Perfume Basic
Perfume Basic
Perfume Basic
By Perfumer: JK DeLapp
Of
The Rising Phoenix Perfumery
www.TheRisingPhoenixGroup.com
I have created these fragrances to be built as tiers of Accords. Unless specified, build
these as French Perfumes at concentrations of Parfum Extrait or Eau de Parfume.
Notable Noses:
François Coty of Coty
Ernest Daltroff of Caron
Jacques Guerlain of Guerlain
Ernest Beaux of Chanel
Paul Parquet of Houbigant
The 1880’s
Fougere Royal
Debuted: 1882
Nose: Paul Parquet
House: Houbigant
Oakmoss 1 oz
Tonka Abs 1/3 oz
Patchouli 1 oz
Hay Abs 1/3 oz
Vetiver ¼ oz
Lavender Abs 1 oz
Lavender, Mailette EO 2 oz
Geranium ¾ oz
Bergamot 2 oz
“There are only two good Fougeres, Jicky and Mouchoir de Monsieur—all the rest are
for truck-drivers.”
~Paul Guerlain
Jicky
Debuted: 1889
Nose: Aimé Guerlain
House: Guerlain
Suggested Recipe:
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Lavender augustafolia 1 oz
Lavender, Mailette 1 oz
Basil ¾ oz (Can substitute Tulsi)
Bay Rum 1 oz
Rosemary EO ¾ oz
Rosemary Abs ¼ oz
Heart:
Sandalwood 3 oz
Cinnamon Abs ¼ oz
Civet 1/16th oz
Tonka ¾ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Nicknamed “Jicky”, for his lost love, Jacqueline, whom Aimé was never allowed to
marry, and composed at the age of 55.
The 1900’s
L’Origin
Debuted: 1905
Nose: François Coty
House: Coty
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Neroli ½ oz
Neroli sur Fleur 1 oz
Heart:
Carnation Abs 1 oz
Jasmine Abs ¾ oz
Rose Abs ½ oz
Violet ½ oz (Can substitue Orris 15% Irones)
Ylang Abs ¾ oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Base:
Sandalwood 3 oz
Tonka ¾ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Vetiver ½ oz
Jicky was the inspiration for Apres L’Ondée and L’Heure Bleue by Guerlain, Opium by
Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta by Oscar de la Renta, Bal á Versailles by Jean
Despréz, and Poison by Christian Dior.
The 1910’s
Narcisse Noir
Debuted: 1911
Nose: Ernest Daltroff
House: Caron
Glassmaker: Pantin
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Heart:
Narcissus Abs ½ oz
Orange Blossom Abs 1 oz
Rose Abs ¾ oz
Jasmine Abs ½ oz
Base:
Sandalwood 2 oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Civet @ 1% 1/16th oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1/16th oz
Cumin @ 2% 1/16th oz
Ambrette 1/16th oz
L’Heure Bleue
Debuted: 1912
Nose: Jacques Guerlain
House: Guerlain
The first fragrance to pre-empt the coming decade’s rise of the Oriental Accord.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 1 oz
Heart:
Base:
Carnation ½ oz
Sandalwood 3 oz
Basic Oriental Accord 1 oz
Musk @ 1% 1/8th oz
Jacques was strolling along the edge of the river Seine, in Paris, one evening when he became aware of
the beauty of the sky at precisely the moment when it is no longer day, but not yet night. He
considered this moment so perfect, beautiful, and fleeting that he wated to capture the moment.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 5 oz
Heart:
Jasmine Abs 3 oz
Rose Abs 1 ½ oz
*Lilac Doppelganger 1 oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Base:
Oakmoss 3 oz
Bergamot 3 oz
Patchouli ¼ oz
Vetiver ½ oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
Labdanum 1 oz
Liquidambar (Styrax) ¼ oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Civet @ 1% ½ oz
Deer Musk @ 1 % ½ oz
Orris ¼ oz
Tonka ½ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Lilac Doppelganger
Sandalwood 1 oz
Rosewood 3 oz
Zdravetz ½ oz
Peru Balsam ¾ oz
Liquidambar (Styrax) ½ oz
Spikenard ¼ oz
Ylang Extra ½ oz
Basil linalool ½ oz
Full of materials long considered masculine, this fragrance was to become what was
considered “ultra-femininity”.
Legendary perfumer, Roudnitska, has hailed Le Chypré as being Coty’s finest creation.
Tabac Blond
Debuted: 1919
Nose: Ernest Daltroff
House: Caron
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 4 oz
Heart:
Tobacco Abs 2 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Jasmine ½ oz
Mimosa ½ oz
Bergamot 2 oz
+/-
Birch Tar *1/16th mL (To make it Smokier)
Base:
CarnationAbs ½ oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Patchouli 1 oz
Cedar, Virginia ½ oz
Oakmoss 1 oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Orris ½ oz
Lime 2 oz
Mitsouko
Debuted: 1919
Nose: Jacques Guerlain
House: Guerlain
Mitsouko referrs to the structure of Coty’s Le Chypré for inspiration, but rather than
referencing Leather and Tobacco, Jacques looked to the synthetic aldehyde C14 for it’s
Peach Note, and when combined with Oakmoss and Patchouli, landed on one of the
most beautiful harmonies the world of perfumery had ever smelt.
Famous fans of this fragrance were Charlie Chaplin, and Sergei Diaghilev (who was
reknoned to spray the drapes with it when he traveled—and to whom which Roja Dove
named his fragrance after).
Worn for 30 years by Roja Dove, Guerlain’s first non-family member to serve as
Guerlain’s Global Ambassedor. Devestated when the original formulation had been
changed so much as to lose his connection with it, when he later opened his own
perfumery, Roja Parfums, he composed Diaghilev to take it’s place.
If you are able to pick up a bottle of or a sample of Diagilev, you’ll have what is
probably the closest you are going to get to smelling the original Mitsouko.
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Lemon ½ oz
Lime 1 oz
Orange ½ oz
Cumin 1/32nd oz
Tarragon 1/16th oz
Heart:
*Apricot-Osmanthus Accord 1 oz
*Asian Garden Accord 1 oz
Osmanthus ½ oz
Base:
Oakmoss 2 oz
Bergamot 2 oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Cedar, Virginia 1 oz
Black Pepper Abs 1/8th oz
Cinnamon Abs 1/8th oz
Ambergris @ 1% 1 oz
Apricot-Osmanthus Accord
Osmanthus ½ oz
Champa, White CO2 2 oz
Jasmine sambac Abs 1 oz
Mandarin, Red 3 oz
Cassia ¼ oz
Osmanthus ¼ oz
Mandarin, Red ½ oz
Cinnamon, Bark Abs 1/30th oz
Anise 1/15th oz
Jasmine sambac Abs ¼ oz
Pine Abs ¼ oz
Lotus, Pink ¼ oz
Magnolia Lily CO2 ½ oz
Patchouli ½ oz
Sandalwood ½ oz
Diagilev: JK’s Interpretation : Roja Dove’s Interpretation
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Lemon ½ oz
Lime 1 oz
Orange ½ oz
Cumin 1/32nd oz
Tarragon 1/16th oz
Heart:
Base:
Cedar, Virginia 1 oz
Clove Abs ½ oz
Guaiacwood ½ oz
Nutmeg Abs ½ oz
Oakmoss 2 oz
Bergamot 2 oz
Patchouli ½ oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
Vetiver ½ oz
Ambrette 1/8th oz
Benzoin ½ oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Labdanum 1 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Peru Balsam ½ oz
Liquidambar (Styrax) ¼ oz
The 1920’s
No. 5
Debuted: 1921
Nose: Ernest Beaux
House: Chanel
Ernest Beaux was, interestingly, the last perfumer to to Russian Royal Court.
Coco Chanel was, at one point in her life, homeless. When branching into making perfumes, Paul
Poiret snubbed her, and was noted to have said, “No woman would ever wear a dress-maker’s
perfume, as women took more care choosing their perfumer than they did their dress-maker.” 90 years
later, Chanel No. 5 is still one of the Top 10 selling fragrances of all time!
