Parfums de Volnay

Parfums de Volnay, with locations in Paris and Suresnes, France, was founded in 1919 by René Duval. Before establishing this renowned perfume house, Duval worked for the esteemed perfumer Coty and founded Brahma Perfumery in 1912, known for its Oriental style fragrances.

Volnay quickly achieved great success, expanding its presence with branches in London, Milan, Brussels, New York, South America, and Australia. Additionally, Volnay produced perfumes for other companies, including Fontanis.

A 1927 edition of Confidential Bulletin highlights Volnay's Parisian salon on Rue de Rivoli: "Volnay on the Rue de Rivoli features an interesting facade of glass and forged iron, two distinctly modern materials, framed in white Carrara marble. A wooden step-like arrangement offers an opportunity for display in the popular terraced effect, while a three-panel screen creates a pleasing, informal background."

A Shopping Guide to Paris, 1929:

"The modern Volnay shop startles you with its contrast to the old wall about it. All its modern perfumes in modern bottles, named to give you an intriguing hint of their contents, and also to harmonize with the bottle. Perle d'Argent is in a handsome silvered tower, that you may mistake for an elevation in miniature of a skyscraper. Perlinette in a pearly bottle, round and smoothly shining. Silence d'Or, quiet in name, but dazzling with its gold column. If you have a friend with a modern boudoir, one of these bottles may her more than many of the more heralded perfumes."

 

c1930 ad

Foreign Commerce Weekly, 1949:

"France — Parfums Volnay (manufacturer), 62 Avenue Franklin-Roosevelt, Suresnes (Seine), seeks outlets through de luxe shops or chain stores for unlimited quantities of de luxe perfumes, cold creams, powder, rouge, and bath salts

Bottles:

Volnay crafted exquisite presentations featuring unconventional names and eclectic styles inspired by exotic and romantic themes. They were renowned for employing a pearlized finish known as 'laitence de hareng', innovated by Andre Jollivet, on their perfume bottles, including those for Perlinette and Perlerette in 1925. These bottles are believed to have been made by Nesle Normandeuse.

Julien Viard's collaboration with Volnay resulted in the creation of stunning flacons that became iconic representations of the brand's luxurious perfumes. Viard's designs were meticulously crafted and brought to life by esteemed glassmakers such as Depinoix and Société Parisienne de Verrerie (SPV). Each flacon bore the hallmark of Viard's artistic vision, combining elegance with intricate detailing, reflecting the essence of Volnay's sophisticated fragrance offerings.

In addition to Viard's creations, Volnay also entrusted the renowned glassmaker Lalique with producing some of their most cherished perfume bottles. Lalique's mastery in glass artistry elevated the presentation of Volnay's perfumes to a new level of elegance and refinement. Among the notable Lalique-designed bottles for Volnay were those for fragrances like Gri-Gri, Chypre Ambre, Ambre de Siam, Violette, Mimeomai, Jardinee, and Mousse Ambre. Each bottle bore Lalique's signature blend of art deco aesthetics and precision craftsmanship, enhancing the allure and desirability of Volnay's fragrance collection.

The name is mistaken in this advertisement, this should be "Maoni".

The perfumes of Volnay:

• 1919 Cerny
• 1919 Violette
• 1919 Muguet
• 1919 Lilas
• 1919 Silas
• 1919 Ambré de Siam
• 1920 Fleurs Vives
• 1920 No. 6
• 1920 Yapana
• 1920 Maoni
• 1920 Ambré
• 1920 Chypre Ambré
• 1920 Rose Brumaire
• 1920 Soir D’Été
• 1921 Gri Gri
• 1921 Rose
• 1921 Iris Niege
• 1921 Firefly (a bouquet scent)
• 1921 Mousse Ambrée
• 1921 Mimeomai
• 1921 Oeillet
• 1921 Rose
• 1921 Ambre Indien
• 1921 Chypre
• 1921 Brumaire
• 1922 Cap d'Or
• 1922 Napée 
• 1922 Jasmin du Cap
• 1922 Oeillet Kleber
• 1922 Jardinée
• 1922 Jasmine
• 1922 Roncier
• 1922 Volnais
• 1922 Parfum Volnay
• 1922 Lilas de Kioto
• 1922 Lilas de Lorraine
• 1923 Chypre Ambrée/Chypre Ambre
• 1923 Le Parfum de Gabriel Dorziat
• 1923 Tijade
• 1923 D'Arline
• 1925 Perlinette
• 1925 Perlerette
• 1923 Le Parfum de Gabriel Dorziat
• 1924 Le Songe
• 1924 Oriental
• 1924 Lilac
• 1925 Géranium des Iles
• 1925 Avenue de Acacias
• 1925 Étoile d’Or
• 1925 Œillet Kléber
• 1925 Présque Rien 
• 1927 Rosée de Bois
• 1927 Choses du Passe
• 1927 Silence d'Or
• 1927 Perle d'Argent
• 1927 Un Gardenia
• 1927 Œillet
• 1928 Cuir de Russie
• 1928 Un Magnolia
• 1928 Deci Delà
• 1928 Femme et Epines
• 1928 Fougère Masquée
• 1928 Gros Fruits
• 1928 Jonchée de Pois de Senteur
• 1928 Nos Vingt An
• 1928 Nouveau Gri-Gri
• 1928 Origan
• 1928 Violette
• 1929 Ondée de Violettes
• 1937 Cachucha
• 1937 Très Francais
• 1945 Embleme
• Marie Antoinette Romance
• Ritournelle
• Ambré Adieu
• Corsaire

Cachucha:

Cachucha is classified as a floral chypre fragrance for women.

