Bellodgia c1927

Bellodgia by Caron : launched in 1927, created by Ernest Daltroff. Pronounced "BELLO-JEE-AH". The perfume was inspired by the Italian town of Bellagio on Lake Como.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a spicy oriental fragrance for women. It begins with a spicy top, followed by a carnation heart, resting on a powdery base.

• Top notes: bergamot, lemon, nutmeg, pimento berries 
• Middle notes: carnation, rose, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, orris, ylang ylang
• Base notes: vetiver, nitromusks, clove, sandalwood and vanilla

It is a luxurious, well rounded perfume with notes of carnations, rose, jasmine, violet, lily of the valley, sandalwood, vanilla and musk.

In 1996, Bellodgia's eau de parfum was reformulated with modern ingredients and relaunched with green tea notes.

Theatre Magazine, 1930:

"Lovers of carnations will vibrate to Caron's spicy "Bellodgia." A drop or two on fur will continue to cast its spell for weeks, even months, on end. There is a new small size bottle at $16."

Bottles:

The Bellodgia extrait was presented in a beautiful Baccarat crystal flacon with a prism like faceted stopper, designed by Félicie Vanpouille. Presented in 1946 in a flacon by Cristalleries de Baccarat, design #806 .

The 1/2 oz size was introduced in 1930, the 5/8 oz (0.63 oz) size was introduced in 1938.

The original Parfum was available in the following:

• 1/4 oz  
• 1/2 oz  
• Taille 18 = 0.63 oz
• Taille 35 = 1 oz  (1.16 oz)
• Taille 60 = 2 oz  (1.866 oz)
• Taille 100 = 3.4 oz 
• 4 oz  
• 1/8 oz Atomizer

The original Eau de Toilette was available in the following:

• 2 oz
• 4 oz
• 8 oz 

The fragrance was also available in 

• Dusting Powder

If your bottle is missing it's label or box and you want to know what size it is, use this handy guide, please remember that the bottle size changed over the years:

• Factice/Dummy bottle stands 5" tall.
• 7.746 oz bottle stands 5.5" tall
• 4.75" tall
• 3.274 oz bottle stands 3.5" tall
• 3 oz bottle stands 3.75" tall
• 2 oz bottle stands 2.5" tall.
• 1.86 oz  bottle stands 3" tall.
• 1.16 oz bottle stands stands 2.5" tall
• 1 oz bottle stands 2.5" tall.
• 0.63 oz bottle stands 2" tall.
• 1/2 oz bottle stands 2" tall.
• 1/4 oz bottle stands 1.5" tall.

The original box was silver striped. This seems to have changed to a white box around 1941.

Photos from worthopedia.

The Sketch, 1929:

"Of these, the latest creation, which has just made a very successful debut in Paris, is the perfume Caron Bellodgia. It combines freshness and sophistication. The bottle too, has an artistic value of its own. As the illustration shows, the perfume is contained in a most attractive flacon in the genre of the decorative cut- glass styles of flacons."

The parfum was also presented in the ovoid crystal purse bottle molded with the hobnails in 1954.


The New Yorker, 1954:

"Caron, fills quarter-ounce bubble-glass bottles with such old favorites as Bellodgia, Nuit de Noel, Fleurs de Rocaille and Muguet du Bonheur, $13.75."

Also, the fragrance is available in eau de toilette and eau de parfum sprays. Sometimes, you can find vintage eau de cologne splashes on ebay.

                        Eau de Toilette                                                                       Eau de Parfum

Fate of the Fragrance:

Bellodgia has been a favorite of women for decades but was discontinued in 2015. You can buy the fragrance in Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and Parfum (extrait) concentrations.