Jardin de Soleil by Escada c1996

Launching a perfume alongside a fashion line was a savvy move by Escada in 1999. The late 1990s were a time of bold experimentation and boundary-pushing in both fashion and fragrance. This period saw the rise of luxury brands expanding their portfolios to include fragrances, recognizing the potent connection between scent and style.

Escada's decision to create a perfume specifically tailored to complement its fashion line reflects the era's trend of fashion houses leveraging their brand identity across various product lines. This strategy aimed to offer consumers a cohesive sensory experience, allowing them to immerse themselves fully in the brand's aesthetic.

The launch of Jardin de Soleil in 1999 coincided with a fashion landscape characterized by vibrant colors, playful patterns, and a celebration of femininity. The perfume's name, meaning "Garden of Sun," evokes images of warmth, brightness, and natural beauty, aligning perfectly with the carefree spirit of summer fashion.

In terms of scent composition, Jardin de Soleil's blend of floral notes like wild rose leaves, crocus, pink lily of the valley, and narcissus, combined with fruity undertones of peach apricot, encapsulates the essence of a blooming garden in full sunlight. The addition of a woody base adds depth and complexity, balancing the fragrance's sweetness with a touch of earthiness.

Sophie Labbé’s expertise in creating complex and layered fragrances is evident in Jardin de Soleil. Known for her ability to blend diverse notes into harmonious compositions, Labbé's work on this perfume showcases her talent for evoking emotions and imagery through scent. Her creation of Jardin de Soleil not only captures the essence of a summer garden but also aligns perfectly with the fashion trends of the time, making the fragrance a timeless reflection of late 1990s style.

In summary, the launch of Jardin de Soleil by Escada in 1999, created by Sophie Labbé, was a strategic and innovative move in the world of high fashion. The perfume's design, mirroring the vibrant and eclectic trends of the era, provided a perfect complement to Escada’s fashion line, offering consumers a complete and immersive brand experience.

Un jour le parfum, il etait une nuit by Sephora c1996

Un jour le parfum, il était une fois la nuit by Sephora: launched in 1996. Perfume created for the opening of Sephora on the Champs Elysées, the largest perfumery in the world on December 11, 1996 at midnight.

Éscarmouche by Jean Desprez c1949

Éscarmouche by Jean Desprez: launched in 1949. The name means "skirmish" in French.

Benevolence by House of Sillage c2012

Benevolence by House of Sillage: launched in 2012. Created by acclaimed French perfumer Francis Camail.

Fracas by Robert Piguet c1945

Fracas by Robert Piguet: launched in 1945, in USA by 1948. Created by Germaine Cellier.

Tresor de la Mer by Lalique for Saks Fifth Avenue c1939

In 1939, Saks Fifth Avenue celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of their department store, which had opened in 1889. To herald this achievement, in 1936, they commissioned a special perfume bottle to be created by master craftsman, Rene Lalique.


Lalique answered the call with a fabulous perfume flacon in the shape of a pearl, hidden inside an giant sea shell box, called the Tresor de la Mer, or Treasure of the Sea.


The opalescent glass object was only made in a limited edition of just 100 examples. The original retail price of this flacon was $50. The clear and frosted opalescent crystal shell was made in hues of oceanic blues and fiery oranges which seemed to glow from within. The giant shell rested on molded aquatic plants and parting waves. Inside, is little spherical perfume flacon rested. The top and bottom of the shell are connected by metal hinges. The shell bottle was presented inside a red velvet presentation box that was lined in gold silk and blue velvet.


The gorgeous perfume presentation was to be shown at the Rene Lalique exhibit at the Saks Fifth Avenue store. Today fewer than three known complete presentations still exist, they are considered rare and holy grails of Lalique perfume bottle collecting.


The most recent example sold for a whopping $180,000 at David Rago Auctions in 2007 thru an eBay live auction.


The presentation is documented in the Marcilhac book on page 949, and in the book Lalique Perfume Bottles by Glenn & Mary Lou Utt.


In 1938, Stage magazine mentioned the flacon:

"Tresor de la Mer, an exclusive Saks V perfume, at $50 an ounce, seems a good idea. It comes in a round pearl- shaped Lalique phial, inside a large Lalique silver-hinged oyster, hurried in a plush container. Such goings-on!"

It is worth noting that an equally rarer bottle was also made for tresor de la Mer, this time it is an oval bottle made up of opalescent glass and molded with a scallop shell pattern. It is topped with a round, disk shaped, opalescent glass stopper molded with gadrooning. The bottle stands 6 1/2". and is fitted with a metallic label towards the bottom of the bottle. This bottle was not made by Lalique but may have been made by Sabino.

Debutante de Versailles by Jean Desprez c1958

As a tribute to the elegant American and French debutantes, the newborn belles of the ball, Jean Desprez created Debutante de Versailles in 1958, a limited edition perfume exclusively created for Daggett & Ramsdell.  The perfume was a tie in to Teleflora's Aura Arrangements campaign line of floral arrangements.

Very Rare Bal A Versailles Perfume Container

Leon Leyritz, a sculptor whose works grace the Paris Opera House, created a statuette of Janus, the Roman god with two faces to hold Bal a Versailles parfum in 1969.