History

Elizabeth Arden, born Florence Nightingale Graham in 1881 in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, would go on to revolutionize the global cosmetics industry and define beauty standards for much of the 20th century. As a self-made entrepreneur, she built her beauty empire during a time when women were still fighting for basic rights. What made Arden unique was not only her pioneering vision but also her insistence on luxury, quality, and scientific innovation in skincare—concepts that were almost unheard of in the early days of cosmetics.

With bold conviction and no shortage of wit, Arden famously declared, “Nothing that costs only a dollar is not worth having,” revealing her lifelong belief in offering quality and prestige, not bargain-bin beauty. From the outset, she positioned her brand at the very top of the market, establishing salons and treatments that blended dermatological science with an elegant, refined aesthetic. She didn't just sell creams and powders—she cultivated an aspirational lifestyle. By the 1930s, she was already regarded as the most prestigious name in American beauty, with salons spanning Europe and the U.S., including her famed Fifth Avenue Red Door Salon in New York.

Arden was also an astute observer of both women and power. She quipped, “Treat a horse like a woman and a woman like a horse. And they’ll both win for you,” a statement that reflected not only her dual passions—cosmetics and thoroughbred racing—but also her pragmatic, often steely approach to business and personal relationships. Her Maine Chance Farm, one of the top horse breeding and racing operations in the U.S., was a personal source of pride, but it was beauty that remained her first and enduring love.

Unapologetically confident and savvy, she was well aware of her brand's—and her own—distinctiveness. With characteristic flair, she once said, “There’s only one Elizabeth like me, and that’s the Queen,” underscoring her position in the world of beauty royalty. Arden carefully cultivated an image of elegance and authority, attracting clients like Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Wallis Simpson, Marilyn Monroe, and Jacqueline Kennedy. By offering not just products but education and empowerment, she redefined how women saw themselves.

Her approach to aging was equally modern and liberated. “I’m not interested in age. People who tell me their age are silly. You’re as old as you feel,” she once remarked, a belief that shaped the messaging behind many of her skincare innovations. Arden recognized that beauty was psychological as well as physical—and made sure her products reinforced both.

Elizabeth Arden’s early history is marked by audacity, vision, and a flair for drama matched only by her business acumen. She transformed beauty into a science, skincare into a ritual, and a name into an empire—one that continues to carry her legacy to this day.

Elizabeth Arden Graham

Florence Nightingale Graham, better known to the world as Elizabeth Arden, was born on December 31, 1878—though some sources suggest the year may have been 1884. She was raised in Woodbridge, Ontario, a small farming community where her family lived on 200 acres of land. Her upbringing was humble and rooted in hard work. Her father, William Graham, a Scottish immigrant with a deep love for horses, instilled in her a passion for thoroughbreds—a lifelong interest that would later surface in her branding. Her mother hailed from Cornwall, England. Florence’s early years were marked by hardship; she lost her mother when she was just six years old, and although she had siblings—William and Gladys—Florence's childhood was shaped by poverty and responsibility. She never completed high school.

Florence first pursued nursing in Toronto, a path that introduced her to the medical use of creams and lotions. While her time in nursing school was brief—she was reportedly unsettled by the sight of blood—it proved formative. The concept of using creams not just for healing but for beautifying the skin took root. At home, she began experimenting in her kitchen, trying to create the perfect beauty cream. Her ideas met skepticism from her family, but Florence was undeterred.

In 1908, she left Toronto and relocated to New York City, joining her brother William. There, she found a job as a bookkeeper for E.R. Squibb & Sons, a pharmaceutical firm. However, her curiosity led her into the company's laboratory, where she absorbed invaluable knowledge about skincare formulations. Her time at Squibb was followed by a stint with Eleanor Adair, an early “beauty culturist.” The term referred to practitioners of “beauty culture,” a profession emerging in the early 20th century that combined elements of cosmetology, skincare, and facial massage—often influenced by European techniques. Adair, a pioneering figure in this movement, offered facial treatments that used oils and creams to rejuvenate the skin, long before such services were mainstream in America. Florence worked as a “treatment girl” and observed the way beauty could be transformed into a service and a science.

