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.

Looking to Buy Vintage Fragrances?

Marcel Guerlain & Hughes Guerlain

Please note that two other Parisian perfume companies should not be confused with the Guerlain family company are Marcel Guerlain & Hughes Guerlain.


These names are not affiliated with the Pierre-Francois Guerlain family although Marcel Guerlain was the same name as one of the heirs to the Guerlain family, there was no other connection. In light of this confusion, the Guerlain family adopted the slogan "Nous n'avons pas de prenon" (We have no first name) and brought a successful lawsuit against Marcel Guerlain, who then changed his company's name to the Societe des Parfumeurs Francais. Marcel Guerlain was then using his own slogan when advertising in the USA: "no connection with any firm of similar name".

Marcel Guerlain founded his own company in 1922, and produced perfumes and cosmetics. He opened a splendid shop at 86 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honore in Paris. 

He had a London office located at Parfums- Marcel Guerlain, Ltd., 252 to 260, Regent Street, London, W.l.

He had a shop in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.

The Arts, 1929:
“About six stores have lately been opened throughout New York by Marcel Guerlain, Inc., a Parisian firm selling powder and other feminine necessaries.” 
Drug Markets, Vol
"Marcel Guerlain, Inc., N. Y., appoints The Wesley Associates, N. Y., to direct advertising of Marcel Guerlain perfumes.” 

Revue des marques de la parfumerie et de la savonnerie, 1927:
"The Company which manufactures perfumes with the mark of Marcel Guerlain was founded in 1923. It is therefore of very recent date. 'Fortune smiles on the daring, our Latin ancestors have long said. Let's hope that it will reserve its favors for this young house, which was not afraid to immediately set up a factory in Suresnes - 32-34, rue Pagès - with; the most modern tools. It only aims to manufacture luxury perfumes and beauty products: extracts, powders and soaps; and to facilitate the sale of it she came boldly to set up her retail store, at no. 86, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré [later the address of Parfums Jacques Heim], opposite the Elysée, presidential residence. Pushing her ambition further, she does not hesitate to cross the Atlantic, and to set up a branch in New York, at 565 Avenue. So much progress in four years. This company seems to sail on the boat that adorns the arms of Paris: Fluctuat nec mergitur."


In her memoir, Les Justes de Graulhet, author Arlette Scali recounts a bit of trivia concerning her father and his business dealings. Born Arlette Hirsh-Levy, in 1910, to Edmond Hirsh-Levy, she was part of the Jewish high society in Paris. Her grandfather Nephtalie "Henri" Hirsh-Levy, originally from Lorraine, had a feather trading business. He married Ida Allmayer, on 14 April 1858 in Paris and had three sons, Edmond, Robert and Maxime. Ida and her sister Lucie were the two daughters of Abraham Albert Allmayer and Frederica Goldner, a German. Henri and Ida had three sons, Edmond David, Robert and Maxime. Born in 1879, Edmond, the eldest, was fourteen when they moved to Buenos Aires. 

Edmond's parents had emigrated there under the urgent appeals of Lucie, Ida's sister, who led the way there. They dreamed of making a fortune. Lucie, born in 1862, also married a Lévy, but from another family, Paul "Michel" Lévy in 1879. She bore him two children of the same age as Edmond, a daughter, Marie-Louise, and a son, Pierre. Soon after, Lucie became a widow, but was regarded as a particularly beautiful woman whose image was captured in pastels by famed artist Édouard Manet in 1882 (Portrait of Mme Michel Levy), her form sculpted by Rodin. 

In Arlette Scali's memoir, she recounted that it was Lucie's spectacular countenance that soon attracted the attention of Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear, who at the time, was the most eligible bachelor of Argentina with an immense fortune, he later became the President of the Republic of Argentina. She became his lover and a result, they secretly had a son: Carlo, who they nicknamed Carlito. This son was such a hidden figure, that no mention of him can be found in any other publication.

In Argentina, the lovely Lucie was adored by the high society, who charmed and courted her, it was perhaps this warm reception that prompted Edmond's parents to join her in Argentina. In Buenos Aires, as wealthy family, they enjoyed all the advantages of a pleasant and easy life. They quickly assimilated to the Argentines, following the footsteps of other foreigners, Italians and Spaniards. Edmond spent part of his childhood in Buenos Aires and spoke Spanish fluently. 

