À Travers Champs, launched in 1898 by Aimé Guerlain, is a fragrance that captures the essence of the countryside. The name, which translates from French as "Across the Fields," evokes a sense of peaceful meandering through open meadows filled with blooming flowers. It suggests a break from the constraints of urban life, a moment of freedom in nature where one can enjoy the simple beauty of the outdoors. The choice of name reflects Guerlain's intent to craft a perfume that connects its wearer with the natural world, evoking imagery of walking through vast expanses of wildflowers under a clear sky. The title speaks to a bucolic dream, one where the breeze carries the delicate scent of flowers across open fields, inviting feelings of nostalgia, serenity, and natural beauty.
In scent, "À Travers Champs" would embody the freshness and sweetness of field flowers. Since it was based on the flowers of the fields, it would likely have included notes reminiscent of wild roses, daisies, violets, and other delicate blossoms commonly found in meadows. The scent profile would be light, airy, and floral, capturing the purity of untouched nature. Guerlain's expertise in blending these floral elements would have made the fragrance soft yet uplifting, as if one were inhaling the clean, fresh air of a country garden. The incorporation of both natural extracts and emerging synthetics would have enhanced the fragrance's ability to create the illusion of walking through fields in bloom. The natural ingredients would provide authenticity and depth, while the synthetic elements could prolong the fragrance's longevity and complexity, resulting in a harmonious balance.
Women of the time would have likely found "À Travers Champs" deeply appealing. The idea of a fragrance based on meadow flowers would resonate with a romanticized vision of nature and purity, which was particularly cherished during the late 19th century. Many women in this era were drawn to perfumes that connected them to nature, especially as industrialization transformed cities into bustling centers of commerce and pollution. Wearing a scent like "À Travers Champs" would have allowed them to momentarily escape the busy urban environment and embody a more natural, serene persona. The fragrance would have symbolized an idealized rural life, one full of innocence and simplicity, while also serving as a reminder of the fleeting beauty of nature.
