Sunday, October 27, 2013

Rancé: Eugénie

The origin of perfume can be traced all the way back to the 1600s, when it was first created for the French Royals. Marie Antoinette could not stand the smell of other people, so she would spray scents on her gloves and smell them when she found herself in a large crowd of unpleasant smelling people.

The Rancé family became famous for being one of the first in France to produce perfumed gloves for the French Aristocracy in Grasse. In 1975, François Rancé turned his focus entirely to perfumery and he quickly became Napoleon’s favourite perfumer. During his time, he created personalized scents for the Empereur such as “Le Vainqueur”, “Triomphe” and “L’Eau de Austerliz” which are still in production today. In honour of Josephine Bonaparte he created “l’Impératrice”.

My favourite women’s fragrance in the Imperial Collection is Eugénie – a scent named after the Empress Eugénie who won over France and the whole of Europe with her charm, her smile, and her elegance.

Head notes: Blackcurrent, Lily of the Valley, Mandarin, White Flowers, Ylang-ylang, Bergamot, Melon and Passion Fruit

Heart Notes: Neroli, Rose Absolute, Peach, Violet Leaves, Grasse Jasmine, Magnolia

Base Notes: Florentine Iris, Sandalwood, Oak Musk, Ambergris, Vanilla, Vetiver

This fragrance is very feminine and subtle although it changes throughout the day, which I find very complex yet amazing. My favourite part is after the opening as the middle and base notes take over. Initially I didn’t like the scent on me, but as the day continued Eugénie turned into a very tasteful floral scent. This powerful scent lasted all day and I could still smell it as I got ready for bed at the end of the night. Patience is key when trying this perfume!



The spirit of all Rancé perfumes reflect tradition, innovation and naturalness.

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