By 1909, at the age of 30, Florence was ready to launch her own venture. With $6,000 borrowed from her brother, she entered into a partnership with another beauty culturist, Elizabeth Hubbard. Together, they opened a small beauty salon on New York’s Fifth Avenue—a bold location for an unknown startup. To attract attention, they painted the door a distinctive bright red. But the partnership was short-lived. Florence, headstrong and driven, eventually took over the business entirely.

Rather than start from scratch, she cleverly kept part of the name—Elizabeth—from her former partner. To complete the new identity, she drew inspiration from Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem Enoch Arden, settling on the name Elizabeth Arden. The red door remained, a symbol of beauty and exclusivity. With a brass nameplate and an unwavering vision, the Elizabeth Arden brand was born.

What began as a modest salon would evolve into one of the most influential beauty empires of the 20th century. Arden's early history is a story of persistence, reinvention, and the intelligent fusion of science, aesthetics, and business—qualities that defined both the woman and the global brand she built.

By 1912, Elizabeth Arden—born Florence Nightingale Graham—had firmly set her sights on elevating beauty culture in North America. That year, she traveled to France to study the latest skincare methods and facial massage techniques used in the elite salons of Paris. There, she observed European sophistication in cosmetics and skincare firsthand, and returned to New York armed with new knowledge, a refined vision, and a collection of self-created rouges and tinted face powders.

At the time, visible makeup was still stigmatized in American society, associated with actresses and prostitutes rather than respectable women. However, Arden was determined to change that perception. She was among the first to introduce modern eye makeup to the North American market and played a key role in transforming cosmetics into an everyday staple for women. Through her salons, she introduced the now-commonplace concept of the “makeover,” allowing clients to experiment with cosmetics in a private, luxurious setting where beauty was refined, not vulgar.

Her Fifth Avenue salon, opened in 1910, quickly became a haven for women seeking expert skin care and discreet cosmetic treatments. By 1914, following another trip to Europe, Arden returned with new ideas, innovative product concepts, and a fresh determination. She hired professional chemists to help formulate smooth, whipped facial creams, creating luxurious textures that felt indulgent on the skin. This period marked the beginning of her high-style cosmetics line—products that offered elegance, efficacy, and modernity in equal measure.

In 1915, Elizabeth Arden officially launched her first branded cosmetic line and legally changed her name from Florence Nightingale Graham to the one that would become an international symbol of glamour and beauty. That same year, she married banker Thomas Jenkins Lewis, which also granted her U.S. citizenship. Though Lewis was involved in the company, Arden made it clear from the outset who was in charge, famously reminding him, “Dear, never forget one little point. It's my business. You just work here.”

Also in 1915, Arden began her ambitious global expansion. She opened salons in major cities around the world, bringing her brand of sophisticated beauty to a growing international clientele. She collaborated with chemist A. Fabian Swanson to create the now-iconic Venetian Cream Amoretta and its companion product, Arden Skin Tonic. These became bestselling products and established her as a pioneer in modern skincare.

Beyond her product innovations, Elizabeth Arden was a visionary marketer. She was the first in the beauty industry to produce a cosmetics commercial for movie theaters, blending the growing influence of Hollywood with her own brand’s aspirational image. While Hollywood glamorized beauty as something reserved for the silver screen, Arden democratized it—positioning beauty as a lifestyle that every woman could claim. She emphasized skincare as foundational, creating treatments to improve the complexion rather than simply mask flaws with makeup. Her “Total Look” concept promoted coordinated lipstick, nail lacquer, and complexion products, encouraging women to think of beauty as an elegant, harmonious expression of self.

In 1920, Arden unveiled one of her most iconic visual trademarks: a French model, Cecille Bayliss, swathed in pristine white treatment bandages—suggestive of purity and transformation—became the face of the brand. The image, austere yet captivating, symbolized Arden's scientific approach to beauty and remained her brand’s visual signature for two decades. She secured a French patent for the image in 1931.

