Monsieur de Givenchy, the benchmark of masculine elegance
This tradition came to us then from the East where, in the harems, the Sultan let fall a square of veil in front of the woman on whom he had set his sights! What is more, the women also tried to take the opportunity to soak their handkerchief with perfume as if at the same time to reveal their most sensual side. However, Guerlain took the opposite course of this trend and created a perfume called Le Mouchoir de Monsieur. This is one of the oldest fragrances in our contemporary history and was created in 1904.
Le Mouchoir de Monsieur, a journey through time
Through this ancestral perfume, Guerlain gives us a kind of historical testimony. Indeed, until the beginning of the 20th century, perfume was inseparable from beauty rituals and no man worthy of the name considered going out without being accompanied by his favorite scents. On the other hand, the perfume was not yet worn on the skin. It was customary to sprinkle it on the linings of his clothes or gloves. In homage to the traditions of that time, Jacques Guerlain therefore decided, in 1904, to create a duet of fragrances for one of his couples of friends who were getting married that same year. These two perfumes were then called Mouchoir de Monsieur and Voilette de Madame. What is more, Jacques Guerlain then showed great daring. Indeed, the men of this time used to perfume themselves primarily using Eau de Cologne. However, Monsieur's Handkerchief is indeed a perfume extract. It is much more elaborate than the usual fragrances of its time and above all displays a much greater tenacity. In this sense, many perfume specialists consider the Mouchoir de Monsieur to be the first male perfume in the history of modern perfumery.
Guerlain's innovative fragrance
Of course, Le Mouchoir de Monsieur is not diametrically opposed to the other perfumes of its time either. Thus, it begins with a false air of Cologne. It initially displays an invigorating freshness based on bergamot and neroli. On the other hand, an unexpected ingredient immediately spices up this perfume. Absinthe enters the scene and displays a striking contrast, immediately associating itself with the aromatic facet of lavender, one of the most emblematic ingredients of men's perfumery. At this moment, jasmine and rose affirm the sophisticated and elegant character of the men of the beginning of the 20th century. Cinnamon, on the other hand, spices things up. The tenderness of this ingredient is then counterbalanced by the powdery and noble flavor of the iris. This refined plant is associated with a resolutely masculine patchouli as well as oak moss and amber. Finally, the whole is coated with a more sensual warmth of vanilla and tonka bean.