively Parisian afternoon, a young woman in a cloche hat and pearls laughing at the café terrace, or the effervescent energy of the dance floor. To women of the 1920s, Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça would have represented modern femininity: spirited, self-aware, and lightly rebellious. It was not a perfume meant to envelop with grandeur or mystique but rather one that danced, sparkled, and delighted—an olfactory counterpart to the flapper’s joie de vivre.
The fragrance debuted during Les Années Folles—“The Crazy Years”—France’s version of the Roaring Twenties. This was an era defined by jazz, cinema, Art Deco design, and women breaking free of old restrictions. Fashion embraced short skirts, bobbed hair, and bold accessories, while perfumery moved toward abstraction, radiance, and playfulness. Aldehydes were lending brightness to florals, while chypres and orientals explored deeper sensualities. Against this backdrop, Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça found its niche as a fragrance aimed at the “gay debutante,” as described in early promotional texts: a sprightly blend of French garden flowers, meant to feel like a stroll through a summer garden.
Created by Madame Marie Zede, the perfume was classified as a floral, its composition evoking a bouquet of old-fashioned French blossoms refreshed by sunlight and air. While grand, opulent florals had defined earlier decades, Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça reflected a new preference for brightness and lighthearted charm. Its concept was less about seduction and more about youthful sparkle, making it stand apart in a market increasingly dominated by heavier orientals and abstract aldehydic compositions.
In context, Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça was both in step with its time and quietly unique. It drew upon the popular floral traditions that women still cherished, but reframed them with a wink, giving them a sprightly, modern attitude. For the young women of the Jazz Age, it was the perfect scent: spirited, refreshing, and playful—an invisible accessory for a generation embracing freedom and delight.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral fragrance for women. Described as a "sprightly, refreshing blend of French garden flowers."
- Top notes:
- Middle notes: floral notes
- Base notes:
By 1926, Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça had firmly established itself as one of Lanvin’s fashionable perfumes, positioned at the higher end of the luxury market. A Fashions of the Hour column from that year placed it on the “top shelf” at a price of $25—a considerable sum at the time, underscoring both its exclusivity and its appeal to the modern, stylish woman who viewed perfume as an essential accessory rather than a luxury reserved for special occasions.
Advertising of the mid-1920s brought Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça to life in words and imagery. A 1926 newspaper ad described it as “a delicious perfume called Comme-ci, Comme-ca in an amethyst bottle with the Lanvin trademark in gold and a gold blackberry stopper.” This description not only highlighted the fragrance itself but also emphasized the artistry of its presentation. The amethyst-colored bottle, with its luxurious gilded emblem and jewel-like stopper, transformed the perfume into a coveted object for the vanity table—bridging fragrance, fashion, and decorative art.
By 1927, Lanvin’s messaging for Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça leaned even more into the personality of the scent. Advertisements called it “intriguing, sprightly, refreshing—a blend of French garden flowers created by Jeanne Lanvin.” The perfume was marketed as lively and charming, designed to complement the wardrobe of the modern woman navigating seasonal shifts in fashion. The description of its “smart, mysterious little black bottle” carrying the golden Lanvin symbol reinforced its chic allure, while the packaging—a “most charming little blue and white striped box”—added a playful touch of refinement. At $15, the perfume was presented as an attainable indulgence, one that lent “smartness and distinction” to any ensemble.
Together, these advertisements reveal how Lanvin positioned Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça as more than a fragrance. It was a stylish companion to fashion, embodying the spirited nonchalance suggested by its name. The imagery of bottles and boxes, colors and textures, created an aura that perfectly mirrored the Jazz Age woman: modern, witty, stylish, and ever in pursuit of beauty that felt both playful and refined.
Bottles:
"Comme-Çi, Comme-Ça" - (1926)
Rare and exceptional bottle model "ball turquoise" blue enameled bisque manufactured by Sèvres, enhanced with gold collar, gilded "raspberry" stopper . Signed two hallmarks of Manufacture, monogrammed initials in the base, dated 1926 and numbered 50 of 100 copies published after the drawing Armand Rateau. Stands 10 cm tall. Photo by Drouot.
Fate of the Fragrance:
Discontinued, date unknown. Still being sold in 1932.