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Welcome to my unique perfume blog! Here, you'll find detailed, encyclopedic entries about perfumes and companies, complete with facts and photos for easy research. This site is not affiliated with any perfume companies; it's a reference source for collectors and enthusiasts who cherish classic fragrances. My goal is to highlight beloved, discontinued classics and show current brand owners the demand for their revival. Your input is invaluable! Please share why you liked a fragrance, describe its scent, the time period you wore it, any memorable occasions, or what it reminded you of. Did a relative wear it, or did you like the bottle design? Your stories might catch the attention of brand representatives. I regularly update posts with new information and corrections. Your contributions help keep my entries accurate and comprehensive. Please comment and share any additional information you have. Together, we can keep the legacy of classic perfumes alive!
Showing posts with label chypre perfume. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chypre perfume. Show all posts

Thursday, May 14, 2015

What are Chypre Fragrances?

Fragrances can be classified by certain olfactive families, or themes, or accords.


Chypre: (pronounced shee-pra)


Takes its name from the French name for Cyprus, is the legendary birthplace of Venus, the goddess of love.

Chypre perfumes are based on an accord, or several scents that blend together to create a single soft, warm, and sweet scent. There are two scents that are included in all accords, these would be patchouli and oak moss. Most have gum labdanum which has a sweet honey like note.

Although Chypre perfumes certainly existed during the 19th century, many perfume genealogies forget this and simply say that these perfumes take their name from Coty’s Chypre which debuted in 1917. In my research I have found that numerous chypre fragrances were popular from about 1860-1915. Companies such as Ed Pinaud released one in 1856,  Lubin in 1857, Bourjois in 1890, Roger et Gallet in 1893, Richard Hudnut in 1895, Lentheric in 1897, LT Piver in 1904, D'Orsay introduced theirs in 1912,

Guerlain had several in their vast catalogue of scents. One such was Chypre de Paris. Chypre de Paris was created by Jacques Guerlain in 1909. It was reportedly not like the chypres we are used to but has many of the same ingredients, and is classified as an aromatic spicy leather fragrance.

  • Top notes: leather, spicy notes, lavender, bergamot, lemon
  • Middle notes: jasmine, orange blossom, rose, ylang ylang, orris, calamus, opoponax, patchouli, Peru balsam, nutmeg
  • Base notes: oakmoss, vanilla, musk and civet




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