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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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Lilas by Guerlain c1875

Guerlain's Lilas, introduced in 1839, carries a name that immediately evokes the delicate and romantic imagery of lilac blossoms. The word "Lilas" is French for "lilac," a term that captures the essence of this fragrant flower renowned for its sweet, soft scent and vibrant colors. By choosing this name, Guerlain conjured images of lush lilac bushes in full bloom, infusing their fragrance with a sense of both natural beauty and elegance.

In scent, Lilas would be interpreted as embodying the light, airy qualities of lilac flowers. The perfume likely features a blend of sweet and floral notes, with the lilac providing a soft, powdery, and slightly green aroma that is both refreshing and subtly intoxicating. This would translate into a fragrance that feels both gentle and uplifting, capturing the essence of springtime in a bottle and evoking a sense of tranquility and grace.

For women of the early 19th century, a perfume named Lilas would have held significant appeal. This period, marked by a burgeoning appreciation for floral scents and an increasing desire for refined, sophisticated fragrances, would have found Lilas to be a symbol of grace and elegance. The lilac’s association with purity and delicate beauty made it an ideal choice for a fragrance intended to complement a woman’s elegance and femininity. Women who chose Lilas would have been seen as embracing a fragrance that was both stylish and gentle, reflecting the romantic ideals and aesthetic values of the time.

The 1839 launch of Lilas occurred during an era when perfumery was becoming more sophisticated and the demand for high-quality, complex fragrances was rising. The early 19th century saw a shift towards more elaborate and nuanced scents, with floral notes gaining prominence. Guerlain’s Lilas tapped into this trend, offering a fragrance that was both modern and timeless. The perfume not only catered to the tastes of its contemporary audience but also helped to define the future direction of luxury fragrances, establishing a precedent for floral scents in the years to come.



Fragrance Composition:


So what does it smell like? It was a lilac soliflore perfume. All types of Lilac perfumes were popular during the 19th century. Formulas for these perfumes appeared in several perfumery manuals and pharmacopeias during the period. These formulas were based on mixed blends to suggest the fresh odor of the lilac. Natural extracts, infusions, absolutes and tinctures would have been used early on, but as the 19th century drew to a close, newly discovered synthetics and aroma compounds such as vanillin, hyacinthin, coumarin, heliotropin, terpineol, Lilacine, iso-eugenol, Cyclosia, benzaldehydes and musk xylene may have been utilized. The general recipe included the following ingredients:
  • Top notes: hyacinth, orange blossom, lilac, cassie, lily of the valley, bitter almond
  • Middle notes: heliotrope, ylang ylang, rose, tuberose, jasmine
  • Base notes: vanilla, tonka bean, musk, civet, orris

Bottle:


Presented in the "carre" flacon (parfum) used from 1875-1939. Holds 2/3 oz or 70cc.




photo by ebay seller voldenuit2








Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown.

1 comment:

  1. 2/3 oz is not 70 cc. I believe you mean 2.3 oz

    ReplyDelete

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