Another Lauder myth

Estée Lauder was known not only for the quality of her products and the great sense of business but also for the stories she invented. Like Chanel most of things that Estée Lauder said to the press/public were a mixture of facts and fiction - factions as would have said Diana Vreeland. This is a small part of an interview given in 1982 in France.
She says that she was the first woman to offer a fragrance to men - Aramis (on the market since 1964). You must have a lot of self confidence to declare that in France where Chanel pour Monsieur was quite a success since the 50's. Not only was this a big lie in France but also in US. Since the death of Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden in the 60's, Estée Lauder was the only queen of American beauty industry and she thought she could (re)invent everything. But she was not the first woman to introduce a masculine scent, not even on American territory. Elizabeth Arden had already put on the market in 1957 Arden for men with their variations (EDC tradition and Sandalwood). Helena Rubinstein came also at the same period (late 50's) with 2 masculine scents and a few years after she put an entire grooming line named after her new husband Prince Gourielli (but it was a flop). In 1982 though Estée Lauder as a leading cosmetic company could afford to tell that she was the first woman to introduce a masculine scent. She did it before when she took the idea of Youth Dew bath oil from Matchabelli's Abano and everybody believed she invented American perfumery.