CLASSIC FRAGRANCES · PERSONAL FAVORITES

The people behind the name

About Prince Matchabelli:
a story with character.

Before the familiar fragrances came a Georgian diplomat, a creative partnership and a new beginning in America.

1926

The year George Matchabelli founded his perfume company.

George and Norina Matchabelli, circa October 1934
George and Norina Matchabelli, circa October 1934. Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection / UCLA Library. CC BY 4.0. Original photograph; cropped to fit.

From Georgia to America

A new chapter in perfume.

Former Georgian diplomat George Matchabelli moved to America with Norina in 1924. Their new chapter became part of a perfume story.

His first fragrance, Queen of Georgia, wore the Matchabelli coat of arms. The bottle made the family name visible as well as memorable.

1924

George and Norina Matchabelli move to the United States.

1926

George launches the Prince Matchabelli perfume company.

A lasting name

The collection becomes associated with recognizable fragrance names, including Wind Song.

Wind Song Dusting Powder, packaging and product view

The pleasure of recognition

A fragrance can
bring you back.

A familiar name, a floral carton or the shape of a bottle can be the first step toward finding a scent again. Wind Song remains a useful place to begin exploring the Prince Matchabelli collection.

Today, choosing carefully means looking at the exact product as well as the name. A body spray, cologne and dusting powder are different formats, with their own ingredients and directions.

Meet the Wind Song collection →

Bottles, materials and the written record

Details worth looking at.

01

A distinctive presentation

Early bottles were porcelain; later glass came from George Coby's company. The Georgian Encyclopedia traces this change in presentation. Read the biographical record.

02

A place in everyday history

The Smithsonian's collection includes a green-and-gold Wind Song powder box from Mae Reeves's Millinery Shop. A fragrance package can carry a personal story as well as a brand name. Explore the museum object.

03

Read the product in your hands

The current package is the place to check ingredients, directions and manufacturing details for your product. Fragrance notes describe a scent; they do not replace the ingredient list. Explore the product photographs before choosing, then read your package before use.

Continue the story

Find a fragrance to make your own.

Explore the collection →

Enlarged product photograph