• Top notes: neroli, lily of the valley and lilac
• Middle notes: spices, nutmeg, carnation, ylang ylang, rose, jasmine
• Base notes: oakmoss, labdanum, sandalwood, cedar, musk, vanilla, ambergris

Firefly:

A 1921 advertisement describes the bottle for Firefly perfume,

"It Holds a Rare Perfume and the name breathes of sweet scented gardens and pale moonlight. It is Firefly sent to us by the master perfumer Volnay from Paris.

Ambre de Siam:

Jasmin du Cap:

Fougere Musquee:

Chypre d'Ambre:

Perlinette:

Embleme:

Volnay Today:

Good News! Parfums Volnay has been resurrected and can be found at http://www.parfums-volnay.com/en/

Here is a list of perfumes with some of their descriptions by Volnay:

Objet Celeste: Classified as a floral chypre perfume, it is a very modern fragrance with "electrical" chords of patchouli. It takes you away into a constellation of emotions. This is a light and sensual Cyprus, almond floral - stylish and refined, with beautiful oriental vibrations that emerge as if by magic. A shower of fresh petals, scents of rose and orange wrapped and subjugated by affirmed accords of almond, wood and musk powder. This new version was created by Amélie Bourgeois

• Top notes; Italian bergamot, clary sage, grapefruit
• Middle notes: fresh jasmine, peony
• Base notes: almond, precious wood, Indonesian patchouli, Siam benzoin, musk powder, Base 4092

Brume d'Hiver: Classified as a spicy woody fragrance, it is a reassuring and warm fragrance. Constructed from the Volnay rose, "Rose Brumaire" - originally created as a rose soliflore fragrance by René Duval in 1919- is a luminous and transparent pink rose which associates Oud wood and Vetiver whose original accord combines femininity and masculinity. This is a spicy, woody fragrance that leads you into fresh scents of teak, combined with the exotic and sensual note of cypriol (papyrus). This new version was created by Amélie Bourgeois.

The fresh shyness of the first notes mounts in strength and nestles in the warm and reassuring wake of a warm and slightly spicy wood. Like winter, it inspires us to curl up by the fire.

• Top notes: Italian bergamot, elemi, juniper berries.
• Middle notes: jasmine, Bulgarian rose, rose
• Base notes: oud wood, incense, violet, heliotrope, musk powder, Haitian vetiver, Spanish labdanum, rosewood, Cypriol, Base 4092.

Perlerette: Classified as a powdery aldehydic floral perfume, its scent is the historical home of the Volnay. Originally, the colored pearl, hence its name. Like a pearl, it is valuable and well-rounded. This is a powdery floral magnified by a mosaic of peoples. The powdery florals are enhanced with ambrette. This seed, from a variety of rare hibiscus brings a remarkable fruity nuance. Its origins are from South America mainly where Germaine Madeline lived. This new version was created by Amélie Bourgeois and is based on the floral bouquet fragrance Perlinette of 1919.

Romantic and aerial spirals of fresh flowers spreading its in wake of powders delicate rose and iris, giving it was silky and sensual side. Perlerette is not a perfume; it is a way of Being in the Manner of queens, as Catherine de Medici, who perfumed her hair with iris.

• Top notes; Italian bergamot, pink pepper, bigarade grapefruit 
• Middle notes: carnation, orange blossom, jasmine, pink , pink pepper, lilac
• Base notes: 4092 base, Iralia base, iris, ambrette, vanilla, violet, musk powder

Yapana:  Classified as a leathery oriental  fragrance, chosen by name Germaine Madeline year in memory of aromatic plant in Latin America with medicinal properties, is a fragrance that makes you feel good. It is enveloping, warm and powerful. The combination of unusual ingredients such as stone and golden green gives the vanilla fragrance has strangeness and modernity. This oriental leathery scent, with amber notes, opens the doors of luxury and refinement. This new version was created by Amélie Bourgeois based on the original semi oriental floral perfume Yapana from 1926.

A fiery entrance, amber, musky, Whose flamboyance is tamed by the warm note of oriental year agreement of citrus and vanilla.

• Top notes: Italian bergamot, pink pepper, grapefruit  bigarade 
• Middle notes: 4092 base, ylang ylang, rose, elemi, helional
• Base notes: Siam benzoin, labdanum, patchouli Indo, rice bran, iris, golden stone, green vanilla

Etoile D'Or: Classified as a spicy floral oriental chypre perfume, it is irresistible. It is a journey through time. Recreated by respecting the original sweet amber formula, it takes us back to the 1920s. The focus is to find the Parisian chic of the early century. The Etoile d’Or perfume was designed for powerful people, for men and women of character. This oriental floral, much appreciated by perfumers of the past, is the way to become even more desirable. This new version was created by Amélie Bourgeois

Playful and malicious accords, which beyond the singular notes of bergamot and lavender, capture the senses with the sensual and carnal side of spicy oriental. The suede note provides a velvety feel, which adds a new dimension to the sensuality of the fragrance.

• Top notes: Italian bergamot, country lavender
• Middle notes; Egyptian jasmine, absolute Turkish rose
• Base notes: Base 4092, Siam benzoin, tonka bean,  oak moss substitute, suede note, musk powder