When Intimate was introduced in 1955 by Revlon, it reflected both the glamour and the subtle sensuality that defined mid-century American beauty culture. The name “Intimate” comes from English, derived ultimately from the Latin intimus, meaning “innermost” or “closest.” The word suggests private closeness, personal connection, and emotional warmth. Unlike names that evoke distant fantasy or exotic places, “Intimate” speaks directly to human relationships. It implies a fragrance meant to be experienced at close range—something discovered by someone leaning near, a scent that lingers softly on skin rather than announcing itself loudly across a room.
The imagery evoked by the word is deeply romantic and personal. “Intimate” suggests quiet moments shared between two people—a whispered conversation, a lingering embrace, the faint trace of perfume on a scarf or pillow. Emotionally, the word conveys tenderness, allure, and the subtle power of attraction. In the language of fragrance, the name implies a scent that blends naturally with the wearer’s skin, becoming almost indistinguishable from her own warmth. Rather than dramatic spectacle, it suggests a perfume meant to draw someone closer.
The mid-1950s were a particularly intriguing moment for such a concept. The perfume appeared during the post-World War II prosperity of the 1950s, a period often associated with optimism, consumer growth, and the expansion of American popular culture. Fashion celebrated polished femininity—full skirts, fitted waists, elegant gloves, and carefully styled hair. Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly embodied glamour, while beauty advertising increasingly emphasized romance and personal allure. In perfumery, aldehydic florals and elegant chypres remained highly influential, following the legacy of earlier French classics. American cosmetic companies, however, were beginning to compete directly with European perfume houses, producing fragrances that combined European sophistication with bold, modern marketing.
Women of the time would likely have responded to a perfume called Intimate with a mixture of curiosity and fascination. In an era when public discussions of sexuality were often restrained, the word carried a subtle suggestion of romance and private allure. Wearing a perfume with this name allowed a woman to project confidence and sensual femininity while still remaining within the refined boundaries of mid-century elegance. The concept aligned perfectly with the growing idea that fragrance was not only a beauty accessory but also a powerful tool of attraction.
This notion was amplified by Revlon’s striking advertising campaign. The brand embraced a deliberately provocative tone for the time, using taglines such as “The moments he cannot forget…are those Intimate moments with you.” Advertisements often featured glamorous women with languid, bedroom-eyed expressions and captions hinting at secrets and personal motives: “For personal reasons, I can’t explain why I use Intimate… but I do use Intimate, for personal reasons.” Such marketing played with suggestion rather than explicit statement, reinforcing the idea that the perfume’s power lay in subtlety and intrigue. Another advertisement promised that “Even in the dark… he’ll know it’s you.” These messages positioned the fragrance as a private signal between lovers—a scent that communicated attraction without words.
In olfactory terms, the idea of “intimacy” was interpreted through a composition created by the perfumers of International Flavors & Fragrances. Classified as a floral-animalic chypre, the perfume opens with a luminous aldehydic top, giving the fragrance a sparkling brightness that catches attention without becoming overwhelming. Beneath this lies a floral-woody heart, dominated by lush jasmine and accented with elegant woods that lend depth and refinement. The fragrance eventually settles into a warm, mossy base, characteristic of classical chypres, enriched with animalic undertones that create a sensual warmth on the skin. These deeper notes—mosses, woods, and subtle animalic accords—are what give the perfume its lasting, intimate quality, lingering close to the body rather than projecting sharply.
Within the context of the perfumes available in the mid-1950s, Intimate did not radically break with established trends, but it did present them in a distinctly modern American way. Floral aldehydes and chypres were already widely admired structures, particularly in European perfumery, and Revlon’s fragrance clearly drew upon this tradition. What distinguished it was the boldness of its marketing and its emphasis on sensual closeness, which felt daring for its time. By combining a classic perfume structure with provocative advertising and an accessible price point, Revlon created a fragrance that captured the glamour, romance, and subtle rebellion of the mid-century era—an elegant scent designed to be discovered not across a ballroom, but in the quiet closeness of an unforgettable moment.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? The original formula of Intimate is classified as a floral-animalic chypre fragrance for women. It begins with an aldehydic top, followed by a floral woody heart, layered over a warm, sensual, mossy base. Exotic modern blend with exceptionally lasting undertones of jasmine and oriental woods.
- Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, petitgrain, neroli, rose, gardenia, coriander, lily of the valley
- Middle notes: carnation, ylang ylang, jasmine, orris, patchouli, sandalwood, cedarwood
- Base notes: resins, ambergris, castoreum, civet, vetiver, oakmoss, musk, styrax, benzoin, labdanum, tonka bean, vanilla, Peru balsam
Scent Profile:
The original Intimate fragrance created for Revlon by perfumers at International Flavors & Fragrances unfolds with the elegance typical of a floral-animalic chypre, a structure that balances luminous florals with deep mossy and sensual undertones. From the first moment on the skin, the perfume opens with a brilliant aldehydic sparkle. The aldehydes—aroma molecules such as C-10, C-11, and C-12 commonly used in mid-century perfumery—create an airy, almost effervescent sensation reminiscent of chilled champagne or the crisp scent of freshly ironed linen. They give the fragrance a shimmering lift, allowing the lighter notes to bloom with radiant clarity. Beneath this sparkle lies the fresh citrus elegance of bergamot, traditionally sourced from Calabria in southern Italy, where the unique climate produces fruit with a perfect balance of bitterness, sweetness, and delicate floral nuance. Alongside it appears petitgrain, distilled from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree, which brings a green citrus aroma with hints of wood and herbs. Neroli, obtained from the blossoms of the same orange tree and famously cultivated in Tunisia and Morocco, contributes a luminous floral brightness—sweet, honeyed, and slightly green.
As the opening settles, delicate florals begin to emerge. Rose lends a soft velvety sweetness, while gardenia introduces a creamy white-flower richness reminiscent of tropical petals warmed by sunlight. Gardenia is extremely difficult to extract in natural form, so perfumers recreate its scent using a complex blend of natural materials and synthetic molecules that capture its buttery, jasmine-like fragrance. A touch of coriander seed adds a surprising aromatic spice—cool, citrusy, and faintly peppery—giving the top notes a lively sparkle. Finally, the cool breath of lily of the valley appears. Because the fragile blossoms yield no extractable oil, their scent must be recreated through aroma molecules such as hydroxycitronellal, which beautifully mimic the crisp, dewy freshness of the flower.
The heart of the perfume blooms into a lush floral and woody composition. Carnation introduces a spicy floral tone, its characteristic clove-like warmth derived from the natural presence of eugenol. Ylang-ylang, harvested from tropical blossoms grown in the Comoros or Madagascar, brings a creamy sweetness tinged with banana and exotic spice. At the center lies jasmine, one of the most treasured materials in perfumery. Jasmine absolute from regions such as Grasse in France or Egypt possesses a rich, intoxicating aroma—sweet, fruity, and faintly animalic due to naturally occurring indole molecules. This indolic warmth enhances the sensual character of the fragrance and bridges the floral heart with the deeper base notes.
The bouquet is softened by orris, derived from the aged rhizomes of iris plants cultivated primarily in Italy. Orris root develops its perfume only after years of drying, yielding a precious powdery scent reminiscent of violet, suede, and antique cosmetics. Beneath the flowers, the composition deepens with woods. Patchouli, typically grown in Indonesia, contributes a dark earthy richness with hints of damp soil and chocolate. Sandalwood, historically the prized Mysore variety from India, adds a creamy, milky smoothness that feels warm and comforting. Cedarwood, often distilled from Atlas cedar in Morocco or Virginia cedar in North America, introduces a dry, pencil-shaving woodiness that stabilizes the fragrance and anchors the floral notes.
