En Avion by Caron, launched in France in 1929 and later in the USA by 1932, evokes a sense of adventure, freedom, and the exhilaration of flight—both literal and metaphorical. The name En Avion, pronounced "ON-AH-VEE-ON", is French for "In the Airplane," draws a direct connection to the thrilling era of early air travel, a time when flying was still a rare and awe-inspiring feat.
The perfume's name encapsulates the spirit of the 1920s, when aviation pioneers like Jean Mermoz, Hélène Boucher, and Lena Bernstein were making headlines for their groundbreaking achievements. Mermoz, known for his daring flights across the South Atlantic, Boucher, an accomplished French aviator, and Bernstein, who set new records for female aviators, all embodied the bold, adventurous spirit that En Avion sought to capture. The fragrance not only honors their legacy but also reflects the growing cultural fascination with flight during this era.
The words En Avion evoke imagery of soaring above the clouds, a sense of limitless possibility, and a fresh, unencumbered perspective. It’s a name that conjures up the glamour of the golden age of aviation—the smooth metallic sheen of aircraft, the rush of wind at high altitudes, and the promise of freedom and modernity. The fragrance feels like a tribute to women of the time who were beginning to embrace more daring, independent lives, reflecting the social changes of the Roaring Twenties and the emerging Art Deco period. In 1929, as flappers reveled in their newfound freedom, fashion was bold, exuberant, and vibrant. Dresses became shorter, silhouettes more fluid, and the social world opened up to new forms of self-expression and excitement—En Avion, in that context, seemed a fitting symbol of adventure and sophistication.
En Avion was created by the renowned perfumer Ernest Daltroff, and it is classified as a rich, spicy floral-oriental fragrance, blending opulent spices with warm, ambery notes. The scent opens with a captivating blend of spices—rich, slightly peppery, and enlivened by a subtle sweetness. It immediately recalls the sensation of excitement, much like the rush of a plane taking off, gaining altitude, and leaving the earth behind. Beneath this spicy veil, there’s a soft, floral heart, filled with delicate blooms like jasmine and rose, evoking the smooth flow of air around a soaring aircraft. These florals, while present, do not dominate the composition but provide an elegant balance to the heat of the spices, creating a seamless transition between the exotic, the daring, and the feminine.