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Heart:
Rose de Mai 1 ½ oz
Jasmine ¾ oz
Ylang Extra ¼ oz
Orris ¼ oz
*Lily of the Valley Doppelganger ½ oz
Base:
Vetiver 2 oz
Cedar, Virginia ½ oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Ambergris @ 1% 1 oz
Nuit de Noel
Debuted: 1922
Nose: Ernest Daltroff
House: Caron
Bottle: Baccarat
Guy Robert is believed to have said of NdN, “that you could be sitting in a theater with
some of the world’s most beautiful women sitting to your left, right, and in front of you,
each wearing one of the worlds finest perfume creations…But, if a woman were to enter
wearing Nuit de Noel, all the other women would become invisible.”
This fragrance utilized an Accord known as Mousse de Saxe. A little bit of it’s history:
http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2011/12/mousse-de-saxe-base-creation-history.html
It was used since the turn of the 20th century and produced by the great aroma-producing firm
of de Laire, a composite made by Marie Thérèse de Laire. Edgar de Laire's wife gave birth to
the new branch of the factory dedicated to the production of aromatic compounds in 1895.
Founded by chemist Georges de Laire (1836-1908), the de Laire firm quickly became a source
of synthetic aroma chemicals and "perfumers' bases" (i.e. a ready-made accords of ingredients
producing a specific effect, such as famously Prunol, Bouvardia, Ambré 83 and Mousse de
Saxe), but also of finished fragrances such as de Laire's Cassis from 1889 or Miel Blanc.
Dark, earthy, mossy bases were in production even in the late years of the 19th century, long
before oakmoss and tree moss would fall under the rationing of perfumery regulatory body
IFRA, and besides Mousse de Saxe there was also Mousse de Crête (Creatan moss) and
Mousse de Chypre (Cypriot moss). The geographical names might hint at some inspiration
coming from a material found in Prussia (most of the perfumery mosses traditionally came
from the Balkans), much like the dark blue hue in painting is called Bleu de Prusse (Prussian
blue) from the military uniforms of the men of the -then independent- Prussia, a counrty
sharing lands amongst modern day Germany and Poland (The dye was produced in the
eighteenth century via sulfuric acid/indigo).
Odour Profile
Mousse de Saxe is a complex creation: It has a dark, sweetish, mossy-woody powdery aspect
(indeed chypré) with green, fresh, bracing accents and a musk and leather background of
"animalic" character, which is very characteristic once you experience it. De Laire probably
infused it with its own revolutionary ionone molecule (which entered in Violetta by Roger &
Gallet). The bracing, "cutting" freshness is due to the quinolines (bitter green leathery with a
hint of styrax), as De Laire was among the first to produce these novel ingredients.
This base must have been a novel approach in the years of its creation and one can only
imagine how perfumers of the time had received it, since perfume formulae have remained a
well-kept secret for so long. That reception must have been overwhelmingly positive
nevertheless, because of its influence in perfumery in later years.
Geranium 2 oz
Anise 1 oz
Oakmoss 1 oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Labdanum ½ oz
Cistus ½ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Agarwood, Assam *1mL
Birch Tar *1/8th mL
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Grapefruit, Pink 1 oz
Grapefruit, Ruby Red 1 oz
Rosewood 1 oz
Ylang Extra ½ oz
Heart:
Rose Abs 1 oz
Jasmine Abs ¾ oz
Ylang Abs ½ oz
Ylang Extra ½ oz
Tuberose ½ oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
Vetiver ¼ oz
Orris ½ oz
Base:
Sandalwood 3 oz
Vetiver 2 oz
*Mousse de Saxe Doppelganger 1 oz
Shalimar
Debuted: 1925
Nose: Jacques Guerlain
House: Guerlain
Bottle: Baccarat
It is said that there were three ethings which were improper for a “lady” to do: to smoke,
to dance the tango, and to wear Shalimar.
This fragrance used synthetic Ethyl Vanillin, which, when combined with Civet, created
a “dirty” smelling vanilla. For those that have smelled the original Shalimar, you’ll
understand that “dirty vanilla” note that I’m referencing.
Suggested Recipe
Top: 30%
Bergamot
*To constitue 30% of the final composition
Heart: 30%
Jasmine 1 oz
Rose 1 oz
Ylang ½ oz
Orris ¼ oz
Base: 40%
Sandalwood 1 oz
Orris ½ oz
Opoponax 1 oz
Tonka ½ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
+/-
Deer Musk @ 1% ½ oz
Civet @ 1% ½ oz
Ambergris @ 1% ½ oz
Castoreum @ 1% ½ oz
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Heart:
Rose 1 oz
Jasmine ¾ oz
*Lily of the Valley Doppelganger ½ oz
Ylang Abs ½ oz
Orris ¼ oz
Coriander ¼ oz
Tuberose ¼ oz
Base:
Vetiver 2 oz
Labdanum 1 oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Joy
Debuted: 1929
Nose: Henri Alméras
House: Jean Patou
Bottle: Baccarat, Louis Sue
“With it’s 10,000 Jasmine blossoms and its 336 Roses and a whisper of Civet in every
30 millilitres of perfume…joyous!”
Jean Patou started is perfumery business in 1925 with one of perfumery’s legendary
trilogies: Amour Amour, Que Sais Je?, and Adieu Sagesse—To Fall in Love, What Do I
Know?, and Goodbye Wisdom.
Joy was to be his legendary creation, and is centered around two of the most precious
perfumery materials: Rose de Mai and Jasmine from Grasse, both costing roughly
$28,000/kilo. Although we don’t have access to these two materials…we can take full
advantage of what we can get our hands on!
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Galbanum 1/16th oz
Champa Leaf ½ oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 2 oz
Rose de Mai ½ oz
Ylang ¼ oz
Tuberose ¼ oz
Base:
Sandalwood 4 oz
Tonka ¼ oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Jasmine Accord
The “Perfumer’s Triangle,” AKA the Fragrance Curve/Pyramid was a creation of Jean
Carles’, as it was he who tried to explain the work of the perfumer in layman’s terms.
The secret to the success of this fragrance is in the juxtaposition between Patchouli and
Carnation, coupled with Heliotropin—which gives an outrageous degree of sensuality.
This fragrance went on to inspire the creation of both Youth Dew, and Opium.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Lemon 1 oz
Basil ½ oz (Can substitute Tulsi)
Heart:
Patchouli 1 ½ oz
Carnation ¾ oz
Rose ½ oz
Ylang Abs ¼ oz
Cinnamon Abs ¼ oz
Nutmeg Abs ¼ oz
Jasmine ¼ oz
Mimosa ¼ oz
Base:
Sandalwood 3 oz
Oakmoss 1 oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Labdanum 1 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin 1/8th oz
Je Reviens
Debuted: 1932
Nose: Maurice Blanchet
House: Worth
Bottle: Lilique, Rene Lalique
The 4th of five creations by Maurice Blanchet, who co-founded his company with
Jacques Worth.
Their other fragrances were founded on the notion of a fragrant love letter: Dans la Nuit,
Vers le Jour, Sans Adieu, Je Reviens, Vers Toi; “In the Night, Just before Dawn, With
No Goodbye, I will Return, To You.”
By the end of the decade, Je Reviens was to take on a special meaning as many of the
men who bought it gave it to their sweethearts to reassure them that they would return
from the trenches of WWII, into the arms of those they loved.
The fragrance is centered between three principle themes: Narcissus, Coumarin, and
Amyl Salicylate.
Hyacinth and Amyl Salicylate were used together to produce freshness, depth, and
sensuality.
The bottle, developed by Rene Lalique, was designed to embody the style of the times,
taking its inspiration from the skyscrapers which were mushrooming across the
Manhattan skyline and it, like the scent, was resolutely modern.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
**Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Heart:
Narcissus Abs ½ oz
Tonka ½ oz
th
*Hyacinth 1/8 oz (Can substitute Lily of the Valley Doppelganger)
*Jasmine Abs ½ oz (Can substitute Jasmine Accord)
*Lilac Accord ¼ oz
Orris ¼ oz
Base:
Vetiver 2 oz
Tolu Balsam 1 oz
Oakmoss ½ oz
Sandalwood 3 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Vol de Nuit
Debuted: 1933
Nose: Jacques Guerlain
House: Guerlain
This fragrance went on to influence many other great perfumes, most notably Miss Dior
by Paul Vacher, and to a lesser degree Vent Vert, by Germaine Cellier and No. 19,
by Guy Robert.