As the perfume dries down, it reveals the sumptuous chypre base that gives Intimate its lasting sensuality. Warm resins begin to unfold, lending a balsamic depth that feels rich and slightly smoky. Ambergris, historically formed within the digestive system of sperm whales and now often recreated with modern aroma molecules, contributes a unique scent—soft, slightly salty, sweet, and radiant, enhancing the diffusion of the fragrance. Castoreum, traditionally derived from the scent glands of the beaver but now synthesized for ethical reasons, adds a warm leathery nuance that deepens the perfume’s sensual character. Civet, once sourced from the civet cat but also reproduced synthetically today, lends a subtle animalic warmth that intensifies the florals and helps them linger on the skin.
The earthy elegance of vetiver, especially the smoky Haitian variety, adds a dry rooty complexity, while oakmoss, historically harvested from lichens growing on oak trees in Balkan forests, provides the unmistakable signature of a classical chypre—cool, damp, and mossy like a shaded woodland floor. Musk, recreated through modern synthetic musks, envelops the base in a soft skin-like warmth that makes the perfume feel intimately connected to the wearer.
The final notes glow with balsamic sweetness. Styrax contributes a smoky resinous warmth reminiscent of leather and incense, while benzoin, harvested from trees in Southeast Asia, adds a vanilla-like sweetness with hints of caramel and warm amber. Labdanum, obtained from Mediterranean rockrose shrubs, provides a rich ambered note with leathery depth. Tonka bean, sourced from South America, naturally contains the molecule coumarin, which smells like sweet hay and almond. Vanilla, cultivated primarily in Madagascar or Tahiti, brings creamy sweetness enhanced by the aroma molecule vanillin, which intensifies its warmth. Finally, Peru balsam, harvested from trees in El Salvador, contributes a rich aroma reminiscent of vanilla, cinnamon, and caramelized wood.
As all these elements merge, Intimate becomes a velvety veil of scent—sparkling aldehydes fading into lush florals, then settling into a deep, mossy warmth touched with animalic sensuality and balsamic sweetness. The result is a perfume that lingers close to the skin, unfolding gradually with each movement, creating the quiet yet unforgettable aura suggested by its name.
Original Product Line:
Over the years, Intimate by Revlon was offered in a wide range of forms, reflecting the mid-twentieth-century practice of extending a fragrance into a complete perfumed body ritual. At the heart of the line was the Parfum, the most concentrated expression of the scent. Applied sparingly to pulse points, the parfum allowed the fragrance’s aldehydic florals and mossy chypre base to develop slowly and richly on the skin. Alongside it were lighter interpretations such as the Eau de Toilette and Eau de Cologne, which offered a fresher, more casual way to wear the fragrance throughout the day. In 1963, Revlon also introduced Intimate Spray Mist, an atomized Eau de Toilette version that reflected the growing popularity of spray applications during the early 1960s. The spray format allowed the perfume to be distributed in a fine cloud, creating a soft scented aura around the wearer rather than the more precise application typical of splash bottles.
Like many successful fragrances of the era, Intimate was expanded into a full suite of ancillary bath and body products, allowing devotees to layer the scent from bathing to dressing. These included Solid Perfume, a compact and portable form of the fragrance often carried in a purse for discreet touch-ups. Bathing products such as Foaming Bath Oil, Bath Oil, and Creamy Milk Bath transformed daily bathing into a luxurious scented ritual, releasing the perfume’s aroma into warm water and steam. After bathing, products like Body Lotion helped soften the skin while leaving behind a subtle veil of fragrance.
Finishing touches were provided through traditional perfumed powders. Dusting Powder and Talcum Powder were finely milled, lightly scented powders designed to keep the skin smooth and fresh while imparting a gentle trace of the fragrance. A particularly distinctive product in the line was the Cooling Spray Bath Powder, a refreshing powder formulation that could be sprayed onto the body to provide both fragrance and a light cooling sensation—an example of the inventive cosmetic formats popular in mid-century beauty culture. Together, these varied products allowed women to incorporate Intimate into every stage of their daily routine, creating a layered fragrance effect that lingered softly and continuously throughout the day.
