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Guerlain

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Guerlain S.A.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryCosmetics
Founded1828 (196 years ago)
FounderPierre-François-Pascal Guerlain
Headquarters
Paris
,
France
Products
  • Perfumes
  • Cosmetics
  • Skin care
  • Hair care
RevenueIncrease€402.2 million (2012)
ParentLVMH
Websiteguerlain

Guerlain(French pronunciation:[ɡɛʁlɛ̃]) is a French perfume,cosmetics,and skincare house which is among the oldest in the world. Many traditional Guerlain fragrances are characterized by a common olfactory accord known as the "Guerlinade[fr]".[1]

The house was founded in Paris in 1828 by theUCI PicturesPierre-François Pascal Guerlain. It was run by the Guerlain family until 1994, when it was bought by the French multinational companyLVMH.

Its flagship store is 68, Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris.[2]

History[edit]

Guerlain's L'Heure Bleue

The House of Guerlain was owned and managed by members of the Guerlain family from its inception in 1828 to 1994. It was acquired in 1994 by theLVMHgroup, a French multinational investment corporation specializing in luxury brands.[citation needed]

A Guerlain boutique on theChamps-Élysées,inParis

Beginning[edit]

The House of Guerlain was founded in 1828, when Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain opened his perfume store at 42,rue de RivoliinParis.As both the founder and first perfumer of the house, Pierre-François composed and manufactured custom fragrances with the help of his two sons, Aimé and Gabriel. Through continued success and the patronage of members in high society, Guerlain opened its flagship store at 15,rue de la Paixin 1840, and put its mark on the Parisian fashion scene.

The success of the house under Pierre-François peaked in 1853 with the creation ofEau de Cologne Impérialefor French EmperorNapoleon IIIand his Spanish-French wifeEmpress Eugénie.This perfume earned Pierre-François the prestigious title of being His Majesty's Official Perfumer. Guerlain went on to create perfumes forQueen Victoriaof the United Kingdom andQueen Isabella IIof Spain, among other royalty.[citation needed]

Second generation[edit]

With the death of Pierre-François in 1864, the house was left to his sons Aimé Guerlain and Gabriel Guerlain. The roles of perfumer and manager were divided between the two brothers, with Gabriel managing and further expanding the house, and Aimé becoming the master perfumer. The House of Guerlain thus began a long tradition whereby the position of master perfumer was handed down through the Guerlain family.

As Guerlain's second generation in-house perfumer, Aimé was the creator of many classic compositions, includingFleur d'Italie(1884),Rococo(1887) andEau de Cologne du Coq(1894). However, many would argue that his greatest composition was 1889'sJicky,the first fragrance described as a "parfum" rather than an eau de cologne, and among the first to use synthetic ingredients alongside natural extracts.

Third generation[edit]

Guerlain'sMitsouko

The business was handed down to the sons of Gabriel Guerlain:Jacques Guerlainand Pierre Guerlain. Jacques, Aimé's nephew, became Guerlain's third master perfumer; he was the author of many of Guerlain's most famous classics, which are still held in high esteem in the modern perfume industry. Many of his perfumes are still sold and marketed today. Among Jacques Guerlain's most important creations areMouchoir de Monsieur(1904),Après L'Ondée(1906),L'Heure Bleue(1912),Mitsouko(1919), Guerlain's flagship fragranceShalimar(1925), andVol de Nuit(1933). Jacques composed his final perfume,Ode(1955), with the assistance of his grandson, the then-18-year-old Jean-Paul Guerlain.

Fourth generation[edit]

Jean-Paul Guerlain was the last family master perfumer. He created Guerlain's classic men's fragrancesVétiver(1959) andHabit Rouge(1965). He also createdChant d'Arômes(1962) andChamade(1969). From 1975 to 1989, he collaborated with perfumerAnne-Marie Saget,composingNahema(1979),Jardins de Bagatelle(1983),Derby(1985) andSamsara(1989).[3]His later work includesHéritage(1992),Coriolan(1998) andVétiver pour Elle(2004). Jean-Paul Guerlain retired in 2002, but continued to serve as advisor to his successor until 2010, when he was terminated after making a racist remark on French television regarding the inspiration for his scent Samsara.[4]With no heir from within the Guerlain family to take over, the role of master perfumer is no longer tied to family succession.