The bottle, which captures the spirit of adventure from the solo flights of Amy
Johnson’s, flying from Britain to Australia;Amelia Erhart crossing the Atlantic; Helen
Boucher; Jean Batten et al; together with the Normandi—all inspired the creative spirit
of the time, which manifested in fragrances such as En Avion, Normandie, and Vol de
Nuit. The bottle, itself, was inspired by the spinning of a propeller.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
**Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Orange ½ oz
Galbanum ½ oz
Allspice ¼ oz
Basil ½ oz (Can substitute Tulsi)
Coriander 1/8th oz
Tarragon 1/8th oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
Rose ½ oz
Ylang ¼ oz
Tuberose 1/8th oz
Cinnamon Abs 1/8th oz
Base:
Oakmoss 3 oz
Bergamot 3 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Orris ½ oz
Peru Balsam ½ oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Ambergris @ 1% 1 oz
Castoreum @ 1% 1 oz
Shocking
Debuted: 1935
Nose: Jeans Carles
House: Schiaparelli
Bottle: Baccarat, Léonore Fini
Elsa Schiaparelli was the first couturier to have a fragrance created by a compounding
house, thus opening the door to other couturiers who wanted a scent, but did not wish to
open their own perfumery which, at the time, was the only way to enter the industry.
This fragrance is said to “reek of sex,” and is said to be one of the most honest
fragrances ever made, as it gets straight to the point.
This fragrance was the inspiration for Le Classique, by Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Top: Only a slight touch of “Aldehydes”
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
**Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Tarragon ¼ oz
Heart:
Rose 1 oz
Honey Abs ¼ oz
*Jasmine Accord ¾ oz
Carnation ¼ oz
Narcissus ¼ oz
Base:
Honey Abs 2 oz
Civet Abs *1 mL
Oakmoss ¾ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Vetiver ½ oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Ambergris @ 1% 1 oz
The 1940’s
Femme
Debuted: 1944
Nose: Edmond Roudnitska
House: Rochas
Bottle: Lalique, Original Bottle design by Marc Lalique, Limited Edition
1 Year later, the Bottle was redesigned by: Marcel Rochas
This fragrance is of particular note, as it was one of the first fragrances by Edmond
Roudnitska, one of the most famous perfumers of the 2nd half of the 20th Century.
Femme was Rochas 4th fragrance creation, but it was their 1st commercial fragrance.
Natural materials were difficult to come by during the War, and Roudnitska relied more
heavily on synthetics. Once such synthetic that he put to work, Prunol, is redolent of
rich, fat, sticky, sugary prunes that gently crystallize, which he paired with spices and
wood, as he had originally found the Prunol in wooden barrels that had been left in a
wooden barrel for several years.
Prunol Doppelganger
Jasmine grand 1 oz
Fir, Balsam Abs 1 oz
Yuzu 5 oz
Lavender Abs 3 oz
Bay Rum ½ oz
Allspice Abs ½ oz
Nutmeg Abs ¼ oz
Anise 1/8th oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin 1/16th oz
Tonka ½ oz
Suggested Recipe
Top: 30 %
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
**Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Petit-grain, Bergamot 1 oz
Rosewood 1 oz
Lemon ½ oz
Rose Geranium ¼ oz
Heart: 30 %
**Prunol Doppelganger 2 oz
Tuberose ½ oz
Jasmine ½ oz
Rose ¼ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf ½ oz
Oakmoss ½ oz
Base: 40%
Sandalwood 2 oz
Oakmoss 3 oz
Bergamot 3 oz
Patchouli 2 oz
Labdanum 2 oz
Cinnamon Abs ½ oz
Bandit
Debuted: 1944
Nose: Germaine Cellier
House: Piguet
Bandit in the current formulation is dark, dank, mossy, bitter, refreshingly herbal – all
things I love. The leather is discreet, there's orange peel in the heart and a floral bouquet
that somehow always stays several steps behind the bitter chypric impression.
This new type of leather chypré parted ways with the violet-ionone note found in
Guerlain’s Parfums des Champs-Elysées (1904), and Caron’s Tabac Blond. Instead,
Cellier relied heavily on the synthetic isolate Isobutyl Quinoline. This is the material
that makes most modern “Leather” fragrances sweet, rather than the smokiness found
from the inclusion of Birch Tar or Cade. I generally use Labdanum and Cistus in place
of IBQ.
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
Orange 1 oz
Neroli ¾ oz
Neroli sur Fleur ½ oz
Orange Blossom Abs ¼ oz
Jasmine grand 1/8th oz
Tonka 1/16th oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 2 oz
Rose ½ oz
Ylang Abs ½ oz
Neroli ¼ oz
Tuberose ¾ oz
Galbanum ½ oz
Base:
Oakmoss 1 oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Patchouli 3 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Labdanum 1 oz
Cistus 1 oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Ma Griffe
Debuted: 1946
Nose: Jean Carles
House: Carven
“Ma Griffe” is French for “my mark” or “my stamp,” although it can also mean “it’s
mine” or “this is me.”
Incorporates Styrallyl Acetate, of whom Jean Carles was the first to use this synthetic
material, which is very “fresh” smelling. The material does occur naturally in flowers,
and Jean Carles used it to connect the ultra sharp hesperitic Top Notes of Citronellal
and Aldehydes, tying them to the woody components in the Base, with a touch of leather
from the inclusion of a whisper of Styrax.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
**Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Petit-grain, Bergamot 1 oz
Clary Sage EO 1 oz
Citranella ½ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Heart:
Base:
Cabrueva 2 oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Cinnamon Abs ¼ oz
Tonka ½ oz
Gardenia Accord
Gardenia Enfluerage ½ oz
Ylang Abs ½ oz
Jasmine sambac Abs ¼ oz
Jasmine auriculatum Abs ¾ oz
Tagetes 1/8th oz
Tuberose Abs ¼ oz
Ruh Kewda, AKA Kewdra 1/8th oz
Beeswax Abs ¼ oz
Michelia Leaf EO 2 oz (Can Substitute Champa Leaf)
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
**Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Lemon ¾ oz
Heart:
*Rose Accord 2 oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 ½ oz
Ylang Abs ½ oz
Orris ½ oz
Base:
Sandalwood 4 oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Tonka ½ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Orris ¼ oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Rose Accord
Germain Cellier was one of the only female creative perfumers of the time.
Was a source of influence for Chanel’s No. 19 and Cristalle, Cartier’s So Pretty, and
Stephen Burlingham’s Truly.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Galbanum 1 oz
Heart:
*Rose Accord 2 oz
*Lily of the Valley Doppelganger 1 oz
*Jasmine Accord ½ oz
*Neroli Accord ½ oz
Orris ½ oz
Oakmoss 1 oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Patchouli 3 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Labdanum 1 oz
Cistus 1 oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Neroli Accord
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
Neroli 1 oz
Orange Blossom Abs ¼ oz
Jasmine grand Abs 1/8th oz
Tonka 1/16th oz
Miss Dior
Debuted: 1947
Nose: Paul Vacher
House: Christian Dior
Bottle: Baccarat, Guéricolas
Christian Dior often said that the one thing he remembered about most women was the
perfume that she would wear.
When François Coty died, three key members of the Coty firm left to start their own
ventures: Lancome, Charles of the Ritz (and later launched Parfums Yves Saint
Laurent), and Parfums Christian Dior was formed at the suggestion of Serge Heftler-
Louiche, who was a close friend of Christian Dior’s.
Christian Dior wore Coty’s Le Chypré, and so approached Paul Vacher to creat a scent
of this style.
The synthetic Styrallyl Acetate was combined with Narcissus to create an extreme
freshness.
