Gingham by Bath and Body Works c1993

  Gingham by Bath and Body Works: launched in 1993.

this photo shows the original line of Gingham

Gingham was introduced to the press in mid-June of 1993 at a picnic in New York City's Central Park. It was released to stores two months later. Bath & Body Works recognized the American woman's yearning for fresh, pure, and natural skincare and bath products with gentle formulas, rather than the harsh synthetic chemicals that dominated most products in the mass market shops. Only farm-fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables harvested in America's heartland were said to be used to create the Gingham & Heartland products from Bath & Body Works.

Gingham was described as a fresh blend of bright florals & a hint of sweet citrus. Fresh, spirited and natural, it begins with top notes of blue freesia, waxy apricot, succulent osmanthus, herbal chamomile, sweet clementine and juicy peach. To enhance those fruits and flowers is a complex middle notes composed of exotic jasmine, dewy violet, fresh lily of the valley and heady orange blossom. A rich and earthy base of precious amber, cedar, sensuous musk and soft sandalwood gently warms and supports the opulent florals, allowing the fragrance to maintain its unique airiness. 

• Top notes: freesia, clementine, apricot, osmanthus, chamomile, peach
• Middle notes: violet, jasmine, lily of the valley, orange blossom
• Base notes: amber, cedar, musk, sandalwood.

The packaging was designed by Joel Desgrippes who was inspired by America's heartland and the simplicity of fresh, homespun products and a return to country living. The packaging is a simple checkered pattern of vibrant blues and crisp whites. The labels have a hand written look to them, the bottles recall vintage bottles, especially the bath oil crystals bottle, it recalls an old fashioned milk bottle. The soap is molded with a basket weave pattern. The stores displays were cheerfully conceived as a rural roadside farm stand, its shelves filled with all natural "home made" products and old country market signage for authenticity.

These photos show the original products in the Gingham line from 1993.

The original Gingham fragrance has been discontinued for years and can be very hard to find. Recently, Bath & Body Works brought back the long lost favorite.

Based on the success of the Gingham line, Bath & Body Works released a new down-home addition to the Gingham line called Heartland in 1994. As with the original fragrance, the bath products were created with fresh, wholesome ingredients from America's midwest: buttermilk, honey, apricot, oat flour, hops, fruit and flowers. This continuing theme for Bath & Body Works was based on an old-time general store - with traditional checkerboard tablecloths on wooden display tables. Fixtures included wooden wagons and barrels filled with merchandise. Soft rock from American musicians like Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen was piped through speakers in the store. I was a teenager during the mid 1990s and going to the mall was a regular activity. I visited Bath & Body Works a few times and I can remember the store employees wearing gingham aprons who encouraged me to try out the products at a sink inside the store. 

Heartland by Gingham was launched in 1994 as sweet, slightly fruity floral fragrance, soft, very feminine. Rich, warm, romantic. The brilliant top note combines raspberries, mandarins with sparkling floralcy of yellow freesia, linden blossom and jasmine petals. The rich and warm heart combines orange blossom, lily of the valley, jasmine absolute and rose de mai. The soft and velvety base is composed of musk, sandalwood and cedar wood.

• Top notes: raspberry, mandarin, freesia, linden blossom and jasmine
• Middle notes: orange blossom, lily of the valley, jasmine absolute, rose de mai
• Base notes: musk, sandalwood, cedar

This fragrance has been discontinued for years and can be very hard to find.