1965 ad
In 1965, Revlon refreshed the presentation of Intimate, introducing a series of elegant new containers that reflected the decorative glamour of mid-1960s cosmetic design. The Eau de Toilette Spray Mist line was particularly striking. These atomizers were presented in ornate gold filigree cases, delicate metal frameworks that wrapped around the bottles like lacework, giving them the appearance of miniature jewelry pieces rather than simple perfume containers. Inside these filigree holders were teardrop-shaped glass decanters and, in some cases, a beautifully diamond-faceted glass spray bottle whose cut surfaces caught and reflected light with a sparkling effect. The combination of shimmering gold metalwork and brilliant glass gave the fragrance a luxurious, almost heirloom quality suitable for display on a vanity table.
The more concentrated Parfum was housed in a square glass bottle fitted with a matching glass stopper, a design that emphasized clarity and classic elegance. The clean geometric shape contrasted with the ornate filigree spray bottles, giving the parfum presentation a refined simplicity appropriate for the most precious concentration of the fragrance. Around the same time, Revlon expanded the line with additional scented body products designed to complement the perfume. Among these was Silk of Intimate, a rich frosted lotion intended to leave the skin soft and delicately perfumed, along with Moisture Lotion, Milk Bath, and the distinctive Cooling Spray Powder, each extending the fragrance into different stages of the daily beauty routine. The Dusting Powder, presented with a soft lambswool puff, added a final luxurious finishing touch after bathing.
Another elegant addition to the range was Intimate Perfume Oil, which offered the fragrance in a more concentrated, skin-hugging form. This preparation was presented in a rectangular glass bottle adorned with a gilded square label, the gold detail echoing the filigree motif used in the spray bottles. Altogether, the updated packaging and expanded body line introduced in 1965 transformed Intimate from a single fragrance into a complete beauty collection, reflecting the era’s emphasis on coordinated personal care products and decorative vanity presentations.
In the spring of 1970, Revlon introduced the “Intimate Best Dressed Collection,” a colorful and fashion-forward reinterpretation of the classic fragrance line. The packaging captured the free-spirited aesthetic of the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time when fashion embraced bold patterns, handcrafted textures, and playful decorative details. The boxes were adorned with vibrant floral prints, echoing the flower-powered optimism of the era, and were finished with genuine macramé yarn bows attached to the front. This tactile embellishment gave the presentation a handmade, bohemian character that felt distinctly “hippie chic.” Some versions of the collection also appeared in red and white striped boxes, offering a graphic, mod-inspired alternative to the floral packaging while still maintaining the lively spirit of contemporary fashion.
The collection itself was conceived as a coordinated ensemble of fragrance and bath products, mirroring the language of couture fashion. Among the highlights was The Best Dressed Sprays, a glossy, ready-to-go case containing two portable Intimate sprays: the elegantly shaped Ovalesque Eau de Toilette Spray and the refreshing Cooling Spray Bath Powder. These compact sprays were designed to be easily carried in a handbag, allowing the wearer to refresh her fragrance throughout the day. The Couture Case offered a more elaborate assortment, bringing together Eau de Toilette Spray, Eau de Toilette Perfume Oil, and Eau de Toilette in a presentation meant to evoke a fashionable wardrobe of scent—“the kind of fashion that fits the mood, the mode…everyone’s fancy,” as the promotional materials suggested.
For those seeking a more expansive selection, the Designer Collection served as the grand ensemble of the line. This set combined Intimate Eau de Toilette Spray, Eau de Toilette, Foaming Bath Oil, and two cakes of Intimate guest soaps, creating a complete fragrance ritual from bathing to finishing touches. At the center of the collection remained the fragrance itself in several forms. The Perfume, described as the most precious and richly concentrated expression of Intimate, was produced, bottled, and sealed in France, reinforcing the perfume’s association with traditional European craftsmanship. The Spray Mist, an Eau de Toilette delivered through an atomizer, offered a more lavish and effortless way to apply the scent, creating a fine cloud of fragrance around the wearer.
