A little luxury
A look behind one of the world’s perfume houses, Guerlain
There are some things in life that epitomise the elegance, quality and sophistication of bygone eras. Of the hundreds of brands producing skincare products and perfumes, few have their beginnings dating back over 180 years. Guerlain is a brand with a rich history and an aura heavily steeped in style and good taste.
Having used Guerlain’s fine skin care, cosmetics and perfume both personally and professionally, I have always felt this brand must have a sophisticated past and a soul older than most of its contemporaries. The subtle yet intricate packaging detail, high quality product and even the smell of the creams and cosmetics indicates its essence was of the past.
Pierre Francois Pascal Guerlain opened his first shop as perfumer and vinegar maker in 1828 on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, several years after studying chemistry and soap making in England. The shop soon became a meeting place for elegant Parisian society, where his own became favoured above the English perfumes, which in those days were considered distinctive.
Pierre was renowned for his mastery in customising fragrances and was often commissioned to create fragrances for an individual beautiful woman, a single evening or a famous author. In 1853 he was asked to create for Empress Eugenie, which resulted in l’Eau de Cologne Imperiale. He soon became the favoured perfumer of all the crowned heads of Europe.
In 1834 Guerlain’s most fashionable items were Cr?me de la Fraise, to lighten the complexion and Cr?me de Perse, to soften the hands. Hair growing and tooth whitening preparations were also popular. The make-up trends of the time dictated that true ladies were permitted to use foundation and lip salve, but only sparingly.
Guerlain announced the opening of his second shop in an 1844 edition of a weekly newspaper called La Mode. The success of his perfumes prompted his heirs to open another shop on Champs-Elysees in 1914, where the founder of this dynasty had built his first factory. The shop as it is known today is located at 68 Avenue de Champs Elysees. In 1939 Guerlain opened the world’s first beauty institute at this address, occupying the second floor of the stunning Guerlain building.
In the summer of 2005, three levels of the building underwent renovation. The female design whiz, Andree Putman, whose enormous creative experience includes the areas of fashion, communications, aircraft and accessory design was employed. The three levels, namely, a boutique displaying skin care and make up, haute parfumerie and beauty institute are actually listed landmarks for their historical and artistic interest and were renovated under the supervision of the three relevant ministries or committees for culture and historic preservation in France!
On the second level visitors are able to compose their own blends of fragrance at the Perfume Organ, a three ringed display piece which encircles an enormous gold mesh chandelier suspended between two floors. At the Perfume Fountain, a circuit of 50 metres of glass tubing, one can dispense the six most popular Guerlain fragrances. Here visitors can order personally engraved or initialled bottles of fragrances from the collection of reproduction pieces of over 100 years ago then have the bottles expertly washed and refilled again. An example of the unique bottles one can purchase at the Paris parfumerie, are the ‘Abeille’ design created in 1853 for Empress Eugenia.
If you’re not sure when your next trip to Paris will be, despair not. If you want to be part of the world that is Guerlain, its products are available at fine department stores throughout Cyprus. Aah, a bit of luxury…
