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
