Paul Parquet; The Inspirational Perfumer of Fougère Fragrance Family
Perfumer Paul Parquet
Paul Parquet was born in 1856 in Paris, France. His father was a leather goods maker, and his mother was a homemaker. As a young man, Parquet showed an interest in perfume and fragrance, and he began his career as an apprentice to a perfumer in Paris.
In 1884, Parquet began working for the Guerlain perfume house, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become the head perfumer. During his time at Guerlain, Parquet created several groundbreaking fragrances, including Eau de Cologne Impériale, which was commissioned by Empress Eugénie, and the iconic Jicky, which is still in production today.
One of Parquet's most famous creations was Fougère Royale, which is widely regarded as the first modern perfume. Fougère Royale was a departure from the heavy, floral scents that were popular at the time, and it featured a lighter, fresher scent that was inspired by the smell of a fern forest after a rainstorm and it featured a complex blend of notes, including lavender, bergamot, geranium, oakmoss, and coumarin. Fougère Royale was an instant success, and it helped to establish Parquet's reputation as a pioneering perfumer. The fragrance inspired many other fougère fragrances in the years that followed, and it remains an important and influential fragrance in the world of perfumery.
Paul Parquet was married. He and his wife, Jeanne, had two children together: a daughter named Marguerite and a son named Henri, who also became a perfumer and worked with his father for many years.
In addition to his work with Parquet Parfums, Parquet also created fragrances for several other perfume houses, including Houbigant, Coty, and Roger & Gallet. One of his most famous creations was Quelques Fleurs, which he created for Houbigant in 1912. Quelques Fleurs was a complex, multi-floral scent that featured notes of rose, jasmine, and violet, among others.
Paul Parquet passed away at 1916 but his legacy lives on in the world of perfumery. His innovative fragrances helped to shape the modern perfume industry, and his work continues to inspire perfumers today.
The Best Fragrance Creation Paul Parquet Made for Houbigant
Paul Parquet did create a fragrance called "Le Parfum Idéal" for Houbigant. It is considered to be one of Parquet's best creations, and is highly regarded by fragrance experts such as Robert Bienaimé, who was the chief perfumer at Houbigant from 1965 to 1982.
"Le Parfum Idéal" was a complex floral fragrance that combined top notes of bergamot, orange blossom, and neroli with heart notes of jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang, and a base of musk, vanilla, and sandalwood. The fragrance was launched in 1896, and it became very popular, winning several awards and accolades.
The Fragrances Paul Parquet Made for Guerlain
- Jicky - launched in 1889, it is considered to be one of the first modern fragrances and is a classic fougère fragrance that has notes of lavender, bergamot, and coumarin.
- Eau de Cologne Impériale - launched in 1853, this is one of the oldest fragrances in the Guerlain collection, and is a citrus fragrance that has notes of lemon, bergamot, and neroli.
- Fleur d'Italie - launched in 1884, it is a floral fragrance that has notes of tuberose, jasmine, and ylang-ylang.
- Chypre de Paris - launched in 1909, it is a chypre fragrance that has notes of bergamot, jasmine, and oakmoss.
- Bouquet de la Reine - launched in 1890, it is a floral fragrance that has notes of rose, jasmine, and neroli.
