Originally launched in 2010 Commune de Paris is the result of a collaboration between Astier de Villatte and French fashion house Commune de Paris, named for the popular revolt of 1871.

Colognes follow a very simple formula: alcohol that contains a mixture of citrus oils, herbs and/or flowers, with a light base of woods or musk. It’s how a perfumer plays within this structure that can make a cologne distinctive and nose Françoise Caron has created a stunner with Commune de Paris.

It opens fresh and zesty from Sicilian lemon and bergamot supported by minty, herbaceous rosemary. This refreshing start always hooks me in and never fully disappears. Instead, it moves to the background where it lingers for ages. As it evolves, pink pepper and lavender bloom, their fresh, floral and herbal aspects on full display. Out of nowhere, it gets powdery – gorgeously, tenderly, powdery – before almond faceted Benzaldehyde and vanilla-tinged Coumarin create a powdered almond accord. Benzaldehyde and Coumarin, are chemical molecules created in 1866 and 1870 respectively, and clearly set the cologne in the time of the Paris Commune. Labdanum and benzoin carry their sweetness over the base of patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood.
The drydown is elegant, refined and perfectly suited for men and women to wear.

With Commune de Paris Françoise Caron has boldly taken the cologne formula and enriched it with notes of powder, almond, amber and suave woods to create something unique and original while still being a cologne. I wear it whenever I want to feel rebellious, audacious and free, and that could be in any season.

Notes: Sicilian lemon, rosemary, bergamot, pink pepper extract, lavender, labdanum, benzoin, patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood, Benzaldehyde and Coumarin.