At the height of her career, Elizabeth Arden was not just a name on a jar of cream—she was a global force, one of the wealthiest self-made women of her era. With a sharp business mind, unwavering vision, and impeccable sense of style, she helped define modern beauty culture and paved the way for generations of women to view cosmetics not as vanity, but as empowerment.

By the 1920s, Elizabeth Arden was not only revolutionizing skincare and cosmetics but was also carving out a lasting legacy in fine fragrance. Around 1920, she began launching an ambitious line of perfumes that reflected her cosmopolitan sensibility and appreciation for floral romanticism. Early offerings such as Italian Toilet Water, Sweet Pea, Ultra Bruyère, Un Goutte de Vie, Un Peu de Bonheur, and American Beauty Rose carried poetic, evocative names that embodied refinement and aspirational femininity. These were joined by timeless floral soliflores like Lilac, Poppye, Rose, Russian Violet, Italian Lilac, and Violet Essence, as well as more luxurious scents like Sillage de France, capturing the elegance of European perfumery.

In 1922, Arden introduced Arden Jasmin and Arden Rose, establishing a branded identity in the floral fragrance realm. By 1925, with perfumes like Velva and Novena, she expanded into more developed and nuanced scent compositions. The year 1928 was particularly significant—Arden launched a suite of fragrances inspired by emotional and sensory states: Le Jardin d’Elizabeth, La Joie d’Elizabeth, L’Amour d’Elizabeth, Le Rêve d’Elizabeth, L’Élan d’Elizabeth, and L’Étoile d’Elizabeth. These perfumes were designed to express facets of a woman’s life and feelings, a pioneering concept for its time. The following year brought Le Bouquet d’Elizabeth and the alluring Temptation—scents that reflected both a cultivated sophistication and Arden’s flair for theatrical branding.

At the peak of her career, Elizabeth Arden's empire stretched across the globe. Her salons—elegant sanctuaries devoted to beauty—spanned cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Toronto, Paris, London, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Johannesburg, Zurich, Rome, and many others. Remarkably, she personally launched each one and maintained ownership of every location, save for the Paris salon, which she gifted to her sister Gladys, Vicomtesse de Maublanc.

By the 1930s, Arden was the undisputed queen of luxury beauty. She owned more than 100 international salons, all company stock, and held the positions of president and chairman of the board. Fortune magazine noted that she had earned more money than any other businesswoman in American history. Her iconic Red Door salon at 691 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan was more than just a beauty parlor—it was a symbol of status and transformation. As the New York Times remarked, Arden had persuaded women that true beauty could be achieved through treatments like steaming, rolling, waxing, and massage in an atmosphere of opulence.

During the Great Depression, when many businesses folded, Arden expanded her flagship salon to seven floors. The Red Door became such a cultural landmark that it reportedly inspired the glamorous salon setting in The Women (1939), Clare Boothe Luce’s celebrated comedy of manners. The film’s characters, portrayed by stars like Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer, famously visited a fictional salon for “Jungle Red” manicures—a clear nod to Arden's influence. Though that particular shade was a bold crimson, Arden’s personal signature was always pink. She believed it to be the most flattering hue for women of all complexions, and she dressed in pink, decorated her Fifth Avenue apartment in pink, and made salmon-pink lipstick her brand’s hallmark.

In 1933, she expanded westward with the opening of her Los Angeles salon at 3933 Wilshire Boulevard. Its striking semicircular façade, lacquered Chinese red door, and elegant interiors—designed by legendary MGM stylist Adrian—blended cinematic glamour with European luxury. The circular main salon featured jade gray walls, crystal chandeliers, and Empire-style furnishings. The third floor, known as the “Garden of Arden,” was a space of tranquil greenery and faux outdoor charm—an immersive experience in relaxation and refinement. Arden herself greeted clients on opening day, a mark of her commitment to personal service.