Purchase by the LVMH Group[edit]

In a decision widely seen as a break with tradition, the Guerlain family sold the company to theluxury goodsconglomerateMoët Hennessy Louis Vuitton(LVMH) in 1994. Though Jean-Paul Guerlain remained as an in-house perfumer until 2002, other perfumers were brought in after 1994 to compose perfumes for Guerlain, and Jean-Paul had to submit his compositions against those of others. Fans of the house viewed the LVMH purchase as a step towards the cheapening and commercialization of the legendary firm's legacy. Most were unhappy with the first post-LVMH release, the 1996 sweet mimosa floralChamps-Elysées,composed byOlivier Cresp,whose entry was selected over that of Jean-Paul Guerlain.

Guerlain at Australian department storeDavid JonesinSydney

Among the outside perfumers to compose perfumes for the firm after 1994 wasMathilde Laurent,who worked for Guerlain at the end of the 1990s and in the early 2000s. She composedAqua Allegorica Pamplelune(1999) andShalimar Light(2003, reattributed to Jean-Paul Guerlain and relaunched in 2004 following reformulation).Maurice Roucel,a perfumer ofSymrise,composedL'Instant de Guerlain(2004) andInsolence(2006). As the niece of Jean-Jacques Guerlain, some thoughtPatricia de Nicolaïwould have been a candidate for the position of Guerlain's in-house perfumer,[5]though the presence of aglass ceilingin the company prevented her selection for position.[6]

In May 2008,Thierry Wasserwas named the in-house perfumer for Guerlain. Wasser, aSwissperfumer who used to work forFirmenich,createdIris Ganache(2007) andQuand Vient la Pluie(2007) for Guerlain before his appointment the following year. Jean-Paul Guerlain stayed on in an advisory consultant role, both for fragrance design and ingredients. Wasser was to work closely withSylvaine Delacourte,Guerlain's Artistic Director.[7]In 2010, the LVMH Group cut ties with Jean-Paul Guerlain as their consultant due to his racist comments on French television.[8][9][10]

Russian modelNatalia Vodianovahas been the face of Guerlain campaigns since 2008. Vodianova began advertisingShalimarto celebrate the perfume house's 180th birthday.[11]For the Fall 2013 makeup collection, Olivier Echaudemaison, Guerlian's Creative Director of Makeup since 2000[12]commented "Every season we fantasize with Natalia's image and invent for her a new role. For us, it is not just a model, which advertises cosmetics, but above all, a great actress".[13] In October 2011, the company named Malaysian actressMichelle Yeohas a new spokesmodel. Yeoh is an ambassador for the Orchidée Impériale line of skincare.[14]

In 2018, Guerlain founded an initiative to raise awareness around bee protection which launched globally in 2021. As part of this initiative, the House invited friends to lead Bee School Sessions to raise awareness among the youth of today. UK ambassador Camille Charriere taught a Bee School Session in May 2023 in Notting Hill atHampden Gurney C of E School.[15]

In February 2024, the Emirati artist and singer, Balqees Fathi became the Regional Ambassador for the brand in the Middle East.[16][17]

Products[edit]

Guerlain counter atSYD Airport Tax & Duty Free

Guerlain's creations have long influenced the trends of perfumery with fragrances such asJicky,Shalimar,Vétiver,andLa Petite Robe Noire.Guerlain is among the few older houses (such asCaron) that exist solely to produce and market perfumes. Many brands in the perfume industry, such asChanelandJean Patouare in fact divisions of fashion houses or multinational conglomerates that license the brand name. Alongside its fragrances, today Guerlain has expanded to offer a large range of makeup and skincare. Guerlain products are available across the world at serviced counters within department stores, and at beauty stores such as fellow LVMH brandSephora.Guerlain also maintains thirteen international beauty and spa 'boutiques', five within France (two being in Paris).[18]

