What damage have our “feminine vices” wrought?

You might have recently come across a thought-provoking headline in The New York Times.

Well, I had a little extra time over the weekend to ponder this important question. How did we get here, as a society? and did fragrance play any part in our shared predicament?

I shall present evidence in the form of vintage perfume ads, which function like oracle cards for me.

Yardley Daylight Encounter (fragrance released in 1972, ad circa 1972-1979): Ruining the workplace. Even a cup of freshly sharpened pencils, two serious-looking books, and a globe won’t stop her.

Charles of the Ritz Enjoli (fragrance released in 1978, ad circa 1980): She can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. She’s a W-O-M-A-N and she’s ruining the workplace.

Avon (ad from 1979): Recruiting materials for a whole network of women showing other women how to ruin workplaces.

Adrian perfumes (ad from 1947): Is your secretary ruining the workplace? Give her some fine fragrance.

Revlon Charlie (fragrance released in 1973, ad from 1977): Where is she headed, wearing that pantsuit on those city streets? Probably on her way to ruin the workplace.

Elizabeth Arden Fifth Avenue (fragrance released in 1996): Pathetic. Copying the Charlie ad as she sets out to ruin the many workplaces of Midtown Manhattan.

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche (fragrance released in 1971, ad from 1984). Just look at her. Absolutely, positively ruining the workplace.

And did they all have to smell so good while doing it? Yes, apparently.

(Further reading here, via Ms. magazine.)