Additional variations allowed the fragrance to be experienced in subtler ways. Eau de Toilette provided a lighter, more understated interpretation that could be worn generously throughout the day. Powdered versions of the fragrance were also included in the line: Cooling Spray Bath Powder, dispensed from an aerosol to create a soft, cooling veil of fragrance, and Perfumed Dusting Powder, applied generously with its oversized, velvety puff to leave the skin silky and delicately scented. Bath products expanded the ritual further. The Creamy Milk Bath, a delicate pink powder, transformed bathwater into a luxurious froth that softened the skin while releasing the fragrance into the steam. The Foaming Bath Oil, described as a rich golden liquid, combined the soothing qualities of bath oil with abundant scented bubbles, creating a lavish bathing experience.
One of the most distinctive items in the line was the Ovalesque Spray, whose sleek silhouette was promoted as “the shape of tomorrow.” This elegant slimline bottle featured a crystal-like fluted glass body topped with a mock tortoise-shell cap, blending contemporary style with a hint of classic sophistication. It was offered in both a miniature purse size—perfect for slipping into a pocket or handbag—and a larger vanity size intended for use at home. Altogether, the Intimate Best Dressed Collection reflected the playful creativity of early 1970s design, presenting the fragrance not merely as a perfume but as a fashionable accessory that could be worn, layered, and enjoyed in many different forms.
From a 1971 ad:
"REVLON INTIMATE TEAR DROP SPRAY . Intimate, one of the world's great fragrances, is a tender compliment to any woman in this beautiful tear drop spray bottle and exciting gift box.2.25 oz, $3.50"
Fate of the Fragrance:
By 1980, Intimate by Revlon was still available to consumers, demonstrating the remarkable longevity of a fragrance first introduced in the mid-1950s. During this period the perfume was offered in a Natural Atomizer Concentrated Cologne format, reflecting the continued popularity of spray applications and lighter fragrance strengths as consumer tastes evolved. Advertisements described this version as a scent that “reflects the grace and spirit of the Orient,” an expression frequently used in fragrance marketing at the time to evoke warmth, exotic woods, and sensual oriental undertones. The 2-ounce bottle sold for $4.75, promoted as a value compared with its usual $9.25 price, illustrating how the fragrance had transitioned from its earlier prestige positioning into a more accessible product while still retaining the romantic aura associated with the original perfume.
1987 Jean Philippe Version:
At some point after this period, the original Intimate fragrance line was discontinued by Revlon. However, the name did not disappear entirely. In 1987, the house of Jean Philippe revived the Intimate trademark after acquiring the worldwide rights to the name from Revlon. While Jean Philippe obtained the branding and legal rights associated with the fragrance line, the original formula itself remained the property of its creators, preserved as a closely guarded trade secret by the original manufacturers. This distinction is important in perfume history: trademarks and brand names can be sold or transferred, but fragrance formulas are often protected intellectual property. As a result, the revived version could carry the historic name Intimate, yet it was not necessarily identical to the mid-century composition developed decades earlier.
This type of revival is not unusual in the perfume industry. Well-known fragrance names often possess considerable nostalgic value, and companies may reintroduce them to appeal to both longtime admirers and new generations of consumers. In the case of Intimate, the resurrection of the name in 1987 illustrates how a fragrance can live multiple lives—first as a classic mid-century perfume created by Revlon, and later as a revived brand identity under new ownership, even though the exact scent that originally defined it remained part of the guarded heritage of its original creators.
The new reformulated Intimate by Jean Phillipe:
- Top notes: dewberry, mandarin blossom, water lily
- Middle notes: cinnamon, linden flower, tuberose, blue rose
- Base notes: bark, ambergris, musk and incense
Scent Profile:
When the fragrance Intimate was revived in 1987 by Jean Philippe, the new composition presented a noticeably different interpretation from the original mid-century perfume introduced by Revlon. Because the historic formula remained a protected trade secret, the new version was essentially a modern reinterpretation, designed to evoke romantic warmth while aligning with the lighter, fresher fragrance tastes of the late 1980s. Where the original Intimate was a rich floral–animalic chypre built on mosses, resins, and animalic notes, the Jean Philippe version moves in a softer fruity-floral and airy oriental direction, emphasizing luminous fruits, delicate florals, and a smoother ambered base.
