Arome Synthetique Peau D'Espagne by Guerlain c1883

Arome Synthetique Peau D'Espagne: created in 1883.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It was the synthesized version of Peau D'Espagne, also known as Spanish Leather. I would imagine it was a perfume meant to mimic the scent of highly perfumed Spanish Leather.

Various 19th century Peau d'Espagne formulas included the following:

• Top notes: bergamot, lavender, verbena, neroli, lemongrass, lemon, acacia, linalyl acetate
• Middle notes: rose, cloves, cinnamon, ylang ylang, jasmine, orange blossom, nutmeg
• Base notes: sandalwood, ambergris, musk, birch tar oil, vanilla, civet, tolu, tonka bean, benzoin

 

What Became of Pam, 1906

"And the air itself thick with a thousand scents from the Peau d'Espagne beloved of unmentionable Parisian ladies up to the most delicate essence of Houbigant or Guerlain was unbearably hot unbearably sweet and curiously exciting."

Art & décoration, Volume 4, 1898:

"A supreme refinement of elegance consists in impregnating one's underwear, lace, and furs with a discreet, very personal and sufficiently lasting scent. No liquid perfume, even a finely vaporized one, combines the essential qualities to achieve this triple result. On the other hand the powdered perfumes used so far for this purpose contain violent scents that Guerlain has managed to avoid in its Peau d'Espagne sachets, the smell of which is ideally sweet and persistent."

Bottles:

Presented in the Carre flacon.

photo by museu del perfum

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.