Take a Wiff

While a student at Liverpool College of Art, Cynthia took a part time job selling cosmetics and perfume at Woolworths. A fellow co-worker, Colette Winterburn, saw John Lennon often visiting Cynthia (she also saw The Beatles perform at the Cavern and had a crush on John). I believe this was when Cynthia was living with Aunt Mimi during 1961-1962 college term before eventually getting her own place to live. She needed money to pay rent. 

"Considering there were so many books about my life, etc, etc. I became pregnant before I could finish my teaching. I did teaching for a while. Then I became pregnant and following that The Beatles and everything else that happened. But, no, I haven't had a job. The work I had as a student was working in Woolworths. On the perfume counter. The cosmetic counter. But, that was when I was a student during holidays. But full-time work, I haven't really done. I have worked in recent years."

Cynthia

Years later, after Cynthia's 3 year contract was over with Vantona Vyella (designing houseware products), she started a new venture with Ellan Vannin Perfumery and created her own design company, Cynthia Lennon Creations Limited, launched on March 30, 1988. At the time, Cynthia and her boyfriend Jim Christie were living at Isle of Man.

"The actual island is a very small place and you get to know people very quickly. I went to the Ellan Vannin factory to choose some perfume, then we got to know the people socially. The idea came about that we should all get involved, bringing out my artwork for the design and the packaging. It all happened gradually over a period of about six months. The factory is 10 minutes away from where we live. Now we have gone into partnership with two other people and we are going to launch a range in the autumn with the perfume Woman, named after John's song. We're working on a range of skin creams and body treatments and a man's aftershave. I am achieving a dream now, even though I missed out during the Beatle years. I just wish I had as much energy now as I did then!"

Cynthia. 1988

The perfume was named Woman, a song by John during his solo years (it's on Double Fantasy, released in 1980) ironically written for Yoko Ono. However, it was one of Cynthia's favorite songs and she felt it wasn't just for Yoko but also for herself and May Pang. 

"I'll be criticized for using the name, but it has taken a lot from me. I don't think it's unfair to take something back." 

Cynthia 1988

The packaging designed by Cynthia

As for the launch party, the perfume was released in 1988.

"We're having a party at Stringfellows, and Maureen and Pattie are coming along. I did ask Paul, George, and Ringo but they can't make it."

Cynthia, 1988

I don't know if Maureen and Pattie really came - only pictures that surfaced from the event were just of Cynthia and Jim. Maybe they did come? I don't know, hopefully one day more pictures will surface.

I don't know how the sales did for Cynthia, but I think her time with Ellan Vannin Perfumery quickly came to an end; there was another perfume released but no fanfare as Woman had gotten and it's so rare that no one knows the name of it - it's practically non existing. Woman may have since discontinued but you can still find it on eBay, maybe Amazon on rare occasions, and other auctions. I even have my own, thanks to eBay: my opinion is that it's a strong perfume, strong on the floral notes and it's something I think my late Grandmother would wear. You'd have to have two squirts to be enough without it being overpowering.