"Young Princess" by Guerlain, launched in 1892, was created to honor Marie de Bourbon, daughter of King Alfonso XIII of Spain. Guerlain’s choice of the name "Young Princess" carries a sense of innocence, youth, and regal elegance. The name itself is in English, which would have conveyed a sense of sophistication and accessibility to an international audience at a time when royal associations were highly esteemed. The words "Young Princess" evoke images of grace, purity, and an air of budding aristocracy, reflecting the tender age and royal stature of the perfume's namesake.
In terms of scent, "Young Princess" was described as a light fragrance, likely crafted to capture the essence of youthfulness and simplicity. It would have been interpreted as fresh, delicate, and ethereal, much like a gentle floral breeze. A fragrance with such a name would have carried soft floral notes, perhaps with hints of rose, lily of the valley, or jasmine, evoking the blooming beauty of a young royal. The term suggests innocence yet sophistication, a scent designed for a young woman of refinement and class, embodying both her freshness and potential future grandeur.
Women of the late 19th century, particularly those in higher society, would have been drawn to a perfume named "Young Princess", seeing it as a symbol of elegance and femininity. During this period, perfume played a crucial role in personal expression and social status. A perfume with royal connections like this one would have been regarded as aspirational, signaling refinement and taste. Wearing a fragrance tied to a royal figure like Marie de Bourbon would have allowed women to feel closer to aristocratic ideals and part of a world of luxury and grace.
