Unopened Vintage Sen-Sen Confection Sucrerie The Breath Perfume For Sale

Up for sale is an unopened pack of Sen-Sen.

Sen-Sen is the legendary "breath perfume" that was manufactured by F&F Foods in Chicago using highly unique, vintage equipment. First developed in the late 1890s by a perfume dealer in New York, it holds the title of America's first commercial breath freshener. 

Product Description & Discontinuation

• The Flavor: Sen-Sen consisted of tiny, intensely flavored black flakes or squares made from a potent blend of unsweetened licorice, anise, gum arabic, and floral perfume extracts like violet.

• The Reputation: Its unique aroma was historically used by generations of Americans to mask the smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke. It famously polarized consumers, who either loved its perfume-like taste or complained that it tasted like soap.

• Discontinuation: F&F Foods permanently discontinued Sen-Sen in July 2013. Because the specialized, 19th-century machinery used to score and slice the tiny squares finally broke down and replacement parts could no longer be sourced, production had to be halted. 

Cultural Footprint

The brand remains heavily steeped in Americana nostalgia. It was famously referenced in the song "Ya Got Trouble" from the musical The Music Man as a way for teenagers to hide forofferden habits from their parents. It was also immortalized by Billy Joel in his 1983 hit song "Keeping the Faith," where he fondly recalled popping a Sen-Sen mint during his teenage years.