Legend has it that Christian named the perfume after his little sister, to whom he gave
the first bottle, while others claim that the name alludes to youthfulness, and, because it
is an English name for a perfume, that it was named so to appeal more to the American
market, in which it has been a huge it.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 2 oz
Jasmine ½ oz
Rose ½ oz
Narcissus ½ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Orris ¼ oz
Base:
Oakmoss 2 oz
Bergamot 2 oz
Patchouli 1 ½ oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Castoreum @ 1% 1 oz
Galbanum 1 oz
Orris ¼ oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
L’Air du Temps
Debuted: 1948
Nose: Francis Fabron
House: Nina Ricci
The Genius of this fragrance lies in the large volume of natural materials, which was
unusual for the 1940’s, which gave a level of sophistication which was rarely found in
other fragrances from the era. I have an original bottle, and…OMG!
This fragrance was known for its ability to make its scent seem as if it were swirling in
the air. Fabron created this little trick by creating a fresh harmony of Bergamot, Neroli,
and the inclusion of Rosewood.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 1 oz
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
Neroli ¼ oz
Neroli sur Fleur ¾ oz
Rosewood 1 oz
Heart:
Rose de Mai 1 oz
Ylang Abs ¼ oz
*Jasmine Abs ( or Accord) 1 oz
Orris 15% Irones ¼ oz
Clove 1/8th oz
Base:
Oakmoss ½ oz
Vetiver 1 ½ oz
Cedar, Virginia 1 oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Benzoin ¾ oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Fracas
Debuted: 1948
Nose: Germain Cellier
House: Piguet
This fragrance was said to be ravinshingly beautiful, and the name Fracas alludes, in
French, to “disturbance”—which was embodied by its uncanny ability to create a
polarizing effect.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Orange Blossom Abs ¾ oz
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
Neroli sur Fleur ½ oz
Galbanum 1/16th oz
Heart:
*Tuberose Accord 2 oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 ½ oz
*Rose Accord 1 oz
Carnation ½ oz
Base:
Bergamot 1 oz
Grapefruit, Pink ½ oz
Tuberose Abs ¾ oz
Cepes Abs ¼ oz
Rose Abs ½ oz
Rosewood ¾ oz
Sandalwood ¾ oz
Benzoin 1 oz
**The genius of this fragrance that made this Fracas the enduring legacy of Cellier’s
was in the brightness of her green, leafy note.
The 1950’s
Youth Dew
Debuted: 1952
Nose: Josephine Catapano
House: Estée Lauder
Bottle: Lalique
Estée took to heart the work that François Coty began—making scent accessible to
every woman. Coty had said, “give a woman the best product that you can make, make
it in the perfect bottle, beautiful in its simplicty yet impeccable in taste, ask a reasonable
price for it, and you will witness the birth of a business the size of which the world has
never seen.” And that is exactly what Estée Lauder accomplished with her release of her
fragrances bath oil.
Also a revolutionary marketing ploy, as women of the time felt guilty for splurging on
fragrance, Estée created an extremely concentrated bath oil which she said should be
applied to the skin after a bath (or a few drops added to bath water to gently fragrance
the skin). This bath oil cost a fraction of the French style perfumes (also testament to the
large amount of synthetics used).
Because the scent was made from oil, consumers felt that the fragrance lasted much
longer than the classical French alcoholic structures, and began demanding oil-based
fragrances, which created a large shift in the industry.
“Another factor, albeit more subtle, was also to undermine what the French houses had
built up over the past century—the use of perfume alongside an Eau de Toilette. For,
now, one product did it all and the market did not know how to respond. With the
advent of the super-concentrate, the French introduced the idea of Eau de Parfum and,
in so doing, heralded the death of perfume, itself. (It took some 20 years for this to take
full effect but, certainly by the 1990’s, it was dead). {Rojas} has always said ‘that we
forgot the art of wearing perfume, and consumers would start bemoaning the fact that
their fragrances did not last and that they could not sell them.’
àAll of this was set in motion by Estée Lauder’s revolutionary oil-based bath oil,
Youth Dew.
~Roja Dove, The Essence of Perfume. p. 135
Suggested Recipe
Top: 20%
Bergamot 2 oz
Petit-grain Bergamot ½ oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick One) 1 oz
Orange ¼ oz
Heart: 30 %
Ylang Abs 1 oz
Jasmine Accord ½ oz
Rose Abs ½ oz
*Lily of the Valley Doppelganger ½ oz (Replacing synthetic Orchid)
Carnation ½ oz
Cinnamon Abs ½ oz
Base: 50%
Tolu Balsam 1 oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Labdanum ¼ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Frankincense 1 ½ oz
Oakmoss ¾ oz
Perfu Balsam 1 oz
Patchouli 2 oz
Diorissimo
Debuted: 1956
Nose: Edmond Roudnitska
House: Christian Dior
Bottle: Baccarat, Guéricolas
Issimo is Italian for “more” or “very”, and sets the tone for “Very Dior.”
Apparently, Christian Dior was a very superstitious man, and Lily of the Valley was his
lucky charm. Every Spring at the Fashion Shows in Paris, he would sew a sprig of the
flower blossom into each of the garments in his collection. Roudnitska took this as his
inpiration, and created a Lily of the Valley fragrance which was launched just one year
before Christian Dior’s death, and is said to have captured the essence of his style
perfectly.
Diorissimo was the epitome of a body of work that was created for Dior by Roudnitska,
including Eau Fraiche (which was to become the generic name of a style of fragrances
I mentioned all the way back in Class 2), and Diorama.
One year after the release of this fragrance, when Christian Dior died, his coffin was
covered in Lily of the Valley, enveloping him in the scent that he loved so much,
carrying him on to meet his Creator in a “Very Dior” way.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Petit-grain Bergamot ½ oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick One) 1 oz
Ylang EO ¼ oz
Violet Leaf Abs ¼ oz
Heart:
Base:
Sandalwood 4 oz
Civet Abs *1 mL
Cabochard
Debuted: 1959
Nose: Guy Robert
House: Gres
Guy Robert, a very distinguished perfumer, also composed the greats Caleche and
Madame Rochas. He is also known for creating the perfume museum, the
Osmotheque, near Versailles.
This fragrance was inspired by a fragrance named Chouda, which was composed by
Bernard Chant, who created a leathery accord (based around Isobutyl Quinoline)
enveloping the scent of Tuberose for Germaine Emilie Krebs, AKA Gres.
Gres was a woman of impeccable style, and was considered to be the most chic woman
in the world. It is said that it was only in her hands, and in the hands of Balenciaga, that
couture really became Art.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Ylang EO 1 oz
Galbanum ½ oz
Heart:
*Tuberose Accord 2 oz
Rose Abs ¾ oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
Orris 15% Irones ½ oz
Base:
This fragrance builds on the aldehydic floral theme found in Arpege as the starting
point, but plays on a warmer and more sensual base.
The bottle, which was designed by Pierre with some inspiration from an antique bottle
in Madame Rochas’ private collection, used a small label in the shape of a French street
sign, imparting the suggestion of an elegant destination, written in black script on a
simple copperplate that bore the name of the fragrance.
It is said that the honey-rose Heart Note combined with the earthy moss notes in the
Base pre-empted the “naturalness” of the Hippy movement that was to dominate most of
the decade.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Neroli ½ oz
Orange Blossom Abs ½ oz
Broom/Genet ¼ oz
Honeysuckle Abs ¼ oz
Lemon ¾ oz
Violet Leaf Abs ¼ oz
Heart:
Base:
*Amber Accord 2 oz
Cedar, Virginia ¾ oz
*JK’s Sandalwood Accord 3 oz
Oakmoss ¾ oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Tonka ½ oz
Benzoin ½ oz
Civet Abs *1 mL
Caleche
Debuted: 1961
Nose: Guy Robert
House: Hermes
The name Caleche signified a beautiful horse-drawn carriage that was traditionally used
to show a woman off as she travelled through parks or elegant boulevards, which was
the perfect symbol for a company that began as a luxury saddlemaking company
(founded in 1801)—and served to connect their traditional patrimony with their
newfound femininity.
