Perfume for a woman is perhaps more important than a beautiful dress or expensive silk lingerie - after all, it is they who remain on her when all the clothes are discarded. Therefore, the choice of this main accessory has a fair floor with special attention. Almost all fashion houses and cosmetic corporations produce their own lines of fragrances. But in this series, women's perfumes Guerlain has a very special place. This brand has a nearly two-hundred-year history; the business of its founder has been handed down in the family from generation to generation. Today, "Guerlain" is the same visiting card of France, like the Eiffel Tower or Marseillaise.
Guerlain House History: Perfumes for Crowned Persons
It all started with a small soap factory, which was opened by novice chemist Pierre Guerlain. In his store you could buy scented soap, lavender lotions, weightless powders, eau de parfum and much more.
Experimenting with different compositions, Pierre-Francois-Pascal managed to win the love of not only ordinary Parisians, but also famous personalities such as O. de Balzac. But the real popularity of Pierre was brought by the spirits of Eau Imperiale, which the perfumer presented to Napoleon III and his wife Eugenia on the day of their marriage. A bottle of dark glass, specially created for this fragrance, was decorated with the emblem of the Bonaparte's house - bees. From that moment on, the honeycomb also became the brand name of Guerlain. Subsequently, Pierre-Francois-Pascal created many aromas for other crowned dynasties: the Romanovs, the Habsburgs and WĂĽrttemberg.
Up the stairs to success
Almost every perfume for women "Guerlain" was an exact shot in the hearts of his fans. In 1889, the son of Pierre Aimet released a new fragrance Jicky. In its composition, a synthetic ingredient was first used - coumarin, reminiscent of the smell of freshly cut hay. Initially, this perfume was addressed to men, but the movement of emancipated women, which was gaining at that time, immediately expropriated it, practically creating a precedent for “unisex” aromas. The combination of warm shades of sandalwood and marjoram brought the thirsty for equality with the stronger sex of women crazy, and again made its creator world famous. In addition, a three-stage odor disclosure system was another Jicky perfume novelty - this is the first fragrance with a starting, middle and base note.
Families First
In 1910, Emé Guerlain dies and leaves the matter to his son Jacques, who brought oriental notes to the female “Guerlain” in the perfume. Mitsouko clearly sounded mysterious motifs from distant Japan, and the luxurious fragrance Shalimar is still very popular. It was in him that one of the key techniques of the Guerlain House was reflected - a return to the already created aromas and their transformation. The basis of these perfumes, Jacques put the scent of Jicky. Such continuity and loyalty to family traditions is typically French quality.
Another family feature of the Guerlain House is the tradition of dedicating perfumes to famous personalities. So, for example, Vol de Nuit (which means “night flight”) was dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
Legendary scents
The last fragrance of Jacques Guerlain was created in conjunction with his grandson Jean-Paul. Ode was a vivid proof that the family business will receive a worthy continuation. The new owner was constantly in search of new ingredients, mixing synthetic materials with natural ones. But what he never changed was to strictly follow traditions. Almost every three to four years, he blew up the perfumery market with novelties that instantly became legendary. In 1959, Jean-Paul launched the Vetiver fragrance: fresh, vibrant and dynamic - it has become incredibly popular with active men.
Secret ingredients
But it was by no means men who inspired Jean-Paul - it was women’s perfume that gave the greatest number of masterpieces. Guerlaine released perfumes dedicated to his second wife. Samsara in Sanskrit means "eternal rebirth." This is the first wood composition in history. Jean-Paul has been to India many times, from where he always brought sandalwood and jasmine, which were used in the religious rituals of Buddhists.
It is worth breathing in this seductive aroma, and you will immediately begin to be enveloped in the sensual smell of jasmine, passing on the bridge of ylang-ylang into the scent of sandalwood. A plume of perfume consists of beans, iris, vanilla and tonka, giving this exciting chord a charming sound.
Perfume "Guerlain" for women is not only impeccable adherence to traditions, but also endless experiments with the composition. In 1969, the fragrance Chamade came out, timed to coincide with the release of a new film based on the novel by Francoise Sagan with Catherine Deneuve in the title role. For the first time, fruit notes of blackcurrant buds were used in it. It is the scent of passion, love, burning all bridges with the real world. No wonder his bottle is made in the shape of an inverted heart, and the cork - in the form of an arrow of Cupid. A piquant note of hyacinth harmoniously sets off all the splendor of this fragrance.
Opinions differ
In 2009, the fragrance “Little Black Dress” (La Petite Robe Noir) was released - the most controversial perfume “Guerlain” (women). Reviews on its first version in a pink bottle were rather mixed. The combination of black cherry, rose and patchouli, which forms the basis of the composition, seemed to many customers to be excessively sweet and cloying. Women, accustomed to the fact that the brand produces classic perfumes that make you feel like a real queen, were surprised to note that this smell is more suitable for a schoolgirl at the prom. Many noted his obsession. This forced the creators to thoroughly rework it in 2012, which did not, however, reduce the comments. But the new version of the fragrance also showed enthusiastic fans. Perfume "Guerlain" for women ("Black dress" in a blue bottle) differs not only in other style of the wardrobe element itself, but also in composition. Refined notes of blueberries reveal through the sweet aroma of cotton candy, rose and patchouli, while sandalwood and white musk give the perfume a bold finish.
Perfume for women (Guerlain): a unique classic and tradition ... in the past?
It's no secret that today large corporations absorb small companies, depriving them of their individuality and identity. Everything is unified, the modern market cannot wait for several years for the release of a new fragrance - in order to maintain the unstable attention of consumers, new items should be released at least annually. In 1994, Jean-Paul Guerlain sold a controlling stake in his family business to Bernard Arnault, who already owned the brands Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, Kenzo and others. One of the strict rules of the Guerlain family was the use of at least 80 percent of natural ingredients when creating their products. At the present time, they are practically not used, they were completely replaced by synthetic materials. The last brainchild of Jean-Paul was the famous Aqua Allegoria series , in which the famous perfumer managed to reconcile innovations and traditions. Today, the Guerlain perfume for women and men is created by a team of professionals who are ready to quickly launch a new fragrance on the market, but are not able to create a masterpiece that will go down in history forever.
Nevertheless, every woman dreams of possessing the treasured bottle of precious liquid. Despite advances in technology, new owners are striving to maintain the tradition of Guerlain. Perfumes of this brand to this day remain one of the most coveted and sought after.