By the close of the 1930s, Elizabeth Arden had become a global icon. As the decade ended, it was said there were only three American names universally recognized: Singer sewing machines, Coca-Cola, and Elizabeth Arden.

During these years, her perfumery grew even more ambitious. She launched Valencia and Night & Day in 1930, followed by richly nuanced creations like Ambré, Sandalwood, Rose Geranium, June Geranium, and Russian Pine in 1931. The early 1930s also saw launches like Ma Rue (1932), Tube Rose d’Elizabeth, and Moon Moss. These perfumes reflected an international palette of ingredients and Arden's growing interest in olfactory storytelling.

In parallel, Arden pursued a private passion—horse racing. She established Maine Chance Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and acquired her first thoroughbred at the Saratoga Race Course in 1931. Devoted to her horses, she famously massaged their legs with her Eight Hour Cream. Her love of horses inspired the launch of Blue Grass in 1934—a fragrance often considered the first truly “American” perfume. Its aromatic blend of spicy florals, moss, amber, and musk evoked the rolling hills of Kentucky and the elegant strength of her beloved horses.

Even as her personal life shifted—her 24-year marriage to Thomas Lewis ended in 1934, and her second, brief marriage to Russian émigré Prince Michael Evlanoff followed—Arden remained laser-focused on her brand. The late 1930s saw a flurry of new perfume launches: Corsage (1935), Carnival and Eau de Nile (1936), followed by a suite of floral soliflores and romantic bouquets including Jasmine, For Her, Orange Blossom, Gardenia, Lily of the Valley, On Dit, Cyclamen, Carnation, and the ensemble Bridal Bouquet Presentation of 1939, which featured several of the above flowers in an elegant wedding gift format.

Arden understood that perfume was more than scent—it was fantasy in a bottle, an identity a woman could wear. Through her salons, her fragrances, and her relentless drive, she transformed the beauty industry and redefined what it meant to be a modern woman. Her legacy was not just her empire, but the message behind it: that every woman deserved the tools to become her most radiant, confident self.

In 1940, Elizabeth Arden introduced Parfum 450, also known as Opera 450, a fragrance named in honor of her personal box at the opera—a refined touch that echoed her love for culture and the performing arts. As the decade unfolded and the world was plunged into the upheaval of World War II, Arden again demonstrated her remarkable ability to respond to cultural change. She understood that American women were entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers and would need to adapt their appearance to this new professional life. Arden guided women on how to wear makeup that was polished and suitable for the office or factory floor, helping them to feel confident and appropriately styled outside the domestic sphere.

Across the Atlantic, women in Britain’s Women’s Royal Naval Service (known as the “Wrens”) were issued “Auxiliary Red” lipstick by Cyclax—specially designed in slim cylinders that fit easily into uniform pockets. Arden answered the call with “Montezuma Red”, a lipstick shade custom-formulated to match the precise red of the stripes and tassels worn by female U.S. Marine officers. The U.S. military allowed women to wear lipstick and nail polish, but regulations dictated they must match the uniform’s official red. Arden’s lipstick, then, was not only patriotic but also an elegant gesture toward conformity and morale during wartime.

In 1943, Arden expanded her influence into fashion, partnering with designers such as Charles James and a young Oscar de la Renta, bringing couture sensibilities into her broader beauty vision. That same year, her second marriage—to Prince Michael Evlanoff—came to an end. Arden dryly observed, “I pick good women, but I haven't had any luck with my men,” a quip that underscored her formidable independence and enduring focus on business.

The 1940s also marked the golden era of Maine Chance Farm, her racing stable in Lexington, Kentucky. Working closely with renowned horseman Leslie Combs, Arden built one of the most successful racing operations in the country. In 1945, her horses Star Pilot and Beaugay were crowned Eclipse Award-winning colt and filly champions, with total winnings that year reaching an impressive $589,000—a staggering sum for the time. Her passion for thoroughbreds was as meticulous as her approach to cosmetics; she was known to massage her horses with her own Eight Hour Cream, treating them like prized clients.

