Story of a house: Guerlain

A Perfume Precursor

“Glory is ephemeral…only renown is long-lasting,”… thus spoke Pierre-François Pascal Guerlain, creator in 1828 of the celebrated house that bears his name. For more than 175 years, the brand has sailed through trends thanks to a clever cocktail of tradition, excellence and passion. Thus were born Shalimar and Vetiver, whose subtle charm is as modern as ever. Guerlain loves to use the most sumptuous essences, like French vanilla and ylang-ylang from its own plantations in the Comores Islands. Guerlain was also one of the first to successfully blend synthetic ingredients and natural essences. Created in 1889, Jicky, with its vanilla-hay note from coumarin, was a real precursor.

Creativity Ever-Renewed

Several hundred creations have been dreamt up by Guerlain’s perfumers, most of which have disappeared over the decades. The house’s greatest triumphs include Shalimar (1925), a mythical amber scent that remains a bestseller to this day; L’Heure Bleue (1914), a melody of flowers, wood and amber; and Samsara (1889), a hymn in praise of sandalwood and jasmine. True Guerlain fans say that there is always a little something special that makes their perfumes irresistible. This signature accord, known as the Guerlinade, blends notes of balms and vanilla with floral scents like iris and jasmine. It can be found in the house’s latest perfume, L’Instant. Reinvented with a crystalline, sensual modernity that allows it to ‘go forth to meet the future… without forgetting its roots.’ L’Instant pour Homme, a new creation for men, was made in the same spirit: a luminous woody scent with a surprising blend of hot and cold energy. Its success complements those of the elegant Vetiver (1959) and the sensual Habit Rouge (1965).

Guerlain House, an Extraordinary New Space

Created in 1914, Number 68, Champs Elysées reopened its doors in June, 2005. This mythical address, redrawn by Andrée Putman, will now be officially known as ‘Guerlain House’. Fragrance fans will be delighted to discover the rebirth of fragrances gone by, like Liu, Vega and Derby; as well as four home fragrances, an essence for infants, and three exclusive new creations (Cuir Beluga, Rose Barbare and Angelique Noire). But the truly must-have item is a tailor-made scent. Several rendezvous with your personal perfume designer will result in a sublime, 17-oz. Baccarat crystal bottle, along with 20 2-oz. bottles with old-fashioned spray bulbs, and three 1-oz. bottles: an unparalleled luxury, like an item of haute-couture clothing.