January 28, 1900, Fifth Avenue, New York City.
Inspired by one of the most splendid balls held by Caroline Astor, and based on the actual list of flowers used to decorate the mansion's ballroom, Caroline’s Four Hundred captures at once the fresh-cut bouquets, the exotic woods of the ballroom, the potted palms and apple blossoms that lined the hallways, and the light crisp essence of champagne wafting through the crowds. With notes of rich American Beauty roses, green stems, white lilies and the delicate sweetness of quince, apple and cherry blossom, Caroline’s Four Hundred, embraces all of the blooms that actually adorned her ballroom on that unforgettable evening in 1900.
Caroline’s Four Hundred, the St. Regis fragrance, is featured at all St. Regis Hotels and Resorts around the world.
Beyond the ballroom, and based on the in the Astor greenhouses and gardens, Garden Villa combines the cool, revitalizing effect of marble, the fizz of champagne and a modern frozen rose petal accord, with the lush greenness of the iconic Gilded Age winter gardens and green houses.
With notes of champagne, bergamot, clary sage, rose petals, spearmint, peppermint, jasmine, iris, vetiver, galbanum, amber, sandalwood and olibanum.
Visit St. Regis Scent
Developed with Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Linda Song.
Perfumed candle: 2.35 oz / 67 g. each
*Candles and room scents can ship internationally.
More
- The list of flowers used to adorn the Astor residence was found in a New York Times article from January 29th, 1900, found at the New York Public Library.
-At the society ball given the night before (January 28th), guests of the ball were greeted by Mrs. Caroline Astor in the great drawing room, filled with vases of her favorite flower: the American Beauty rose. The distinctive scent of garden-cut roses enriched by the freshness of the crisp petals.
- During supper, bowls of violets were used as table centerpieces, filling the room with their delicate, powdery scent and distinctive green floral character.
- Easter lilies were included in the floral displays in the grand Astor residence ballroom. The soft green, waxiness of the lily’s petals encircle a warm heart of spicy clove and resinous undertones. The watery, green scent of hyacinth wafted through the house, adding a light, aquatic transparency to the impressive floral arrangements.
- Carnations were also featured in the floral arrangements within the ballroom, adding a peppery character to the bouquets, mixed with honey notes and softened by a powdery, rose petal facet.
- Apple, quince and almond blossoms lined the hallways of the great house. Their sweet floralcy and fruity character released a heady scent as guests walked by. Potted palms also appeared throughout the hallways, popularized in greenhouses and winter gardens during the Gilded Age, their expansive fronds introducing a lush, tropical aroma to the house.
- Polished parquet floors and exquisite French and English furniture of mahogany, oak and sycamore added a sweet woodiness, introducing a robust background to the fresh floralcy of the bouquets.
Bio
– Article: “Mrs. Astor’s Annual Ball“, source: The New York Times Jan. 30, 1900. (1 page)
– Article: “Mrs. Astor’s Ball: Climax of the Season“, source: The New York Times, Jan. 12, 1904. (1 page)
– Kaplan, Justin, “When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age“, Viking, 2006, New York.
– Cowles, Virginia, “The Astors“, Knopf, 1979, New York.
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