Other notable fragrances by Hermes are Eau de Victoria (1944), Roudnitska’s Eau
d’Hermes (1951), Doblis by Guy Robert (1955), and all of the wonderful fragrances
created by their current in-House perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena (of which the story of his
addition to the Hermes Clan is told in The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr).
This fragrance was a new version of the classical Chypré—less sweet, and more floral.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Mandarin, Red ½ oz
Mandarin, Green ½ oz
Lemon 1 oz
Neroli ½ oz
Neroli sur Fleur ½ oz
*Osthmanthus Accord 1 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Heart:
Base:
Cypress, Wood 1 oz
Frankincense 2 oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Oakmoss 2 oz
Bergamot 2 oz
Fidji
Debuted: 1966
Nose: Josaphine Catapano
House: Rochas
Fidji was the first French perfume that was to heavily use an American-style of
marketing. It took other houses much longer to understand that it was no longer enough
to launch a new fragrance—you had to make that fragrance tell a story, and the story
and allure of the Island of Fiji was incredibly seductive.
This fragrance takes L’Air du Temps as its starting point, but rather than make a pretty
bouquet of flowers, it elaborates on the woody notes in the Base, making it much more
fresh and tenacious—and transforms the flowery bouquet into a spicy tropical floral
Heart with a pronounced “Green” Note.
Fidji went on to inspire such creations as Anais Anais, Chanel No. 19, and Charlie.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Lemon 1 oz
Galbanum 1/8th oz
Hyacinth ½ oz (Can substitute Lily of the Valley Accord)
Heart:
Rose 2 oz
Jasmine Abs (or Accord) 1 oz
Ylang Abs ¾ oz
Carnation ½ oz
Orris ½ oz
Honey Abs 1 oz
Clove Abs ¼ oz
Cinnamon Abs ¼ oz
Allspice ½ oz
Ginger CO2 ¼ oz
Oakmoss ¼ oz
Violet Leaf Abs ½ oz
Base:
Vetiver 2 oz
Oakmoss 1 oz
Sandalwood 5 oz
Patchouli 2 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Ambergris @ 1 % 1 oz
Chamade
Debuted: 1969
Nose: Jean-Paul Guerlain
House: Guerlain
“My heart beats Chamade”—a reference to when our heart surrenders to another. This
phrase alludes to the battlefields of old and the names of the drum-beats that told
soldiers what to do. The very final drumbeat, the drumbeat of surrender, was known in
French as La Chamade.
Created at the pinnacle of the Era of Free Love, it’s a shame that unless you speak a
little French, you’d have no idea just how perfect the name of the fragrance is.
Jean-Paul Guerlain was known to have said just how lucky he was, as he had 150 years
of know-how that had been passed on to him from his grand-father, whom had learnt his
skill from his forebears. This was not his first fragrance for women, but it was a brand
new fragrance, referencing Vol de Nuit, and is an ultra-fresh, aldehydic floriental.
The freshness of this fragrance uses a huge burst of the synthetic isolate
Dihydrojasmonate, which naturally occurs in Jasmine, but not nearly in the
concentrations found in use in the isolate. The isolate was discovered by Firmenich and
was first used by Roudnitska in Eau Sauvage.
The bottle, itself, is ingenious—rightside up, it looks a bit like a shell. But turned
upside down, and you can clearly see a heart, thrown topsy-turvy as it surrenders itself
to love. The stopper looks like a tear drop, for whenever you lose your heart—whether
from sorrow or happiness—you always shed a tear.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Galbanum 1/8 oz
Blackcurrant Abs ¼ oz
Heart:
*Lilac Accord ½ oz
Rose 2 oz
Jasmine 1 oz
Ylang Abs ¾ oz
Tuberose ¼ oz
Blacurrant Abs ½ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Bergamot Petit-grain 1 oz
Base:
This fragrance in its original form is highly synthetic, using a Rose Oxide along with a
number of Aldehydes, and was formulated to smell like nature, heat, metal, and sex,
reflecting the Pop Art of the time, incorporating plastics, metals, and synthetic fibers.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) 1 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Heart:
Base:
*Amber Accord 2 oz
Sandalwood 3 oz
Cedar, Virginia ¾ oz
Oakmoss ¼ oz
Cedarmoss ½ oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
The 1970’s
No. 19
Debuted: 1970
Nose: Henri Robert
House: Chanel
Gabrielle Chanel earned her nickname, Coco, as a poor orphan on the streets of Paris,
where she would visit the cafes in Montmartre. There, she begged for money with songs
and smiles. The locals had a soft-spot for her and would chant when she arrived for her
to sing a song about a little dog named Coco…”Coco, Coco, Coco,” to get her to sing
their favorite song. As she got older, the nickname stuck—and this is why we know her
as Coco Chanel.
I actually ate several times at a café that she was known to frequent as a child back
when she lived in Paris…quite cute. I can only imagine witnessing one of the poor
orphans so common on the streets of Paris rising in fame as Coco had. A rare success
story from the streets…
August 19th 1970 saw the release of No. 19 on Coco’s 87th birthday. Shortly after it’s
release, she passed away.
The Base was ironically a take on the chypré facet designed by Henri’s nephew in
Caleche.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Heart:
Rose de Mai ½ oz
Rose, Bulgarian Abs ½ oz
Rose Otto ¼ oz
Rose Geranium 1 oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
Narcissus ¼ oz
Tonka ¼ oz
Ylang Abs ½ oz
Orris 15% Irones ¼ oz
Base:
Sandalwood 2 oz
Cabrueva 1 oz
Oakmoss ¾ oz
Labdanum ½ oz
Cistus ½ oz
Patchouli ¾ oz
Cedar, Virginia ¾ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Rose ½ oz
Jasmine ½ oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Diorella
Debuted: 1972
Nose: Edmond Roudnitska
House: Christian Dior
Bottle: Serge Mansau
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf ½ oz
Basil, Sweet 1/8th oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 2 oz
Carnation ¼ oz
Rose de Mai ½ oz
Tulsi ¼ oz
Black Pepper 1/32nd oz
Base:
Oakmoss ½ oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Patchouli 2 oz
Cabrueva ¾ oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Coriandre
Debuted: 1973
Nose: Gerard Pelpal
House: Jean Couturier
Bottle: Pierre Dinand
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
*Neroli Accord 1 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) 1 oz
Angelica 1/8th oz
Coriander ¼ oz
Heart:
*Rose Accord 1 ½ oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
Orrange Blossom Abs ¼ oz
Geranium ½ oz
*Lily of the Valley Accord ¼ oz
Orris 15% Irones ¼ oz
Base:
Oakmoss 1 oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Lime ½ oz
Patchouli 1 oz
Cedar, Virginia ¾ oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Orris 15% Irones ¼ oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Chloé
Debuted: 1975
Nose: Bethy Busse
House: Chloé
Bottle: Joseph Messina
There is a Green Accord that is used in Chloé that is used just a few years later in
Giorgio. I propose an Accord here to be used in both fragrances.
Tuberose Accord #2
Green Accord
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
Geranium 1 oz
Lavender 1 oz
Peppermint ½ oz
Bay Rum ¼ oz
Juniper Berry ½ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Suggested Recipe
Top: 30 %
Bergamot 1 oz
*Green Accord 1 oz
Heart: 30 %
*Tuberose Accord #2 2 oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Ylang Abs ¼ oz
Base: 40%
Van Cleef & Arpels was the first jewellery company to launch a fragrance—a move that
many other jewerly companies were quick to follow. VC&A was quite proud of this,
and taunted their competitors by using “First” as it’s name.
This is also the fragrance that launched the career of Jean-Claude Ellena (now the In-
House Perfumer at Hermés).
This fragrance is heavily influenced by Chamade, and really pushes up the volume of
Dihydrojasmonate.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
*Osmanthus Accord 1 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf ½ oz
Blackcurrent Abs ¼ oz
Heart:
Chamade Skeleton:
*Lilac Accord ½ oz
Rose 2 oz
Jasmine 1 oz
Ylang Abs ¾ oz
Tuberose ¼ oz
Blacurrant Abs ½ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Bergamot Petit-grain 1 oz
Add:
Hyacinth ¼ oz
Narcissus ¼ oz
*Tuberose Accord (pick one) 1 oz
This fragrance is a shocking Oriental that is warm, rich, sensual, and spicy—the
advertising images suggested a level of decadent hedonism that had never before been
put forth to the public.
