Launched in France in 1909 and introduced to the United States by 1913, Cendre des Roses, better known as "Ashes of Roses," became a significant part of the Bourjois toiletry line. It reached the English market in 1923, coinciding with the establishment of Bourjois Ltd. The name “Ashes of Roses” is both poetic and evocative, inspired by a specific shade of mauve that gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This color, a muted blend of soft lavender and gray, was admired for its subdued elegance and romantic connotations. In the Victorian era, it was common to name colors and products after evocative imagery, leading to similar hues such as "Ashes of Violets" and "Ashes of Carnations."
The phrase "Cendre des Rose" originates from French, pronounced as "sondr day rose". To modern ears, the name may seem unusual or somber, but during its time, it resonated with deep emotional and aesthetic significance. The imagery of roses reduced to ashes suggests fleeting beauty, delicate melancholy, and wistful remembrance—qualities that appealed to the romantic sensibilities of the era.
The name "Ashes of Roses" evokes images of faded bouquets, timeless elegance, and the fragility of beauty. For women of the early 20th century, this fragrance name likely conjured feelings of nostalgia and refinement, connecting to themes of love and memory. Roses, traditionally symbols of passion and romance, paired with the ethereal quality of ashes, spoke to an era preoccupied with romantic idealism and the transient nature of beauty.
