Dad was never good a choosing gifts for his wife and daughters. Usually Mom had something practical in mind that she needed so it was just as well that he told her to get what she wanted.
One year, about 1960, when Gloria and I were in high school, when the folks were in Des Moines, I suppose. Mom talked Dad into going to a perfume counter and asking the salesgirl to recommend fragrances for his daughters for Christmas.
She sold him Tabu. Oh, the headache it gave me! A memorable gift for sure.
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Tabu by Dana was created by French perfumer Jean Carles in 1931. Wikipedia says that “Supposedly Dana told Carles to ‘make a perfume a prostitute would wear.'” Well. . .
A vintage (1960s) bottle of Tabu (used) goes for $180 (or best offer) on Ebay.
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And speaking of horrid perfumes. Mom gave me a bottle of real JOY perfume upon the birth of my first (and only) baby. Oh, the headache!
That is funny. Dad was not good at buying presents either so he would give me money to buy Mom something. It was also her birthday on Christmas Day so he gave me enough money to buy two things. I don’t think there is a girl from the 1960s who didn’t have a bottle of Evening in Paris gifted to her. Headache making as well.
What fun, Darlene. I wonder whatever happened to Tweed cologne.
I remember Evening in Paris well!
Tabu was an awful pain inducing product right up there with all Avon perfumes.
Oh, wow, Susan. At least Avon had fun bottles!
I believe I can still smell this in my sleep
Yikes!
I remember smelling Tabu in the halls at school. Always slowed down, hoping the contrail would sink below the nostril line.
Oh, no! I preferred Tweed in high school, but I guess it doesn’t exist anymore.
I love the image of you trying to avoid the Tabu contrail!
Too funny! Oh, my goodness!!! 🙂
Thanks, Linda!
This is hilarious, Joy!😂 I really can’t take any perfume at all. I wish there was a photo of your facial expression at the time.
Thanks, Eilene. I don’t think it was even what Mom expected!
I empathize with you, Joy. Tabu is the cologne I used to wear as a teenager. When I was active and worked up a sweat, it would magnify the potency of its smell a thousand percent and suffocate me. But I still wore it. 🙂
Wow, Nancy, character-building, huh!