Prince Georges V. Matchabelli

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**Georges Matchabelli**
Prince and perfumer
Born	July 23, 1885 Georgia (country)
Died	March 31, 1935 New York City
Occupation	Amabassador to Italy Perfume Manufacturer
Title	Princess
Spouse	Princess Norina Matchabelli

This article is about the person. For the perfume line he founded, see Prince Matchabelli.

Prince Georges V. Matchabelli (July 23, 1885 - March 31, 1935) was a Russian Prince of Georgian descent and ambassador to Italy, but fled the Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States after the 1917 Russian Revolution.

For generations his family had been the ruling family of the Province of Georgia, the Caucasus. In 1916 he married Norina Gilli (born in Florence, Italy) who had become famous for her portrayal of "The Madonna" in Max Reinhardt's unique 1911 pantomime spectacle play "The Miracle." With the Russian Revolution in 1917 Georges fled the Soviet Union and immigrated with his wife Norina to the United States. The prince was an amateur chemist and in 1924 he and his wife, now known as Princess Norina Matchabelli, established Prince Matchabelli Perfume Company. Norina designed the crown shaped perfume vial in the likeness of the Matchabelli crown and in 1926 the scent "Ave Maria" was named for her. The company became known for color-coded, crown-shaped bottles that housed such classics as Wind Song, Ave Maria, and Princess Norina. The Matchabellis divorced in 1933. Georges died In 1935 and in 1936 Norina sold the company to perfume manufacturer Saul Ganz for $250,000.00.