The iconic bottle was received with quite a bit of shock, as it is in the shape of a
Japanese Inro, with its netsuke with the name Ichi on it. The reason for the level of
shock this created, is that this is a replica of the bottles that the Japanese Samurai kept
their opium pills in.
Opium was used in the Orient in several ways. It was recreationally (and medicinally)
used as a Narcotic, and was a very common ingredient in incense. You’ll notice on
some incense boxes that you purchase today that it may state, “This Product Contains
No Narcotics”—which is a reference to the very frequent use of a small dose of Opium,
and a handful of other psychogentic substances that were very commonly in use up until
recent history.
This historical fact led them to an interesting marketing ploy—as orders came in for the
fragrance, they were always cut, further creating a demand for the product, turning the
world into Opium addicts craving their next fix, overnight!
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Osmanthus Accord 1 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf 1 oz
Orange ½ oz
Allspice ¾ oz
Cinnamon EO 1/16th oz
Mandarin, Red ½ oz
Grapefruit, Pink ½ oz
Grapefruit, Ruby Red ½ oz
Heart:
Rose 1 oz
Rose Geranium 1 oz
Rose centifolia ½ oz
Tuberose ¼ oz
Ylang Abs ¼ oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
Davana ¼ oz
Beeswax Abs ½ oz
Carnation ½ oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
Tulsi ½ oz
White Ginger Lily Abs ½ oz
Tagetes ¼ oz
Base:
Tolu Balsam 1 oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Cinnamon Abs ¼ oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Patchouli 1 oz
Frankincense 1 oz
Opoponax ¾ oz
Cumin 1/8th oz
Ylang Abs 1 oz
Ginger CO2 ¼ oz
Cardamom CO2 ¼ oz
Jasmine sambac Abs ½ oz
Galbanum 1/16th oz
Birch Tar *1/4 mL
Orris 15% Irones ½ oz
*Amber Accord 1 ½ oz
Oscar
Debuted: 1977
Nose: Jean-Louis Sieuzac
House: Oscar de la Renta
Bottle: Serge Mansau
With the release of Oscar, there was a reignition of the semi-Oriental style under a new
name—“Floriental”—and this is the fragrance from which we get the term.
The roots of the fragrance are found in Coty’s L’Origin and Guerlain’s L’Heure
Bleue.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) 1 ½ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf ½ oz
Heart:
Rose ¾ oz
*Lily of the Valley Doppelganger ¼ oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
*Gardenia Accord ½ oz
*Osmanthus Accord ½ oz
Honey Abs ½ oz
Davana ¼ oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf ½ oz
Oakmoss ¼ oz
Galbanum 1/16th oz
Base:
Suggested Recipe:
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Orange 1 ½ oz
Tangerine 1 oz
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
*Lily of the Valley ½ oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 2 oz
*Rose Accord 1 oz
*Lilac Accord ¾ oz
Clove Abs 1/8th oz
Base:
Bergamot 1 ½ oz
Oakmoss 1 ½ oz
Lime ½ oz
Cedar, Virginia ¾ oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Nahema
Debuted: 1979
Nose: Jean-Paul Guerlain
House: Guerlain
“On repeat wears and sniffs, another American candy holiday keeps coming to mind in
flashes of memory: Valentine's Day. The contrived romance, unappetizing glut of
chocolates, plasticky dew drop roses. And this very same evocation could be
delightfully irreverent, romantic, or disco cool to someone else.
Interestingly, this scent helped to shape creative perfumery for the next 20 years—the
fruity floral. It was “ahead of its time”, and despite its genius, which made many others
fortunes imitating its genius…it was a commercial failure.
The newly discovered natural isolate Damascenones (more commonly made today
synthetically), with their fruity rose note were offered to Jean-Paul, who worked them
with 4 rose notes:
This was to become a power Accord in so many fragrances to follow in its wake,
particulary those of Sophia Grosjman, who used them in nearly all of her commercial
blockbusters, and that of N’Aimez Que Moi, by Ernest Daltroff.
In Liu of using the Damascenones, you can always try using a little bit of a Rose
Concrete, especially if making this as an oil-based fragrance, and macerate it into the
base oil that you’ll be building the fragrance upon.
I think you’ll like the Fruity Rose Heart that I’ve created.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) 1 oz
Kaffir Lime Leaf ¼ oz
Heart:
Base:
Sandalwood 4 oz
Tonka ½ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
The 1980’s
Must de Cartier
Debuted: 1981
Nose: Jean-Jacques Diener
House: Cartier
There are connections in this fragrance alluding to both Shalimar and Alliage.
The fragrance utilized Galaxolide, which is a synthetic musk that is as soft and creamy
as clean skin, and smells very similar to Ambergris.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Mandarin, Red ½ oz
Mandarin, Green ½ oz
Mandarin, Yellow ½ oz
*Neroli Accord ½ oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ¾ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Heart:
*Rose Accord 2 oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
Jonquil Abs ½ oz
Base:
Sandalwood 3 oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Benzoin 1 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Frankincense ¼ oz
Tonka ½ oz
Ambergris @ 1% 1 oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
Giorgio
Debuted: 1981
Nose: Jean-Jacques Diener
House: Giorgio Beverly Hills
Bottle: Brosse
In 1979 it was decided that Giorgio Beverly Hills should have a signature fragrance and
after two years in development, Giorgio was born in November '81. The perfume was
kept exclusive to the boutiques clients but consumer demand was huge. In May 1983,
the fragrance was advertised in Vogue with a scent strip - a marketing device not used
before. The response was huge and orders came flooding in. Although out of favour
now, Giorgio led the way for the strong, sweet, "don't mess with me" scents of the 80’s.
I happen to looooove the smell of the original formulation, despite being nearly entirely
synthetic. It’s a real kick in the nose—very Tuberose floral, with a very strong dose of
Animalic Civet in the Base.
Giorgio was a modern interpretation of Fracas, and was considered to be a new style
called “Linear,” where the central theme is so strong and dominant that you do not have
the feeling of movement or development, and is amplified through the lack of
Hesperidic Notes.
This fragrance was so strong smelling that it was the first fragrance to be banned by
many restaurants, as it could literally fill the room within a few moments. The olfactory
equivalent of shoulder pads—it screamed, “SMELL ME, I’M WEARING GIORGIO,
AND I CAN AFFORD IT!”
**Make this as an oil-based fragrance, and a little will go a very long way!
Suggested Recipe
Bergamot 3 oz
Orange Blossom Abs ½ oz
Heart: 40%
*Tuberose Accord #2 2 oz
*Gardenia Accord ¾ oz
Ylang Abs ¼ oz
Hyacinth Abs ¼ oz
Narcissus ¼ oz
Orange Blossom ¼ oz
Bergamot 1 oz
*Green Accord 1 oz
Oakmoss ¼ oz
Base: 40%
Sandalwood 3 oz
Patchouli 1 oz
Cedar, Virginia ½ oz
Tonka ½ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Oakmoss ¼ oz
Civet Abs *1 ½ mL
Ombre Rose
Debuted: 1981
Nose: François Caron
House: Jean-Charles Brosseau
Bottle: Jean-Charles Brosseau
Ombre Rose was an overnight sensation, and was sold in Jean-Charles boutique in the
Place des Victoires, in Paris.
The original formulation was built upon two synthetic Bases that had been made by
Roure, as well as a natural isolate from Virginia Cedar--and required quite a bit of
freshening up, as the synthetics can often smell “flat” compared to the level of
complexity normally found in using naturals.
This was a Gourmand Balsamic fragrance that led the way to the Gourmand fragrances
of the 90’s and 2000’s.
The bottle was devised as a result of an old bottle of Narcisse Bleu, by Mury that Jean-
Charles’ daughter had found in a market, and with a little work and development, the
iconic black bottle was created.