Meanwhile, the war had created shortages in many materials, including silk and rayon, making traditional stockings hard to come by. Ever resourceful, Arden launched Velva Leg Film in 1944—essentially liquid stockings in a bottle. This innovative product, which sold for $1 and came in flattering shades like Sun Bronze and Sun Beige, promised to make legs appear “slimmer, trimmer, more chiseled,” without staining shoes or clothing. It was an instant success and quickly followed by Helena Rubinstein’s competing Aquacade Leg Lotion, igniting another round in their long-standing rivalry.

Arden's public profile continued to rise. In 1946, she graced the cover of TIME magazine—not for her beauty empire, but in recognition of her growing prestige in the world of horse racing. The following year, her colt Jet Pilot won the Kentucky Derby, a major achievement in American sports. In 1948, she made headlines once again when she acquired the champion filly Busher—originally owned by Hollywood mogul Louis B. Mayer—as a broodmare. Busher would go on to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame, and in Blood-Horse magazine's ranking, she was listed among the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. In 1954, Arden’s filly Fascinator won the prestigious Kentucky Oaks, further cementing her legacy in American racing.

Even as she made headlines at the tracks, Elizabeth Arden continued to release elegant new perfumes. These included Mon Amour in 1948, followed by June Gardenia, My Love, and Mémoire Chérie in 1949. Each of these fragrances reflected her enduring talent for creating deeply romantic, sophisticated scents that resonated with women navigating the evolving landscape of mid-century life. Whether in beauty, fashion, or horse racing, Elizabeth Arden remained a symbol of glamour, innovation, and relentless ambition.

In 1956, Elizabeth Arden took a bold step beyond the traditional boundaries of women’s beauty by introducing a line of men’s fragrances—a visionary move at a time when men's grooming was still relatively conservative. This line included Arden for Men Citruswood, Eau de Cologne Tradition, Sandalwood (advertised for men but quickly embraced by women for its crisp, brisk character), and No. 450 Eau de Toilette, a name echoing her earlier Parfum 450. Nearly a decade later, in 1965, Arden for Men was launched, solidifying the brand’s foothold in the male fragrance market. Arden understood that elegance and grooming were not exclusively feminine pursuits and saw the growing potential in catering to refined male sensibilities.

At the same time, Arden continued to expand her luxury wellness vision. She named her exclusive resort and health spa Maine Chance, nestled in the lush countryside of Maine. It became a haven for affluent women seeking both rejuvenation and beauty, a concept that mirrored her holistic approach to self-care. Her emphasis on beauty from within—through rest, nutrition, and treatment—was a precursor to today’s spa and wellness culture.

From the 1930s through the 1960s, Elizabeth Arden reigned as the most prestigious and aspirational name in luxury cosmetics. Her brand epitomized elegance and sophistication, attracting an elite clientele that spanned royalty, Hollywood, and the political sphere. Arden’s commitment to high-quality formulations, innovative skincare, and polished presentation positioned her line not merely as beauty products, but as a lifestyle for the modern, refined woman.

Among her most distinguished patrons were Queen Mary, consort of King George V, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, both of whom helped lend the brand royal cachet at a time when aristocratic endorsement carried immense influence. Queen Elizabeth II herself was also reported to have used Elizabeth Arden products, solidifying the brand’s place in the beauty regimens of Britain’s most revered women.

In Hollywood, Arden was embraced by the golden age’s leading ladies. Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, and Marilyn Monroe—icons of glamour, mystery, and allure—were all known to favor her products. Their association with Arden further elevated the brand’s image, reinforcing its connection to beauty that was timeless, dramatic, and camera-ready.

The American social and political elite also embraced Elizabeth Arden. Jacqueline Kennedy, whose elegance defined First Lady style for a generation, reportedly relied on Arden’s cosmetics for her signature polished look. Mamie Eisenhower, wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, also favored the brand, as did Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, who brought a certain rebellious modernity to the Arden image.

