Charlie Perfume – a Nod to the Women’s Movement by Revlon

“Charlie” is a fragrance that was first launched by Revlon in 1973. It was a popular scent during the 1970s and 1980s. It became a cultural phenomenon.

Fragrance Profile from the Creator

Its fragrance profile was as a Floral Aldehyde, with gardenia, hyacinth, galbanum, and jasmine. The perfume was developed by a French perfumer named Roger Pellegrino. Pellegrino created a number of popular fragrances during his career. These included “Miss Dior” and “Dioressence” for Christian Dior, “Cabochard” for Grès, and “Rive Gauche” for Yves Saint Laurent.

Roger Pellegrino was born on March 31, 1924, in Grasse. The town is in the South of France. Grasse is considered to be one of the perfume capitals of the world. It is home to many of the world’s leading fragrance companies and perfumers.

Pellegrino spent most of his life in France. There, he trained as a perfumer and established his career in the fragrance industry. He worked for several leading fragrance companies throughout his career. These included Dior, Grès, and Yves Saint Laurent. He created the iconic “Charlie” fragrance for Revlon in the United States. Roger Pellegrino died in 1992, at the age of 68.

A Niche for Independent Women

“Charlie” was associated with the women’s movement during the 1970s. The advertising campaign for the fragrance was groundbreaking at the time. It featured a strong, independent woman who was not afraid to be herself and challenge gender norms. The “Charlie” woman was portrayed as adventurous, confident, and free-spirited. This resonated with many women who were seeking to break free from traditional gender roles.

The advertising campaign for “Charlie” was created by the legendary advertising executive, George Lois. It is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential campaigns in advertising history. The “Charlie” jingle, “Kind of young, kind of now, Charlie,” became well-known during the period. While not depicting the customer as gay, the “Charlie” ads did show a more androgenous female preferring slacks over dresses.

Hack starred in a series of commercials and print ads for the fragrance, which helped to make her a household name and a symbol of the “Charlie” brand.

The “Charlie” Girls

The “Charlie” ads featuring Shelley Hack were groundbreaking for their time. They portrayed a strong, independent woman who was not afraid to be own person. Hack’s portrayal of the “Charlie” girl resonated with many women who were seeking to break free from traditional gender roles. The campaign helped to establish “Charlie” as a cultural touchstone of the women’s movement.

Other famous “Charlie” girls over the years included models like Lauren Hutton, Jean Shrimpton, and Marisa Berenson, as well as actresses like Vanessa Redgrave, Cybill Shepherd, and Shelley Winters.

More on Shelley Hack

Shelley Hack was chosen to represent the “Charlie” fragrance after a casting call by the advertising agency Wells Rich Greene. Greene was hired by Revlon to create the “Charlie” campaign. Hack was a young model and actress. She had recently appeared in a number of commercials and print ads for other brands, including Maybelline and CoverGirl.

According to some reports, Hack was initially reluctant to audition for the “Charlie” campaign. She was concerned about being associated with a single brand. However, she was eventually persuaded to try out for the role. Her natural charisma and strong presence made her a standout among the other candidates.

Hack’s portrayal of the “Charlie” girl in the advertising campaign helped to make her a star. She went on to appear in a number of other commercials and films during the 1970s and 1980s. Some of her acting credits include the TV series “The Love Boat” and “Tales from the Crypt”. She also appeared in the films “Annie Hall” and “The King of Comedy.”

In addition to her acting career, Hack also worked as a producer and director. She has been involved in a number of philanthropic and humanitarian causes throughout her life.

Still Around in Different Manifestations

The “Charlie” fragrance is still around. Revlon occasionally offer some variation on the perfume in new advertising. One of the more recent ones are for “Charlie Red”, “Charlie Blue”, “Charlie Silver”, and “Charlie Gold”.