Vétiverby Guerlain. Glass flacon design byRobert Granaiin 2000.
A small counter at New Zealand department storeSmith & Caughey'sonQueen Street, Auckland

Perfumes[edit]

Since its foundation in 1828, Guerlain has created over 600 fragrances.[19]Among the company's most notable (in terms of longevity, sales or cultural impact) are:

Name Year Detail
Eau de Cologne Impériale 1830 (pronounced[odkɔlɔɲɛ̃peʁjal]): Guerlain first released a cologne by this name in 1830, but it came to widespread attention in 1853 when it was adopted byEmpress Eugénie,the wife of French emperorNapoléon III.She liked the composition so much that she named Guerlain an official purveyor of colognes and toiletries to the imperial family. It is a classiccologne,with rich lime and lime-flower notes. Over a century and a half later, the cologne is still in regular production.
Jicky 1889 [ʒiki]:Said to be named either after the nickname Aimé Guerlain gave to his nephew, Jacques, or after a girl who broke Aimé's heart as a student in England, Jicky is widely heralded as the first "modern" fragrance, and the first to be referred to as a perfume. Jicky was among the first fragrances to incorporate synthetic odorants (vanillinandcoumarin) in its composition. The fragrance, an aromaticfougère,is known for its main notes of lavender and vanilla over animaliccivet.Although marketed by Guerlain as a women's fragrance, it was initially more successful with men and has proven to be a popular unisex fragrance. Over 120 years later, Jicky is still being sold, making it the oldest non-cologne fragrance in continuous production.
Eau de Cologne du Coq 1894 A classic cologne featuring prominent herbal, lavender and citrus notes.
Mouchoir de Monsieur 1904 An aromaticfougèrecreated for men, this fragrance is close to the olfactory profile of Jicky, with aromatic lavender and a semi-oriental base. It was in very limited distribution for much of the 20th century, until becoming more widely available in the early 1990s.
Après l'Ondée 1906 [apʁɛlɔ̃de]:The name of this fragrance translates to "after the rain shower." Après l'Ondée is a light floral fragrance reminiscent of bitter almonds, with anise and herbal notes. Its composition includes violet, iris, heliotrope, hawthorn, anise, and herbal notes.
L'Heure Bleue 1912 [lœʁblø]:Meaning "The Blue Hour,"L'Heure Bleue is a floral oriental fragrance with the dusky scent of candies and almond cake bought in an old worldapothecary.Its powdery accord is similar to that of Après l'Ondée, but L'Heure Bleue is denser, richer, and has a more confectionery quality, while Apres l'Ondée is more floral in character and lighter and more transparent in feel. Both Apres l'Ondée and L'Heure Bleue are often perceived as melancholy scents.
Mitsouko 1919 [mitsuko]:Named after the heroine of the novelLa BataillebyClaude Farrère,Mitsouko is said to herald the ending ofWorld War I.Due to a bottle shortage at the end of the war, it was marketed in an identical bottle to that of L'Heure Bleue, and is sometimes considered to be that fragrance's warm counterpart. The structure is based onCoty's long-discontinued 1917 perfumeChypre,with added notes of peach and iris. With Coty's fragrance no longer produced, Mitsouko is today considered by Luca Turin, a well-known perfume critic and reviewer, to be a reference fragrance in thechypreolfactive family.[20]
Eau de Fleurs de Cédrat 1920 This classic cologne foregrounds the notes of thecitronfruit, with lemon, neroli, herbs and other notes.
Shalimar 1925 [ʃalimaʁ]:Named after the garden inLahore,built byShah Jahanin memory of his wife, Shalimar is one of the world's most famous oriental fragrances, and was one of the first perfumes to successfully incorporate large amounts ofvanillinin its composition. The scent of Shalimar is densely constructed, with a cascade of many notes, including bergamot, smoke, tonka bean, iris, and vanilla. This is the flagship perfume of the House of Guerlain
