A box of Dana Tabu cologne can be seen on the dressing table of the burlesque dancer Lilly “Cat Girl” Christine. Created by Jean Carles in 1932, Tabu is a sensual warm spicy/woody scent which starts with fresh citrus and spicy notes; according to Fragrantica, its warm oriental base includes amber, resins, civet and precious woods – sandal and patchouli. In Scent and Subversion Barbara Herman explains that “it’s said that Dana’s brief to Carles was along the lines of, ‘Make a perfume a prostitute would wear’”.
World Wide Aura 
LOVE the photo! My grandma used to wear Tabu. 😀
It’s a fascinating picture. I’ve never smelled it. Did it really smell “dirty”?
I think most dressing / vanity tables are. Tools of one’s daily creation. To be honest, I can’t remember much of how it smelt. It was such a long time ago. I should score a bottle and see if it causes any rush of memory for me. It was a regular on grandma’s Christmas wish list, but I think we bought most bottles from the local drug store. Grandma always did have A LOT of boyfriends, though.
I’ve read so much about it, that I would really like to try it, in the original formula.
Awww, lots of boyfriends ♥