Geography Lesson: Ancient Europe

If you look at the world map, it turns out that historically there are two centers of attraction in perfumery – Eastern and European, with its recognized love for oils, roses, oud, spices, lasting, intense and pungent aromas, easily working with gourmet, leather and experimental fragrances, as well as flowers and fruits. cradle of development. In Europe, old and well-known classic brands coexist elegantly with young, bold newcomers who imagine perfumery differently and proclaim it loudly.

Today in the lesson we will move to France, whose perfumes have been famous all over the world for over a century, to Italy, where the monastery is located, where one of the first “fragrant waters” was invented, and, a little more unexpectedly, to find out how things are going on the perfume market there in Spain’ either.

We open the textbook in the first paragraph and embark on the olfactory journey!

Article 1. Paris

Let’s stop near the famous Les Bains Guerbois baths in Paris, built in 1885. Already in 1978, they turned into a nightclub Les Bains Douches, which quickly acquired the “cult” prefix. And after several decades of noisy fame (it was common to meet Mick Jagger or Iggy Pop here), the place closed in 2010, but was reborn – already in 2011 Les Bains became the base for the construction of a five-star hotel. SPA area and club. In 2015, in honor of the opening, the first fragrance Les Bains Guerbois 1885 Eau de Cologne emerges as a tribute to history. But this is just the beginning! Now the brand has more than ten fragrances, and each of them is dedicated to a particular year.

For example, the scent of Proust is, as you might guess, dedicated to Marcel Proust. And, of course, tea is a very vivid image from the book “Towards Svan”. 1900 L’Heure Proust Les Bains Guerbois is a purely gourmet scent, authentic steam from a china cup with hot black tea and of course raspberry jam. The tea continues to drink, and now you pour the leftovers from the teapot into the cups, and immediately the bitterness of the over-brewed and therefore very strong drink appears in the aroma, but it turns into suet, which is quickly warmed by the setting sun.

Point 2. Lebanon – Paris

Designer Elie Saab founded his signature brand in Lebanon in 1982, but only after completing his training in Paris. And soon a workshop appeared there and Elie Saab became closely associated with France. For a long time only a fashion brand, the brand entered the perfume market in 2009, combining French elegance and Lebanese energy in its DNA.

Le Parfum Lumiere was created by Elie Saab, renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, and he did it with soul. We haven’t heard in a long time how unbridled the huge polyphony of white flowers, generously filled with fresh lemon and tangerine juice! And if you smell it closer, then underneath all this radiant celebration of life, a predatory but still tuberose will also appear. A white dress with provocative cutouts is on trend of the season.

Article 1 Cattolica

In this small town lived the Terenzi family, who was later glorified by his brother Paolo and sister Tiziana. His grandfathers also founded a candle making company there, which eventually grew into a perfume empire. While Paolo is inspired by travel and creating concepts for new fragrances and brands, his sister is in charge of promotion. And although the family’s geography has long surpassed Cattolica, this city has forever written itself into perfume history.

The V Canto brand is probably the most dramatic in terms of concept – in 2016 the brand presents a series whose central figure is Lucrezia Borgia, a mysterious girl from an influential Italian family. And the debate over whether he is an angel or a demon still continues. The Stricnina fragrance in this collection is an enchanting elixir that starts with innocent currants, passion fruit and peach but gradually evolves into a spicy cinnamon and citrus duo. Like the legendary rings of Lucrezia, this fragrance hides a poison, but harmless – completes belladonna in a safe concentration, a fascinating and unique composition.

Article 2 Bologna

The history of the brand, known to the whole world with iconic bags, started here. But Furla does not stop at bags, it produces accessories and fragrances since 2020. For example, Magnifica perfectly conveys the company’s DNA, transferring it from the material plane to the olfactory plane – and here there is the resonance of lavender with freshness and coolness, where juicy peach, gardenia, citrus and voice lilies. valley dance in a complex dance. An early warm spring in Bologna is the magic of a new beginning.

Article 1 Barcelona

Romi Kowalewski founded 2787 niche perfume brands in Barcelona, ​​naming it after his birth date. And emphasizing that with this name it is aimed at a fairly young and ready-to-try audience. All Romy fragrances are launched in gender-neutral vials that resemble round sea pebbles. Genetic Bliss deserves special attention – a fragrance dedicated to the acceptance of one’s true, deep “I”. At the same time spicy, woody and even slightly metallic, it is perceived so differently by people that you have to get to know it personally. There is a suspicion that this is Romy’s purpose – to show through Genetic Bliss how different we are and how awesome he is.

Article 2

The Tous brand was founded in 1920 in Manresa (a small town near Barcelona), but the branded “bear” was launched only in 1985. And 35 years later, in honor of the company’s centennial, Love me is out – a fragrance, of course, enclosed in a glass bottle pendant in the shape of a teddy bear. The perfume-celebration was created by one of the world’s iconic “noses” and turned out to be a true declaration of love to the brand and the world. Here, a light but timid rose enters into dialogue with sweet grapefruit and sour lychee, turning into an exuberant jasmine color and calming on the skin with a soft cedar trail. Joy and more!

We remind you that RIVE GAUCHE and I have launched a promo code for your first acquaintance with perfumes. BACK TO SCHOOL For a discount of 500 rubles when buying from 5000 rubles in the online store rivagauche.ru, valid from September 29 to October 29, 2022. The discount is cumulative with the Gold Card discount.