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!