This remarkable span of influence—from British royalty to Hollywood royalty, from fashion plates to political first ladies—reflected not only the power of Arden’s formulations, but her own understanding of aspiration, presentation, and the psychology of beauty. For over three decades, Elizabeth Arden didn’t just sell creams and powders—she sold an ideal of poise, grace, and global sophistication that women the world over wanted to embody.

In recognition of her contributions to the beauty industry and her influence on international style, Arden received one of the highest honors in 1962: the Légion d'Honneur, awarded by the French government. It was a moment of global validation for a woman who had built a beauty empire from the ground up.

Despite accolades, Arden's road to dominance was far from uncontested. As her empire grew, so too did a cadre of formidable rivals—Charles Revson of Revlon, Max Factor, and Charles of the Ritz. But her most persistent adversary was Helena Rubinstein, a fellow beauty mogul with whom she shared a long-standing, deeply personal rivalry. Their feud became legendary: from poaching star staff and chemists to outmaneuvering each other in department store displays, no detail was too small for competition. The rivalry turned personal after Arden’s divorce from Thomas Lewis, who subsequently joined Rubinstein’s company—an affront Arden never forgave.

Their contest extended to the arts and public image. When Rubinstein commissioned Salvador Dalí to paint her portrait—depicting her as bound to a rock by emerald ropes—Arden answered with a striking photograph by Yousuf Karsh, wearing an extravagant feathered hat. This dynamic was immortalized in Lindy Woodhead’s biography, War Paint, later adapted into the PBS documentary The Powder and the Glory. Woodhead affectionately described Arden as “a tough little Canadian who could swear like a longshoreman”—a tribute to her grit and unrelenting drive.

Elizabeth Arden remained wholly devoted to her business until her death in 1966, at the age of 87. Despite her fame, she was laid to rest under her birth name, Elizabeth N. Graham, in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in New York. At the time of her death, she still owned over a hundred salons worldwide, and her personal estate was estimated at $30 to $40 million—a monumental achievement for a woman in her era.

Following her death, her company entered a new chapter. In 1971, the brand was sold to Eli Lilly and Company for $38 million. Arden continued to resonate with a new generation of consumers through fragrance releases like 1974’s Eau Fraîche, a reformulated Mémoire Chérie, and 1977’s Cabriole. The business changed hands again in 1987, when Eli Lilly sold it to Fabergé for an astonishing $657 million.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the Elizabeth Arden brand diversified its fragrance portfolio. Notable launches included 1989’s Red Door, which became a signature scent, and a modernized version of Blue Grass. This momentum continued into the 1990s with the enduringly popular 1993 Sunflowers, 1994 True Love, 1995 Lady in Yellow, 1996 5th Avenue, 1998 Splendor, and the innovative 1999 Green Tea, which would grow into an entire fragrance line of its own.

Even after her passing, Elizabeth Arden’s influence remained woven into the fabric of the global beauty industry. Her legacy endures not only through products, but through a philosophy: that every woman has the right to be beautiful—and the power to define that beauty for herself.

In the years following Elizabeth Arden’s death, the company underwent several ownership changes and strategic pivots, ultimately evolving into one of the most prominent names in prestige beauty. During the late 1990s, the company had split focus: the Elizabeth Arden division managed all cosmetics and fragrances under the Arden name, while Parfums International, a sister division, handled fragrance licensing for several European fashion houses, including Nino Cerruti, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, and Chloé.

On October 31, 2000, British-Dutch conglomerate Unilever sold its Elizabeth Arden division to French Fragrances Inc. (FFI)—a U.S.-based company—for $225 million. The move aligned with Unilever’s broader strategy to divest brands that no longer fit its core business focus. FFI, based in Miami Lakes, Florida, was known for producing fragrances for Jacques Bogart and Halston, and viewed the acquisition of Arden as an opportunity to establish itself as a dominant force in the prestige beauty space. With the acquisition came rights not only to Elizabeth Arden’s full portfolio of skin care, cosmetics, and fragrances, but also to the Elizabeth Taylor fragrance brands, including Passion and the blockbuster White Diamonds.