Liù 1929 Liù, named after a tragic character inPuccini'soperaTurandot,is analdehydicfloral that is said to have been inspired by the wildly successfulChanel No. 5,released in 1921. Like No. 5, it features aldehydes over a jasmine-rose heart accord. Though not especially well known compared to aldehydics such as Arpège or Chanel No. 5, the fragrance has never been discontinued.
Sous le Vent 1933 The name is the French term for theLeeward Islands (Society Islands),the Îles Sous-le-Vent. This perfume was said to be composed for the dancer, singer andFrench RésistancememberJoséphine Baker,who spent much of her life and career in France. It was a green chypre with notes of tarragon, galbanum and oakmoss, and was discontinued in 1972.
Vol de Nuit 1933 [vɔldənɥi]:Composed as a tribute to flight, celebrating the novel of the same name by pilotAntoine de Saint-ExupéryandAir France,this is a green, semi-orientalchyprewith notes of iris, galbanum, daffodil, and oakmoss. Vol de Nuit's use of galbanum made it among the first fragrances to feature pronounced green notes.[21]
Véga 1936 This floral aldehydic fragrance was inspired by the starVega,the brightest in the night sky. It featured aldehydes layered on a jasmine and ylang-ylang floral heart over woody notes. The fragrance was discontinued by the 1960s, but was rereleased in a limited edition in 2006.
Vetiver 1959 This was Jean-Paul Guerlain's first fragrance after taking over as the in-house perfumer at Guerlain. A men's fragrance, it was created to replace the company's earlier Vetiver perfume and was originally targeted to the Mexican market. The original composition was an eau de cologne, but it was strengthened to an eau de toilette in the 1980s.
Chant d'Arômes 1962 Designed for and marketed to younger women, Chant d'Arômes ( "Song of Scents" ) is a softchypre,with notes of citrus and honeysuckle over oakmoss, vetiver and jasmine. Quite popular in its day, the fragrance is now one of Guerlain's more obscure.
Habit Rouge 1965 Considered the first oriental for men, Habit Rouge is a dense composition of bergamot, woods, spices,opopanaxand amber. Like Vetiver, it was originally an eau de cologne but was reformulated as a men's eau de toilette in the 1980s.
Chamade 1969 [ʃamad]:Named after the novel byFrançoise Sagan,Chamade is a floral oriental fragrance with a pronounced topnote of galbanum introducing a core of notes including hyacinth, blackcurrant buds, and vanilla. In French, the word "Chamade" refers to a particular signal to an enemy made by rapid drumbeats or trumpets of an offer to negotiate surrender. Packaged in a bottle representing an upside-down heart pierced by an arrow, the fragrance is said to symbolize a total surrender to love.
Eau de Guerlain 1974 Eau de Guerlain is a unisex citrus scent inspired by classical colognes, such as Guerlain's own Eau de Cologne Impérial, Eau de Cologne du Coq and Eau des Fleurs de Cédrat. Its notes include bergamot, lemon, verbena, neroli and oakmoss.
Parure 1975 In French, aparureis a matched set of jewelry, typically a necklace, brooch and earrings, sometimes with a bracelet and tiara. This is a fruitychyprefragrance featuring notes of plum, lilac, rose and oakmoss. Fading popularity, coupled withInternational Fragrance AssociationandEuropean Unionregulations on some of its ingredients, led to its discontinuation in the early 2000s.
Nahéma 1979 This floral oriental fragrance was inspired by the legend of a sultan who had twin daughters, the gentle and obedient Mahane and the fiery and passionate Nahéma. Built predominantly around rose notes, Nahéma was an early fragrance to featuredamascenones,a set of newly discovered aromachemicals with a profound fruity-rose character. Like Parure, Nahéma was not a sales success, but the EdP remains available.
Jardins de Bagatelle 1983 Named after a formal garden planted within theBois de Bologneon the western outskirts of Paris, Jardins de Bagatelle is a white floral with notes of magnolia, jasmine, tuberose and sandalwood.
