In Brief : Faberge Scents Deal With Unilever

Faberge Inc. said today it is in preliminary talks to sell its toiletries, cosmetics and fragrances businesses to Anglo-Dutch consumer products giant Unilever NV.

New York-based Faberge is a subsidiary of E-II Holdings Inc. The company sells hair-care products, fragrances and toiletries worldwide, and bought Elizabeth Arden cosmetics from Eli Lilly & Co. in August, 1987.

Faberge Chairman Dan Manella declined to comment on what price Unilever, with $39 billion in annual sales, had offered for his company. Faberge, which had sales of $1.1 billion in 1987, gave no further details on the talks.

Unilever was rumored last month to be a suitor for tobacco firm American Brands Inc., which E-II Holdings also pursued in early 1988. E-II Holdings is the holding company for several of the former Beatrice Cos. firms.