Avon started out as the California Perfume Company when founder, Mr. David McConnell, 28 of New York, NY, USA discovered that the rose oil perfumes he was giving away were the reason people were buying his books.

The company was named Avon in 1939, after the river that runs through Stratford-On-Avon in the English Midlands. The name is a tribute to McConnell's favorite playwright, William Shakespeare, who hailed from the town.

Women have been selling Avon since 1886 - 34 years before women in the US won the right to vote! Mrs. P.F.E. Albee of Winchester, New Hampshire pioneered the company's now-famous direct-selling method, and her name is still honored today in the company. Avon's sales Representatives - men and women - now number more than four million, and Avon products are sold in over 100 countries around the world.

1886

• California Perfume Company (CPC) founded in New York City by David H. McConnell.
• First Avon Sales Representative, Mrs. P.F.E. Albee
• First product produced called the Little Dot Perfume Set included five fragrances: Violet, White Rose, Heliotrope, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Hyacinth

1896

• First catalog issued (text only) Nov. 2.

1897

• First laboratory built in Suffern, NY.
• First $500 day (recorded in December.)

1905

• First print ads published in Good Housekeeping Magazine.
• First color catalog - CP Book - (October)

1914

• First international office opened: Montreal, Canada. Manufacturing starts in 1915.

1916

• California Perfume Company first incorporated in New York State.

1920

• First time sales top $1 million.

1931

• First time Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval awarded to 11 CPC products. In subsequent years, guarantee extended to all applicable products.

1939

• California Perfume Company name changed to Avon Products, Inc. (10/6/39.)

1942

• First war contract: 40 percent of Suffern's output devoted to military manufacturing, expanded to 50 percent in 1943.

1946

• First OTC (over-the-counter) offering of stock to public.

1950

• First cream sachet featured in To A Wild Rose fragrance.

1953

• First television advertising launched.

1964

• Avon listed on New York Stock Exchange, trading starts April 20.

1972

• First time sales top $1 billion.

1973

• Computer program first developed to store ingredient formulations (on file for FDA.)

1979

• Avon's first year as participant in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA (participation ends after 1982 parade.)

1986

• Avon celebrates its centennial: 1886-1986

1987

• First Spanish-language television commercial begins airing in October.

1989

• Avon becomes the first major cosmetics manufacturer to announce a permanent end to animal testing in the safety testing of its products.

1991

• Avon becomes the first beauty company to bring the alpha hydroxy (AHA) technology to the mass market with the launch of a breakthrough perfecting cream, Anew Perfecting Complex for Face.

1992

• Avon U.K. launches the company’s first women’s health care initiative to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.

1993

• Avon launches its first women's health care initiative program in the U.S. with the "Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade" enlisting over 500,000 U.S. Sales Representatives to raise awareness and funds through the sale of 'pink ribbon' products.

1996

• For the first time in its history, Avon Products becomes an official Olympic sponsor during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA.

1998

• First 10K race of Avon Running Global Women’s Circuit (March.)
   
• First Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day fundraising walk takes place in southern California.

1999

• Avon names its first-ever female CEO with the appointment of Andrea Jung in November.
   
• Avon Announces its first ever global advertising campaign. The campaign themed 'Let’s Talk', focuses on Avon’s unique relationships with women around the world as well as its latest beauty product innovations.
   
• Avon awards first multi-million grants for breast cancer research and clinical care.
   
• First Global Championship 10K race of Avon Running Global Women’s Circuit (New York City); running great Telga Loroupe finishes first.

2000

• Avon signs tennis greats, Venus and Serena Williams, to be the company’s first global celebrity spokespersons to promote Avon and its products through Avon’s 'Let’s Talk' advertising campaign.

2001

• Avon’s Board of Directors elects Andrea Jung as the company’s first female Chairman of the Board. Ms. Jung is one of five female chief executives of Fortune 500 companies, according to the research group Catalyst, and is one of three holding the titles of chairman and chief executive.
  
