Image - Wikipedia - Detail of Guerlain store, Paris, by Moonik, 04/08/2012
I was in Paris over the Christmas holidays - taking in the Frank Gehry designed museum at the recently opened Louis Vuitton Foundation, checking out the Niki de Saint Phalle exhibition at the Grand Palais, shopping, sniffing and celebrating New year’s Eve with tickets to see the exciting new production of An American in Paris and a late dinner with family and friends at La Poule au Pot.
Sound like fun? It was. And, given what has taken place in Paris over the last week, it seems so long ago.
Perfumeniche isn’t a blog about politics, world news or current events and these things don’t impact what is written here and nor should they. But there is a clutch at my heart as my favourite city, outside of my home town of Toronto, learns to adjust to a new reality and so today I want to write about something quintessentially Parisian - Le Parfum du 68 from Guerlain – the French perfume house that is among the oldest in the world.
In 1828 Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain opened his perfume store at 42, rue de Rivoli in Paris. Success and royal patronage soon followed, the business grew and so in 1840 a flagship store was opened at 15, rue de la Paix. The business stayed in the family, and in 1913 the Guerlain boutique moved to the Champs-Elysées, just a short distance from their first factory at Place de l’Etoile. Over the years, the shop 68, ave Champs Elysées has been renovated many, many times, most recently in 2013 and let me tell you, it is simply stunning.
The Guerlain website says: The legendary address—68, avenue des Champs-Elysées - elegantly embodies French art de vivre. Artists and craftsmen of worldwide renown have redesigned this superb setting for a new century of beauty and passion, a new adventure for Guerlain.
To celebrate this newest chapter in the epic story of Guerlain, Thierry Wasser has created Parfum du 68, taking inspiration from the very essence of the house’s identity. Made in Guerlain’s image, the fragrance, like the house itself, weaves a thread between the past and the future. More than a homage, it is a declaration.
Le Parfum du 68 opens with a note of soft, sweet manadarin warmed by spicy, sweet cardamom and bright, zesty ginger. It’s just…lovely. Slowly, it opens up to a floral bouquet of rose, magnolia and orange blossom tempered with one of my favourite notes: immortelle – all caramel-y and spicy. Pepper keeps it warm down to the base where heliotrope adds a low, hum of vanilla-like sweetness, benzoin amplifies the sweetness with its vanilla aspect but also gives it a resinous glow. Cedarwood gives it a woodiness that balances the sweetness, making it perfectly unisex.
The drydown is warm, softly spicy and woody. What I like about Le Parfum du 68 is how it evolves slowly, taking the time it needs to tell its story and then how it hovers just above my skin, letting me rediscover it every time I move my wrist or turn my head.
I’ll be going back to Paris soon, and I’ll wear Le Parfum du 68 because it’s gorgeous on my skin and because it’s quintessentially Parisian and because it makes me smile when I smell it.
Le Parfum du 68 is in our Decant Store. 1 ml. decants are $6.00.