Derby 1985 A dry, woody-leather scent for men, Derby was not a sales success for Guerlain. The composition features spices, sandalwood, leather, oakmoss, birch sap and tobacco. The scent was periodically available from the 1990s but discontinued in 2021.
Samsara 1989 [sɑ̃saʁa]:Composed by Jean-Paul Guerlain andAnne-Marie Saget,this is a heady oriental fragrance featuring main notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang, and sandalwood.[22]The name is a reference to the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth or reincarnation in Hinduism and many other religions in South Asia.
Héritage 1992 This is an aromatic, spicy, woody scent for men, with notes of lavender, coriander, patchouli and sandalwood. Released as an EdT, it's one of a few Guerlain masculines that later became available as an EdP.
Champs-Élysées 1996 The first major fragrance by the company released after the sale toLVMHand the first not to be composed by a member of the Guerlain family. Though it borrows the name of a 1904 Guerlain fragrance, Parfum des Champs-Elysées, the 1996 Champs-Elysées was an entirely new composition. It is a bright, sweet mimosa-based floral.
Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune 1999 Pamplelune was one of the original five Aqua Allegoria fragrances released by Guerlain in 1999 as simple, fresh, light compositions designed to appeal to younger consumers. It is a sunny grapefruit-dominant citrus fragrance, with notes of grapefruit, blackcurrant buds and patchouli.
Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca 1999 The second of the original five Aqua Allegoria fragrances that has never been out of production, Herba Fresca is a light, fresh green fragrance with herbal notes, green tea and spearmint.
Mahora / Mayotte 2000 A heady floral oriental fragrance of jasmine, tuberose, ylang-ylang and vanilla, Mahora is named after the Frenchdemonymfor the people of the island ofMayotte,anoverseas departmentof France located in theIndian Oceanoff the coast ofSoutheast Africa.Though a major launch for Guerlain, the fragrance sold poorly and was discontinued quickly. In 2005, it reappeared under the name Mayotte in an exclusive line, but was discontinued again in the mid-2010s.
L'Instant de Guerlain 2003 Another floral oriental in the range, L'Instant begins with notes of citrus and honey before moving into an accord of magnolia and white flowers over vanilla and amber.
Insolence 2006 Insolence harkens back to Guerlain's early floral orientals like L'Heure Bleue, with notes of violet, iris, and orange blossom, while adding new, modern notes of red fruit and white musk.
Guerlain Homme 2008 Guerlain Homme's top notes represent a "mojitoaccord, "with sweet lime, peppermint and rum, over a woody base of patchouli, cedar and vetiver.
Idylle 2009 The first major fragrance composed byThierry Wasserafter taking over as the in-house perfumer at Guerlain in 2008, Idylle is a soft, modernchyprewith fruity notes, rose, patchouli and white moss.
La Petite Robe Noire 2012 This fragrance, memorializing the "little black dress,"was born after the accidental, unexpected success of a limited-edition fragrance by the same name composed by Delphine Jelk and released without fanfare in 2009. Its popularity convinced Guerlain to release a second limited edition in 2011, and when that also proved successful, in 2012 the company released a tweaked version of the 2009 Petite Robe Noire composition as a mass-market fragrance.
L'Homme Idéal 2014 Guerlain's first major launch for men in six years, L'Homme Idéal ( "The Ideal Man" ) is a relaxedfougèrewith citrus top notes and a heart of sweet amaretto notes over cedarwood and patchouli.
Mon Guerlain 2017 Originally inspired as a modern-day counterpart to Jicky, Mon Guerlain is a sweet oriental featuring lavender, jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood.