  
  
  

  	Is there a replacement for my favorite discontinued fragrance?
  	Below you’ll find a detailed list of Avon’s discontinued fragrances with suggested replacements. While these scents may not smell exactly the same as the discontinued fragrance, they are in the same fragrance family. In some cases, there is no recommended replacement. Our Representatives often provide samples to help acquaint customers with our products. Please ask your Representative to help you choose from the wide range of fragrances currently available. We hope you’ll discover a new favorite. If you don't currently have a Representative, please click here to locate one in your area. Women’s Fragrances A Amber Mist : No Replacement Apple Blossom : Replaced by Sweet Honesty Ariane : Replaced by Imari, Far Away, Candid B Beguiling (Breathless) : Replaced by Far Away Bird of Paradise : Replaced by Far Away, Mesmerize Blue Lotus : Replaced by Candid, Sweet Honesty Brocade : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Butterfly : Replaced by Perceive C C'est Moi!: Replaced by Rare Gold California Perfume Co.-Hyacinth : No Replacement California Perfume Co.-Lily of the Valley : Replaced by Candid California Perfume Co.-Violet : No Replacement California Perfume Co.-White Rose : No Replacement Carnation : Replaced by Imari, Mesmerize Casbah : Replaced by Far Away, Mesmerize Charisma : Replaced by Candid, Night Magic, Sweet Honesty Celebre : Replaced by Rare Pearls Come Summer : Replaced by Perceive, Sweet Honesty Comfort Scents -Autumn Breeze : Replaced by Perceive, Sweet Honesty Comfort Scents -Clean Cotton : Replaced by Perceive, Sweet Honesty Comfort Scents -Delicious Dessert : No Replacement Comfort Scents -Spring Showers : Replaced by Perceive, Sweet Honesty Comfort Scents -Stonewashed Blue : Replaced by Perceive, Sweet Honesty Comfort Scents -Tropical Paradise : No Replacement Contrast : Replaced by Rare Gold Cote d'Azur : Replaced by Timeless Cotillion : Replaced by Peony Soft Musk, Sweet Honesty, Candid Country Breeze : Replaced by Perceive D Delicate Daisies : No Replacement Devotee : Replaced by Candid Dolce Aura : Replaced by Rare Gold, Haiku E Earthfire : Replaced by Far Away, Imari Elusive : Replaced by Timeless Emprise : Replaced by Sweet Honesty Everafter for Women : Replaced byTimeless F Facets : Replaced by Candid Fantasque : Replaced by Rare Gold Field Flowers : Replaced by Perceive Fifth Avenue : Replaced by Perceive Forest Lily : Replaced by Perceive Forever Amber : Replaced by Mesmerize Forever Spring : No Replacement Foxfire : Replaced by Rare Gold Fragrance Spot - Fresh Lavender : No Replacement Fragrance Spot - Sweet Clementine : No Replacement Fragrance Spot - Vibrant Orchid : No Replacement G Garden Pastels - Primrose : Replaced by Perceive H Hana Gasa : Replaced by Rare Gold, Candid Hawaiian White Ginger : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Here's My Heart : Replaced by Imari, Far Away Honeysuckle : No Replacement I Imperial Garden : Replaced by Candid Incandessence : Replaced by Rare Gold Inspire : Replaced by Candid J Jamoca Soft Musk : No Replacement Josie : Replaced by Perceive K Kaleidoscope : No Replacement L Lahana : Replaced byPeony Soft Musk Lakeside : No Replacement Lemon Velvet : Replaced by Perceive Light Accents-Amber Mist : Replaced by Far Away, Imari, Mesmerize Light Accents-Tea Garden : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Light Accents-Willow : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Lily of the Valley : Replaced by Candid Love Life : Replaced by Perceive M Magnolia : Replaced by Rare Gold Millennia : Replaced by Far Away Moonlight Lace : Replaced by Candid Moonwind : Replaced by Timeless Mystic : Replaced by Rare Gold N Natori :Replaced by Perceive Natural Reactions - Earth Walk : No Replacement Natural Reactions - Fired Up : No Replacement Natural Reactions - In the Clouds : No Replacement Natural Reactions - Still Waters : No Replacement Nearness : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Perceive Night Odyssey : Replaced by Odyssey O Occur! : Replaced by Candid P Patchwork : Replaced by Far Away, Imari, Mezmerize Patterns : Replaced by Candid, Timeless Pavi Elle : Replaced by Imari, Night Magic Peach Soft Musk : No Replacement Pearls & Lace : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Perle Noir : Replaced by Far Away, Imari, Mesmerize Persian Wood : Replaced by Far Away, Imari, Timeless Personally Yours Birthstone Cologne : No Replacement Pro Fitness for Women : Replaced by Odyssey, Perceive Provocative : Replaced by Perceive Pur Blanca : Replaced by Peony Soft Musk R Raining Violets : Replaced by Rare Gold Rapture : Replaced by Timeless, Candid Rare Emeralds : Replaced by Imari, Far Away Rare Rubies : Replaced by Pink Suede Regence : Replaced by Candid Rio : Replaced by Perceive Roses, Roses : Replaced by Perceive S Samaya : Replaced by Far Away, Imari Scent Trend : No Replacement Serenade : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Sheer Essences –Freesia : No Replacement Sheer Essences –Gardenia : No Replacement Sheer Essences –Lilac : No Replacement Sheer Essences –Patchouli : No Replacement Sheer Essences –Peony : No Replacement Sheer Essences –Sandalwood : No Replacement Somewhere : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Sonnet : Replaced by Far Away, Mesmerize, Candid Spellbound : Replaced by Sweet Honesty, Candid Splendour : Replaced by Timeless, Candid Sportif : Replaced by Mesmerize, Candid Starring for Women : Replaced by Rare Gold, Perceive Summerset : No Replacement Sun Blossoms : Replaced by Perceive Sunny Sky : Replaced by Perceive T Tasha : Replaced by Candid, Timeless Timeless Air : Replaced by Timeless To a Wild Rose : Replaced by Imari Toccara : Replaced by Timeless, Candid Topaze : Replaced by Timeless, Candid Trailing Arbutus : Replaced by Rare Gold U Undeniable for Women : Replaced by Far Away, Imari Unforgettable : Replaced by Odyssey, Timeless, Candid Unspoken : Replaced by Far Away, Imari, Odyssey V Vanilla Soft Musk : Replaced byPeony Soft Musk Velvet Imari : Replaced by Imari, Timeless Vivage : Replaced by Candid W White Lilac : No Replacement Wild Jasmine : Replaced by Timeless, Candid Windswept : Replaced by Perceive Wishing : Replaced by Far Away, Mesmerize Women of Earth : Replaced by Rare Gold, Perceive Z Zany : Replaced by Far Away, Imari, Sweet Honesty Men’s Fragrances A American Classic : Replaced by Perceive for Men B Black Leather : Replaced by Black Suede Blue Blazer : Replaced by Perceive for Men Brisk Spice : Replaced by Mesmerize for Men, Black Suede C Cavalier : Replaced by Black Suede CJ : Replaced by Black Suede, Mesmerize for Men Clint : Replaced by Black Suede Cordovan : Replaced by Black Suede, Wild Country Cool Sage : Replaced by Wild Country Cool Seas : Replaced by Wild Country Crisp Lime : Replaced by Perceive for Men D Deep Woods : Replaced by Wild Country E Encontro for Men : Replaced by Wild Country Everafter for Men : Replaced by Wild Country Everest : Replaced by Wild Country Exclusive : Replaced by Wild Country F Far Away for Men : Replaced by Wild Country Feraud Pour Homme : Replaced by Mesmerize for Men, Black Suede Friktion for Men : Replaced by Black Suede G Granite : Replaced by Mesmerize for Men, Wild Country J Jamoca Musk for Men : Replaced by Paradigm JRT : Replaced by Wild Country L Legacy : Replaced by Black Suede, Wild Country Light Musk for Men : Replaced by Wild Country Loverboy : No Replacement M Maxx : Replaced by Perceive for Men Modern Balance : Replaced by Perceive for Men O Oland : Replaced by Wild Country P Pro Fitness for Men : Replaced by Wild Country Power 3000 - Deep Woods : Replaced by Mesmerize for Men, Black Suede Power 3000 - Rich Amber : Replaced by Mesmerize for Men, Black Suede R Rugger : Replaced byWild Country S SeaZone : Replaced by Black Suede, Wild Country Signet : Replaced by Wild Country Sigma Sport Line : Replaced by Perceive for Men, Wild Country Spicy : Replaced by Mesmerize for Men, Black Suede Starring for Men : Replaced by Wild Country Styx Forest : Replaced by Wild Country T Tai Winds : Replaced by Black Suede, Wild Country Tempest : Replaced by Perceive for Men Trailblazer : No Replacement Trazarra : Replaced by Black Suede, Mesmerize for Men Tribute : Replaced by Perceive for Men, Wild Country Truimph : Replaced by Wild Country U Undeniable for Men : Replaced by Black Suede Uomo: Replaced by Paradigm W Weekend : Replaced by Mesmerize for Men, Wild Country Wild Country Musk : Replaced by Wild Country Wild Country Outback : Replaced by Wild Country Windjammer : Replaced by Wild Country