Leaving Argentina at the age of sixteen to pass his baccalaureate in Paris, Edmond entered as an intern at the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly, rue de la Pompe, in 1895. He stayed there for two years, passing his baccalaureate, winning all the awards, especially those of history. Edmond had never been satisfied living the easy life of leisure, relying on his family's wealth. After his studies in a business school, Edmond (sometimes spelled Edmund Levy) started his own business importing and selling vanilla. He made many trips to Tahiti and Madagascar. He later expanded the business to include importation of novelties and general merchandise and had an office in Ceara, Brazil in 1909. Throughout his life, he recounted his travels and said that his best memories were of long journeys on large ocean liners. Edmond, as a vanilla expert, was looking to invest in other operations. He met Marcel Guerlain and they decided to open a perfume house together. In 1922, they created the Marcel Guerlain perfumes. Since Marcel Guerlain was constantly being sued by the famous Guerlain perfumery, and losing the cases, Edmond left the perfumery business. 


Bottles:


Marcel Guerlain’s perfume bottles were often made by Baccarat and Depinoix. The bottle for “8 et 9” was made by Depinoix.












The perfumes of Marcel Guerlain:

  • 1923 Kadour
  • 1923 Veronique
  • 1923 Le Roy le Veult
  • 1924 Caravelle
  • 1924 Pavillon Royal
  • 1924 8 et 9
  • 1924 Pate D'Or
  • 1925 Masque Rouge
  • 1925 Ki-Loc
  • 1925 Mai Wang
  • 1925 Des Roses Encor/Roses Des Encor
  • 1926 Maison Gondee
  • 1926 Rolls Royce
  • 1927 Chaine d'Or
  • 1927 Rose
  • 1927 Tabac Fleuri
  • 1927 Tabac Fleuri 8
  • 1927 Tabac Fleuri 9
  • 1927 Contes Choisis
  • 1928 Chypre
  • 1930 Aimee/Aime
  • 1930 Le Cadre Noir
  • 1930 Les Fleurs
  • 1930 Mol
  • 1930 Pois Senteur
  • 1930 Fougere 
  • 1930 Jasmin
  • 1930 Kesako
  • 1930 Ambre
  • 1930 Cyclone
  • 1930 Etoiles
  • 1930 Special 3
  • 1930 Special 5

Kansas City Star, 1925:
"Des Roses Encore - An exquisite perfume contained in beautifully decorated bottle, from Marcel Guerlain of Paris. In mottled blue box for $20.00."

Other Companies:


He also formed seven other perfume companies such as the Hughes Guerlain company and launched several fragrances, probably manufactured in the late 1920s, 1930s and early 1940s. Other companies are Helene Gys (using HG initials), Gys, Marcel & Hughes La Societe de Parfumeurs Parisiens, Les Parfums d'Agnes, and Parfums Marlaine et Cie. You will notice that some of the perfume names are recycled between the different companies.

I am not sure when this stopped, but I do know that the Hughes Guerlain perfumes were still being sold in 1946.


The Perfumes of Hughes Guerlain:

  • 1920s Chin Ching
  • 1920s Sha
  • 1930 Aimee/Aime
  • 1930 Chypre
  • 1930 Cyclone
  • 1930 Les Fleurs
  • 1930 Extrait 9
  • 1930 Extrait 14
  • 1930 Extrait 33
  • 1930s Eau de Joie
  • 1930s Special 3
  • 1930s Special 5
  • 1930s Bolide
  • 1930s Molny
  • 1940s Toutes Fleurs
  • 1940s Crépe Mystique



Parfums Marlaine:


Parfums Marlaine et Cie (Marlaine Perfumes Co.) The name is taken from MARcel and GuerLAIN (with an added E at the end). This perfume distribution company was established in 1926 by Marcel Guerlain at the Empire State Bldgs, New York to handle his products in the USA. Their address was listed on 34th Street, Ny and 559 Fifth Avenue, New York (in 1933), 565 Fifth Ave, New York (in 1932) as well as 350 5th Ave, New York(in 1941)


Harper’s Bazaar, 1933:
“The Marlaine Perfumes picked up their things on Thirty-fourth Street not long ago and moved themselves up to 559 Fifth Avenue, where they set-up housekeeping for their splendid perfumes, powders, and lipsticks.” 

