Launched in 1934, Salut by Schiaparelli is a fragrance that captures both the buoyant mood of its time and the designer’s singular sense of style and wit. The name Salut—pronounced sah-LOO—is a French word that carries multiple meanings. It’s used as a casual “hello,” a toast to health or good fortune, or even a cheerful farewell. It is a word of breezy elegance, informal yet spirited. For a designer like Elsa Schiaparelli—renowned for her playful defiance of convention—the choice of Salut as a perfume name was perfectly in step with her identity. It evokes an image of a woman entering a room with poise, vivacity, and an effortless charm, offering a wordless greeting with her fragrance trailing behind her like a ribbon of presence.
The world of 1934 was still recovering from the economic ravages of the Great Depression. Fashion, while still refined and ladylike, was becoming more streamlined and functional—hints of modernity were emerging through cleaner lines and active silhouettes. This was a time when women were asserting new forms of independence, finding their place in the workplace, in politics, and in art. Elsa Schiaparelli stood at the forefront of these changes, a designer whose surrealist collaborations and daring use of color and form challenged fashion’s boundaries. Her perfumes were no exception.
Salut belongs to the floral chypre family—a structure known for its interplay between bright, floral notes and a mossy, earthy base. What sets Salut apart is its opening character: sharp, green, fresh, almost bracing in its medicinal edge. This comes from aromatic herbs, galbanum and rosemary, which lend a tonic, invigorating quality. At its heart, the fragrance unfolds into a lush lily of the valley accord—dewy, white, romantic, yet never cloying. Muguet is often associated with spring, purity, and renewal, making it a perfect focal point for a scent named after a cheerful greeting. The chypre base—traditionally constructed from oakmoss, patchouli, and labdanum—grounds the composition in a quiet sensuality, like a forest floor after rain.