The name Ombre Rose is very poetic in French, as it means “Shadow.” Rose alludes not
to the flower, but to the color pink—“la vie en rose”, translates as “life in the pink,” and
referrs to a “life of happines,” and essoterically, the name suggests a life that is
shadowed by happiness.
When the fragrance was launched in the USA in Bergdorf Goodman, it was so well-
received by their buyer that she bought their entire stock, launched it on Mother’s Day,
and took the unprecedented step of advertising the bottles in the windows of the store. It
was an overnight sensation, and was totally sold out!
The formula to the scent was sold, and was later bought back by Jean-Claude, his wife,
and his son, Benoît. It took them 10 years to make the purchase, but once back in their
hands, it was relaunched as Ombre Rose L’Original.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Ylang Abs ¾ oz
*Lily of the Valley Doppelganger 1 oz
*Osmanthus Accord (pick one) ½ oz
Rose de Mai Abs ½ oz
Rose, Bulgarian Abs ½ oz
Rosewood 1 oz
Rose Geranium ½ oz
Sandalwood 3 oz
Cedar, Virginia ½ oz
Beeswax Abs ¾ oz
Tonka ¾ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ½ oz
Orris ½ oz
Oakmoss ¼ oz
Deer Musk @ 1% 1 oz
Poison
Debuted: 1985
Nose: Edouard Flechier
House: Christian Dior
Bottle: Véronique Mono
The bottle design is based on the form of a poison apple—the Fruit of Temptation. The
bottle has lines which run down its length, harking back to a time when people were
illiterate, and poison bottles always had such ridges on them to warn of the dangerous
liquied contained within.
The fragrance has a huge Tuberose and Jasmine melange, blended in with an enourmous
dose of Damascenones, with their pronounced fruity aspect.
Interestingly, when the fragrance launched, many consumers tried to “Francofy” the
name, and would ask for bottles of ‘poisson,’ which is quite commical, as poisson is
French for ‘fish.’ Hehehe
This is an interesting fragrance—filled with tons of synthetic fruity notes of black and
red currants, with blackberries and raspberries—melded into the fruity laden of
Damascenones. I might suggest tincturing some freeze-dried blackberries and
raspberries, and maybe even some strawberries, to try to duplicate these notes. But if
not…that’s ok. Just build on it’s idea, and make it your own.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
+/-
Tictured Blackberries, Raspberries, and Strawberries
Ylang EO ½ oz
Orange 1 oz
Yuzu ¼ oz
Rosewood ¾ oz
Laurel Leaf ¼ oz
Litsea cubeba ¼ oz
Osmanthus 1/16th oz
Blackcurrent Abs 1/8th oz
Heart:
*Tuberose Accord #2 2 oz
*Jasmine Accord 1 oz
*Rose Heart Accord from Nahema 1 oz
Black Pepper 1/8th oz
Cinnamon Abs 1/8th oz
Coriander 1/8th oz
Base:
Jean-Paul Guerlain once said, “Bearing the name Jean-Paul was very easy—bearing the
name Guerlain, was difficult.” He talked a lot about always being compared to his
grandfather, and we can only imagine what life must have been like living in the
shadow of a perfumer hailed as one of the finest exponenets of their craft. Could you
imagine the emotional turmoil of growing up in that shadow…and in the footsteps of
the creator of one of the greatest perfume Houses of all time??
Jean-Paul was said to have created this fragrance in a moment, within just his first few
trials, but carried on workong on it for years as he did not believe that anything could
have come that easily, or quickly. He said of Samsara, that “he felt it was within him
just waiting to be born, and that with Samsara, he felt he no longer had to compete with
his grandfather.”
The name Samsara is Sanskrit, and refers to the Wheel of Life—our journey to reach
Nirvana. It was actually created in 1985 for Decia de Powell, the woman who owned his
heart, and she wore it exclusively for four years before its commercial launch.
It was launched exactly 100 years after the creation of Jicky.
Jean-Paul had always said that he may not have been the most handsome men in the
world, but was the world’s greatest perfumer. Decia had never found a scent that she
liked, but she did really love the smell of Jasmine and Sandalwood…and so, Jean-Paul
got to work…
This fragrance is the perfect example of how we should each tap into the Power of
Love, and the grip that each person that we hold dear in our lives holds on us. Tapping
into that power, as Jean-Paul did, can unleash the masterpiece within each of us, simply
awaiting to be born.
Both Jasmine and Sandalwood have spiritual connotations, which fit perfectly into the
marketing strategy behind the fragrance. The bottle was inspired by Cambodian statues
found in the Guimet Museum, in Paris. The golden cap symbolized Buddha, his eyes
shut in contemplation. The gold fret around the waist represented the ampleness of
womankind’s form. The small collar that makes the neck of the bottle were to represent
the lines on the necks of the ancient statues, for in this ancient civilization, lines on the
neck were considered beautiful. The burnt color of orange/red is the color of spirituality
itself-the color of the Temples in Tibet—the Gateway to Nirvana, itself.
Suggested Recipe
Top: 30%
Bergamot 3 oz
Ylang EO ½ oz
Rosewood ¾ oz
Grapefruit, Pink ½ oz
Grapefruit, Orange ½ oz
Nutmeg CO2 1/8th oz
Heart: 40 %
*Jasmine Accord 3 oz
Jasmine sambac Abs ¼ oz
Jasmine grand Abs ¼ oz
Jasmine auriculatum (Juhi) Abs ¼ oz
Rose ½ oz
Narcissus ¼ oz
Ylang Abs ¼ oz
Ylang EO ¼ oz
Orris 15% Irones ½ oz
Nutmeg CO2 ¼ oz
Oakmoss ¼ oz
Galbanum ¼ oz
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
Base: 30%
Sandalwood 4 ½ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Tonka ¾ oz
Orris 15% Irones 1/8th oz
Patchouli 1/8th oz
Oakmoss 1/8th oz
The 1990’s
Escape
Debuted: 1991
Nose: ?
House: Calvin Klein
Bottle: Pierre Dinand
Escape was the third of the great Calvin Klein blockbusters—first, you became
Obsessed, then you pledged Eternity, but in the end, all you wated to do was Escape.
CK used to have some amazing print-ad campaigns—do you remember them? I did a
shoot for them back in the mid-2000’s back in my modeling days, and that shot is one of
my favorites!
There is a strong ‘Oceanic’ Note in this fragrance that is tough to duplicate with
Naturals. It is a molecule made by Pfizer called Calone, and was originally used in
detergents to make laundry smell more “fresh.” It has an ultra-acqueous melon note that
the public was convinced smelled like the scent of the sea—and this is where the so-
called Oceanic Note was born.
Used first in perfumery in the 80’s, and in higher concentration in New West by
Aramis in 1991—it was Escape that defined the new Oceanic style.
L’Ea d’Issey, by Issey Miyake (1994) is the perfect example of an enduring Oceanic
fragrance.
I’ll provide here an “Oceanic” Accord to try to duplicate some of this effect.
Oceanic Accord
Bay Rum 1 oz
Juniper Berry 1 oz
Peppermint ½ oz
Lavender ½ oz
Geranium ½ oz
Eucalyptus 1 oz
Clove EO 1/8th oz
Cajeput 1/8th oz
Wintergreen 1/8th oz
Seaweed Abs 1/8th oz
Ambergris @ 1% 1 oz
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
*Oceanic Accord 1 oz
*Melon Note ½ oz
*Osmanthus Accord ½ oz
Heart:
Petit-grain Bergamot 1 oz
*Lily of the Valley Doppelganger 1 oz
Rose ¾ oz
Carnation ¼ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Tonka ¼ oz
Base:
Cedar, Virginia 1 oz
Sandalwood 3 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Ambrette 1/8th oz
Casmir
Debuted: 1991
Nose: Michel Almairac
House: Chopard
Bottle: Caroline Scheufele
Casmir was a pivotal creation, along with Ombre Rose, as these two scents established
the “Gourmand” category of fragrances, and went on to inspire Angel, and it’s most
successful derivative, Prada. I make an oil-based natural version of Prada, and it is a
huge hit with my clientelle. An incredibly sexy, gourmand masculine fragrance that
wears beautifully on a woman.