References[edit]

  1. ^Grainger, Nathalie (2010).Quintessentially Perfume.Quintessentially Publishing. p. 96.ISBN978-0-9558270-6-8.Retrieved2 August2023.
  2. ^"Champs-Elysées stores and shops".Paris Digest. 2018.Retrieved19 October2018.
  3. ^Edwards, Michael. Perfume Legends II: French Feminine Fragrances. Édition Emphase, 2019.
  4. ^Samuel, Henry (29 March 2012)."Jean-Paul Guerlain fined for racist comment".The Telegraph.Retrieved17 November2012.
  5. ^Chandler, Burr (2003),The Emperor of Scent: A Story of Perfume, Obsession, and the Last Mystery of the Senses,New York: Random House,ISBN0-375-50797-3
  6. ^Atkinson, Nathalie (20 December 2010),"Scent of a woman: Patricia de Nicolai on circumventing the Guerlain gender bias",National Post
  7. ^osMoz,Guerlain hires perfumer Thierry Wasser,archived fromthe originalon 20 May 2008,retrieved28 May2008
  8. ^Jean-Paul Guerlain speaking about negros[dead YouTube link]
  9. ^Brisson, Cecile (30 March 2012)."Guerlain cosmetic empire heir convicted of racism".Times Union.
  10. ^"Perfumier Jean-Paul Guerlain guilty of racism".Al Jazeera.29 March 2012.
  11. ^fragrantica (27 September 2008),Natalia Vodianova – New Face of Guerlain,retrieved13 July2013
  12. ^https:// facebook /Guerlain/info[user-generated source]
  13. ^BecomeGorgeous (9 July 2013),Guerlain Fall 2013 Violette de Madame Collection,archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2013,retrieved13 July2013
  14. ^Chau, Elizabeth (13 October 2011),Michelle Yeoh Named as Guerlain's New Celebrity Ambassador,archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2013,retrieved13 July2013
  15. ^Ways, Curious."Guerlain are educating the next generation on the importance of bees with their new school initiative".HUNGER TV.Retrieved9 December2023.
  16. ^"Balqees is Guerlain's first Emirati Regional Ambassador".Vogue Arabia.Retrieved7 February2024.
  17. ^"Guerlain signs first Emirati brand ambassador".Campaign Middle East.Retrieved7 February2024.
  18. ^"GUERLAIN ⋅ Perfume designer ⋅ Makeup ⋅ Skincare ⋅ GUERLAIN".Archived fromthe originalon 21 November 2010.Retrieved13 July2013.
  19. ^Atlas, Michèle (1997).Guerlain: perfume bottles since 1828.Alain Monniot. Toulouse: Éditions Milan.ISBN2-84113-650-7.OCLC42282357.
  20. ^Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez, Perfumes: the A–Z Guide, Expanded Edition, Penguin, 2009, 384–5.
  21. ^Roja Dove, The Essence of Perfume, London: Black Dog Publishing, 2008, 116.
  22. ^Edwards, Michael. Perfume Legends II: French Feminine Fragrances. Édition Emphase, 2019.

Further reading[edit]

  • Collectif, Dictionnaire des parfums - 10e édition 1990–1991, Sermadiras, 1990
  • Stamelman, R: "Perfume – Joy, Scandal, Sin. A cultural history of fragrance from 1750 to the present day", Rizzoli, 2006
  • Élisabeth de Feydeau,"Le roman des Guerlain Parfumeurs de Paris", Flammarion, 2017, 363 p. (lire en ligne)
  • Pierre-Roland Saint-Dizier (scénario), Li-An (dessin), "Guerlain, Le prince des parfums, 1ère époque, Pierre-François-Pascal (1798/1864)", bande dessinée, Glénat, 2018
  • Laurence Benaïm, "Paris, capitale de Guerlain", Flammarion, 2021

External links[edit]

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