The American Mercury, 1937
“I am glad to tell you that our cards in the buses are producing sales of our perfumes and toiletries and it is for that reason that we are going to continue. • Cordially yours PARFUMS MARLAINE Cie J. Le Bloas V. Pres.”

The Perfumes of Marlaine:

  • 1927 Contes Choisis
  • 1927 Kesako
  • 1927 Radia
  • 1927 Pavilion Royal

The Perfumes of Helen/Helene Gys:

  • 1935 Monsieur
  • 1935 Special 3 Etoiles


Parfums d'Agnes & Parfums Drecoll:



Parfums d’Agnes was named for Agnes, (Mme Havet), a Milliner that formed a fashion house in Paris in 1906, established at 6, Rue St. Florentin. Also, in 1929 she is recorded at 7 rue Auber, Paris (Couture). This merged with Drecoll in 1932, forming a label Agnes-Drecoll.

Parfums Drecoll, was a division of the Parisian couture house Drecoll established by M. and Mme. Besancon de Wagner on the purchase of a Viennese business established by Baron Christof Drecoll & H. Kolmarch (Belgian) in the late 19th century. Branch established at 130 avenue Champs-Elysees, Paris in 1902; they launched fragrances in 1925. In 1929 their daughter Maggy de Wagner Rouff merged Drecoll with the Rouff name and changed the name to Maggy Rouff. Baccarat was a supplier of bottles. G. Dumoulin created the bottle for the Drecoll perfume Tais-toi Mon Coeur.

Marcel Guerlain bought Parfums Drecoll in 1944 and still used their name in connection with his, Societe de Parfumeurs Parisiens (as evidenced by a 1938 ad). He still sold Maggy Rouff's perfumes under her name into the 1960s. Maggy died in 1971 and her perfumes were discontinued just before her death.

The perfumes of Drecoll:

  • 1925 Tais-toi-mon Coeur
  • 1925 Le Chant de Notre Amour
  • 1927 La Robe
  • 1937 Fin de Rêve
  • 1938 Yoshiwara

The perfumes of Maggy Rouff:

  • 1937 Tais-toi mon Cœur
  • 1946 Secret
  • 1950 Etincelle
  • 1950 Fleur Folie
  • 1950 Excentric
  • 1950 Contact
  • 1950 Pêle-Mêle
  • 1953 Pixiola
  • 1960 Euphoric



Arthur Guerlin:


Another name that may be somewhat confusing is Arthur Guerlin, (Guerlin, not Guerlain), who started producing perfumes in 1930. This company has no affiliation with Guerlain, in any capacity and noted this in his advertisements (not affiliated with any firm of similar name).

May have been established by a Monsieur Tchakerian of the "Anciens Establissements "Arthur Guerlin," of 14 Rue Carle-Hebert, Courbevoie, Paris, France.
Their US address is as follows: Arthur Guerlin, Dept. A. M., 40 West 20th Street, New York City.

Arthur Guerlin was also subtitled "Parfum des Vizirs" and you may find labels with just that name instead of Arthur Guerlin.

The perfumes of Arthur Guerlin:

  • Promesse
  • Secrets de Paris
  • Mirage
  • Black Jasmin
  • Narcisse
  • Sweet Pea




4 comments:

  1. I wonder why the Hughes Guerlain company sometimes spelled its name as Hugues Guerlain. I have seen both variations on bottles being sold at eBay. And here at this website, you can see a four-bottle gift set where three of the bottles say "Hugues" and only one says "Hughes."

    https://www.coutaubegarie.com/lot/12764/2323724

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Probably to skate around trademark issues.....if ""Hughes Guerlain" got shut down in the courts, they could still use "Hugues Guerlain" for a period of time before that one got shut down.

      Delete
  2. I have an unopened bottle of Amber du Here at by Marcel Guerlain,Paris - I'm trying to locate a value on it for sale purposes. Can anyone assist me with this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, please use my helpful appraisal service at this link: https://guerlainperfumes.blogspot.com/p/flacon-carre-bas-de-forme-low-square.html

      Delete

All comments will be subject to approval by a moderator. Comments may fail to be approved or may be edited if the moderator deems that they:
contain unsolicited advertisements ("spam")
are unrelated to the subject matter of the post or of subsequent approved comments
contain personal attacks or abusive/gratuitously offensive language