Following the acquisition, FFI adopted the Elizabeth Arden name for all corporate branding, solidifying its transformation into a major global beauty player. Meanwhile, Unilever retained Parfums International and its stable of designer fragrance licenses. In 2001, Arden further expanded its brand reach by acquiring the White Shoulders fragrance, originally created in the 1940s, and reintroducing it to new generations of consumers.

Arden’s fragrance division grew rapidly in the early 2000s. In 2002, the brand announced Catherine Zeta-Jones as its official spokesperson. Zeta-Jones praised Elizabeth Arden as a "visionary" and expressed deep admiration for her legacy, saying, “To be beautiful and natural is the birthright of every woman.” Her endorsement brought renewed glamour and visibility to the brand, reinforcing its identity as both classic and current.

The company continued expanding its fragrance lines, often capitalizing on celebrity partnerships. It secured high-profile fragrance licenses for:

• Elizabeth Taylor (adding Forever Elizabeth and Gardenia to the already-successful White Diamonds and Passion)
• Mariah Carey (M by Mariah Carey, Luscious Pink)
• Hilary Duff (With Love… Hilary Duff, Wrapped With Love)
• Britney Spears, whose line—beginning with Curious—grew into a phenomenon, spawning multiple flankers including Fantasy, Believe, Circus, and Midnight Fantasy.
 

Elizabeth Arden also continued releasing original branded fragrances, many of which became instant classics:

• Red Door, their signature scent, inspired by the iconic Red Door Salons
• 5th Avenue (1996), which captured the elegance of New York City
• Green Tea (1999), a surprising and refreshing bestseller that developed into an extensive seasonal collection
• Sunflowers (1993), a perennial favorite with a bright, youthful feel
• Arden Beauty (2002), Provocative Woman (2004), and Pretty (2009), all appealing to contemporary sensibilities

The Green Tea line, in particular, grew into a robust franchise, with yearly iterations such as Green Tea Lotus (2008), Green Tea Cherry Blossom (2012), Green Tea Mimosa (2016), and Green Tea Pear Blossom (2020). The White Tea line, launched in 2017, followed suit with flankers like Vanilla Orchid, Wild Rose, and Mandarin Blossom.

Other notable launches included:

• After Five 5th Avenue (2005)
• Always Red and its flanker Always Red Femme (2015–2016)
• Untold, introduced in 2013, with variations like Untold Eau Légère, Untold Absolu, and Untold Luxe

In addition to fragrance success, Arden’s founder was posthumously honored in 2003 with induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, a nod to her lifelong passion and accomplishments in thoroughbred racing.

Today, Elizabeth Arden remains a major force in the global beauty industry, known for its elegant brand heritage, innovative product development, and ability to remain relevant across generations. The company not only preserves Arden’s legacy but builds upon it—carrying forward her pioneering belief that beauty is both a science and a right.

Further Reading

Nancy Shuker, Elizabeth Arden: Cosmetics Entrepreneur (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Silver Burdett Press, 1989);“Lady’s Day in Louisville,” Time (May 6, 1946);

There is no definitive biography of Elizabeth Arden. In addition to Shuker, Elizabeth Arden, and “Lady’s Day in Louisville,” cited above, one may gather information from a range of sources.

See Alfred Allan Lewis and Constance Woodworth, Miss Elizabeth Arden (New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1972);

Peiss, Hope in a Jar; Albro Martin, “Elizabeth Arden,”Notable American Women: The Modern Period (Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press, 1980);

Carol P. Harvey, “Elizabeth Arden,” in Frank Magill, ed., Great Lives from History: American Woman Series (Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Press, 1995); “ ‘I Am a Famous Woman in This Industry,’ ” Fortune (October 1938);

Margaret Case Harriman, “Profiles of Glamour, Inc.,” The New Yorker(April 6, 1935). Obituary in the New York Times, October 19, 1966.