Hello and welcome! Please understand that this website is not affiliated with Guerlain in any way, it is only a reference site for collectors and those who have enjoyed the classic fragrances of days gone by. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. The main objective of this website is to chronicle the 200+ year old history of the Guerlain fragrances and showcase the bottles and advertising used throughout the years. Let this site be your source for information on antique and vintage Guerlain perfumes. Another goal of this website is to show the present owners of the Guerlain company how much we miss many of the discontinued classics and hopefully, if they see that there is enough interest and demand, they will bring back these fragrances! I invite you to leave a comment below (for example: of why you liked the fragrance, describe the scent, time period or age you wore it, who gave it to you or on what occasion, what it smelled like to you, how it made you feel, any specific memories, what it reminded you of, maybe a relative wore it, or you remembered seeing the bottle on their vanity table), who knows, perhaps someone from the current Guerlain brand might see it. If you have any questions, please send all images of your bottle and pertinent information directly to me at cleopatrasboudoir@gmail.com. I will try to assist you the best I can.

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Eau Hegemonienne c1880

L'Eau Hegemonienne: Created in 1880 by Aime Guerlain, it was a personal favorite of Isabella II of Spain, the mother of Alfonso XII, King of Spain, for whom it was created, additionally, the succeeding generations of the Spanish royal family.  It appears to have been available to the general public by 1890 and was created to be a tribute to the hegemonic international alliances between the world's greatest powers.



Fragrance Composition:


So what does it smell like? It was an extremely light, fresh scent with lemon fruit as the main ingredient.
  • Top notes: bergamot and lemon
  • Middle notes: lavender, thyme, artemisia and herbs d'provence
  • Base notes: rosewood, sandalwood and vanilla

Country Life, Volume 11, Issues 280-286, 1902:
"Mr Guerlain of the Rue de la Paix with whom it is a pleasure to talk on these matters strongly advocates the use of eau de Cologne as a skin tonic a little of this aromatic water in our daily ablutions is not only invigorating but cleansing. But beware of a common quality for the face. For the bath or for frictions generally the quality of eau de Cologne is of less importance but where the delicate coating of the face is concerned employ only the best the very best that can be obtained. And can any eau de Cologne be better or purer or more delightful than the Hegemonienne Guerlain's Hegemonienne that our grandes mondaines value so highly. Many pretend that they owe the transparency of their skin solely to a good eau de Cologne and the strengthening of the muscles of the eyes to the daily friction with the fingers dipped in Hegemonienne." 




Bottles:


Presented in various flacons over the years: Flacon Abeilles, Flacon Plat, Flacon Carre Bas Forme, and the Flacon Republique Etui Carre. as well  as the Stilboide bottle.

















Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown, still being sold in 1941.

Relaunched in 2006 as a limited edition of only 150 copies. The bottle is known as the "flacon carre aux brocarts", the square bottle with "brocade", which refers to the gilded enameling on each corner. Each bottle holds 110ml of the Eau d'Hegemonienne fragrance. The presentation retailed for 700 Euros.






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