Dana

Dana was founded in Barcelona, Spain in 1932 by Javier Serra, a former executive and art director at the Spanish perfume house Myrurgia. Multiple historical sources note that Serra chose the name Dana after figures in Greek mythology such as Danae, and that he commissioned Spanish artist Mariano Andreu to create the now classic logo of a stylised woman's head. Within months of founding the house, Serra moved its operational focus to Paris, then a central hub of perfumery, before the business later relocated its headquarters to the United States in 1940 when German forces occupied France during World War II.

The brand's breakthrough came with Tabu, launched on August 22, 1932 and composed by French perfumer Jean Carles. Tabu is frequently cited as one of the earliest heavy oriental fragrances marketed to a broad audience, with clove and patchouli playing a central role in its structure. Carles also created subsequent Dana releases such as Canoë (1935) and Emir (1936), helping to establish the house's early identity around strong, long lasting compositions. Over time, Dana expanded into cosmetics and personal care, but its fragrance catalogue remained anchored in a handful of best sellers.

Corporate ownership has shifted several times. Les Parfums de Dana was acquired by Renaissance Cosmetics in 1995, and after Renaissance filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1999, the Dana business was restructured under New Dana Perfumes. In November 2003, New Dana sold its brands, including Tabu, to Dana Classic Fragrances. Dana Classic Fragrances operates under IMG Holdings, which has continued to manage the legacy portfolio, reissuing classics like Tabu and Canoe primarily at accessible price points in mass and drugstore distribution.

Today, Dana is known less as a fashion-linked house and more as a heritage brand that maintains long established formulas in budget friendly formats. Many of its scents, originally composed in the 1930s and 1940s, have been reformulated for modern regulations and cost constraints, yet they still appeal to buyers looking for vintage styled profiles and very strong performance compared with typical mass market offerings.