Lotus is a principle theme in this fragrance, drawing on it’s accociation with spirituality
and divinity. In Buddhism, the Lotus is a symbol signifying transcendence.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 2 oz
Petit-grain Bergamot ½ oz
Geranium ½ oz
Lotus, White Abs ½ oz
Lotus, Pink Abs ½ oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 1 ½ oz
*Osmanthus Accord 1 oz
Coconut Oil (not FCO) ½ oz
*Mango Melange ¾ oz (from White Lotus Aromatics)
Base:
Patchouli 3 oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Chocolate Abs ½ oz
Coffee Abs ½ oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
Ambergris @ 1% 1 oz
Castoreum Abs @ 1% ½ oz
Angel
Debuted: 1992
Nose: Olivier Cresp & Yves de Chiris
House: Thierry Mugler
Bottle: Thierry Mugler
Angel is probably the most polarizing of all creations, due to the use of an unusal
synthetic material, Veltol, which smells of candyfloss and caramel. Veltol is the same
synthetic that is used to flavor cotton candy. Coupled with Patchouli, this gives an
incredibly unique gourmand flavor. They coupled this with Dihydrojasmonate, and an
enormous synthetic fruity facet of Stawberry, Dewberry, Coconut, and Honey.
When Thierry Mugler was a child, he used to believe that the stars were his friends,
shining back at him. Stars became more and more important to him, and eventually
became his lucky emblam, as stars transcend race and creed, inspire dreams, and reflect
timelessness.
The star was the starting point of the creative process of this fragrance, and the bottle,
unusually, came before the scent. The bottle was the color of the sky, the same color
when the first magical stars shimmer and appear as if by magic, and it was this color of
blue that was to become the House Color for Thierry Mugler.
With the bottle already conceptualized, next came the addictive fragrance that Mugler
had in mind: the scent of the fairground—of candyfloss, toffee apples, and fairground
treats…the smell of his childhood. Without realizing it, Mugler had stumbled on the
dominant them of the decade—Escapism to the carefree times of childhood.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Geranium ¾ oz
Orange ½ oz
Ylang ½ oz
Yuzu ½ oz
Laurel Leaf ¼ oz
Rosewood ¾ oz
Coconut Oil (not FCO) ½ oz
Beeswax Abs ¾ oz
Heart:
Jasmine Accord 1 ½ oz
Rose ¼ oz
Osmanthus Accord ¾ oz (replacing the synthetic Orchid)
Base:
Patchouli 3 oz
Jasmine sambac ½ oz
Butter Abs ½ oz
Chocolate Abs ½ oz
Coffee Abs ¼ oz
Allspice Abs ½ oz
Nutmeg Abs ¼ oz
Ginger CO2 ¼ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Tonka ½ oz
Sandalwood 1 ½ oz
Benzoin ½ oz
Civet @ 1% 1 oz
**Could also modify the Prunol Doppelganger that I gave to you with some Butter Abs,
Chocolate and Coffee Abs, and Patchouli.
CK1
Debuted: 1994
Nose: Alberto Morillas
House: Calvin Klein
Bottle: Fabien Baron
CK1 went on to re-invent the way that fragrances were sold. Whereas older generations
bought megalithic fragrances, CK1 smelled more of “clean water,” which appealed to
the younger generations. This was also a “genderless” fragrance, intended to be worn by
both of the sexesm a 90 year old change in the industry’s marketing, heralding back to
the olden-days when fragrances were worn by both sexes. The press fell for the
marketing hype, and Calvin Klein has since been known as the first to invent “unisex
fragrances.”
Eau de Colognes were always unisex, and the first scent sold as “unisex” was Patou’s
Le Sien (1929)…but it’s easier to overlook those little details. =)
Freesia Doppelganger
Lemon 1 ½ oz
Lemon Verbena ½ oz
Anise 1/16th oz
Peppermint Abs ¼ oz (can use EO)
Ylang Extra 1 oz
Champa, White CO2 1 ½ oz
Rose, Damask Abs ½ oz
Liquidambar (Styrax) 1/8th oz
Cabrueva 2 ½ oz
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Lemon ¾ oz
Mandarin, Red ½ oz
Ylang EO ½ oz
Orange ¼ oz
Rosewood ¾ oz
Laurel Leaf ¼ oz
Osmanthus Abs ¼ oz
Heart:
Base:
Oakmoss 1 oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Lime 1 oz
Cedar, Virginia ¾ oz
Sandalwood 2 oz
Nutmeg CO2 ½ oz
Ambrette 1/4 oz
Angelica 1/8th oz
The 2000’s
Nu
Debuted: 2001
Nose: Tom Ford & Jacques Cavallier of Firmenich
House: Yves Saint Laurent
Bottle: Tom Ford
Yves Saint Laurent has always been known for his packaging, as it is quite polarizeing.
He was the first to bottle scent in a shiny tin can (Rive Gauche), which had never been
used before—and has since been adopted by the ‘body spray’ market, like the current
Axe Body Spray trend. The bottles were made of PET and SAN, which were beginning
to be used by the airline industry to bottle alcohol.
It’s an interesting fragrance, with the main interest lying in the Base, made from an
Accord of Wood, Spice, Balsams, and Animal Notes. It has a pronounced White Orchid
Heart Note, which is synthetic—so I’d suggest adding a Floral Accord of your choice to
fill that gap.
Bergamot 2 oz
Geranium 1 oz
Cassia CO2 ¼ oz
Cardamom CO2 ¼ oz
White Ginger Lily Flower Abs 1 oz
Cedar, Virginia 2 oz
Patchouli ½ oz
Huhuhu 1 oz
Vetiver 1 oz
Balsam Peru ¼ oz
Birch Tar *1/16th mL
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Neroli ½ oz
Neroli sur Fleur 1 oz
Heart:
*Jasmine Accord 1 ½ oz
*Floral Accord of your Choice 1 oz
Black Pepper 1/8th oz
Base:
Cedar, Virginia 3 oz
Cardamom CO2 ½ oz
Frankincese 1 oz
Opoponax ¾ oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Cabrueva 2 oz
Benzoin ¾ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin ¼ oz
Orris 15% Irones ¼ oz
**You can also Substitute this for the Cedar Chest Doppelganger
Narcisso Rodriguez For Her
Debuted: 2003
Nose: Christine Nagal & Francis Kurkdijan
House: Yves Saint Laurent
A very floral Chypré that was inspired by a synthetic musk oil that Rodriguez ran across
on one of him many trips to the Middle East, which actually makes this of a bit of a
Mukhallat-style of a Floral Chypré.
The Base utilizes a synthetic Amberlyn, which has a strong scent of Ambergris.
The bottle is an interesting one, fashioned after the traditional Japanese snuff bottles,
where the color is applied inside the bottle, rather than outside.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 1 oz
Heart:
Rose ½ oz
*Osmanthus Accord 1 ½ oz
Orange Blossom ½ oz
Osmanthus Abs ¼ oz
Base:
Oakmoss ½ oz
Bergamot ½ oz
Lime ½ oz
Labdanum ¼ oz
Cistus ¼ oz
Cabrueva 2 oz
Vetiver ¾ oz
Ambergris @ 1% ¾ oz
Vanilla CO2 25% Vanillin 1/8th oz
Perles de Lalique
Debuted: 2006
Nose: Nathalie Lorson
House: Lalique
Bottle: René Lalique
Perles de Lalique redefined the Chypré Accord in a totally new way by working a
Bulgarian Rose Note into the Classical Chypré structure.
The bottle is a unique and original design that is called ‘Cactus,’ and has a boa of
feathers around the neck. The EdP bottle has small black pearls along its edges and was
an inpiration by a garniture de toilette, which existed in René Lalique’s archive and was
called Perles.
Suggested Recipe
Top:
Bergamot 3 oz
Heart:
Base:
Oakmoss 1 oz
Bergamot 1 oz
Lime 1 oz
Rose, Bulgarian Abs 1 oz
Black Pepper Abs, Bourbon 1/8th oz
Patchouli 3 oz