The fragrance opens with a fresh, slightly watery sweetness. Dewberry provides the first impression—dark, juicy, and gently tart, like berries gathered from hedgerows in early morning dew. True dewberry extract is rarely used in perfumery; instead, perfumers create the note using carefully blended fruity aroma molecules that reproduce the berry’s balance of sweetness and faint acidity. These molecules add a vibrant, youthful brightness that immediately distinguishes the newer Intimate from its aldehydic predecessor. Alongside it appears mandarin blossom, a delicate floral note derived from the flowers of the mandarin orange tree. Unlike the sharper citrus scent of the fruit peel, the blossom smells soft, sweet, and honeyed, with a subtle citrus sparkle that feels luminous and romantic. Completing the opening is water lily, a note that cannot be extracted naturally from the flower. Perfumers recreate its scent using aquatic and green floral aroma chemicals that evoke cool water, translucent petals, and the faint sweetness of floating blossoms. The result is an airy, almost watery freshness—quite different from the aldehydic brilliance of the original Revlon perfume.
As the fragrance develops, the heart becomes warmer and more floral. Cinnamon introduces a soft, spicy glow that feels comforting and sensual, its warm sweetness recalling powdered cinnamon bark freshly ground. The finest cinnamon oils traditionally come from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), where the bark of the true cinnamon tree yields a smoother and sweeter spice than the sharper cassia varieties grown elsewhere. This warmth is balanced by the gentle honeyed fragrance of linden blossom. Linden trees, common throughout Europe, produce tiny pale flowers whose scent is airy, nectar-like, and faintly green, evoking the smell of warm summer evenings beneath flowering branches.
The floral heart deepens with tuberose, one of perfumery’s most opulent blossoms. Cultivated extensively in India and Mexico, tuberose releases a creamy, intoxicating scent that combines lush white petals with hints of coconut and warm skin. Its presence gives the fragrance a soft sensuality that echoes the seductive spirit of the original Intimate. Alongside it appears “blue rose,” a poetic note rather than a natural botanical extract. Because true blue roses do not exist naturally, this note is recreated through a blend of rose oils and synthetic floral molecules designed to evoke a cool, slightly modern interpretation of rose—fresh, airy, and subtly metallic, suggesting petals tinted with twilight hues.
The fragrance settles into a warm, gently mysterious base. Bark notes introduce a dry woody nuance reminiscent of tree trunks warmed by the sun, suggesting natural forest textures rather than polished woods. Ambergris, historically formed within the digestive system of sperm whales and now recreated through sophisticated aroma molecules, lends the perfume a softly radiant warmth—slightly salty, faintly sweet, and glowing like sunlit skin. This note also enhances the diffusion of the fragrance, allowing it to linger longer on the wearer. Musk, created through modern synthetic musks rather than animal sources, adds a smooth skin-like warmth that makes the scent feel intimate and comforting. Finally, incense provides a delicate smoky resinous note reminiscent of burning frankincense, its balsamic warmth adding depth and a faintly spiritual character to the drydown.
Compared with the original Revlon Intimate, the Jean Philippe reinterpretation feels notably lighter and more contemporary. The 1955 formula relied heavily on aldehydes, classic florals, oakmoss, and powerful animalic materials such as civet and castoreum—ingredients that created a deep, sensual chypre structure. The 1987 version instead leans toward fruitier top notes, translucent florals, and a softer musky amber base, reflecting the fragrance trends of the late twentieth century. While it preserves the theme of warmth and sensuality suggested by the name Intimate, the newer fragrance expresses it in a gentler, more modern style—less dramatic and mossy than the original, but still designed to linger close to the skin in a soft and alluring veil.
The success of Intimate spawned a few flankers: Intimate Musk, Intimate Light, and Intimate Red.