Parfum des Champs Elysees by Guerlain c1904 (Original)

Parfum des Champs-Elysees: Created in 1904 by Jacques Guerlain.

Original 1904 Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a green floral woody chypre fragrance for women.

• Top notes: neroli, violet, lavender, hesperidic notes
• Middle notes: jasmine, orange blossom, rose, violet, orris, sandalwood, patchouli, clove, oakmoss, civet
• Base notes:  musk, tuberose, violet

In 1915, Parfum des Champs Elysees retailed for $75, pretty expensive for the time period. What cost $75.00 in 1915 would cost $1,803.26 in 2017.

Reformulated 1995 & 2008 Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It was described as a woody floral chypre.

• Top notes:  bergamot, violet, lavender
• Middle notes: orange blossom, rose, jasmine, tuberose
• Base notes: orris, clove, oakmoss, patchouli, sandalwood, civet, musk

Bottles:

Bottle created by Baccarat ( flacon design # 284) to hold extraits of Le Parfum des Champs Elysees, other bottles made by Pochet et du Courval. Created to celebrate the opening of the new Guerlain boutique at 68, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Paris, France which was not complete until 1914. The turtle shape, created by Charles Mewes, reflected the irony of the slowness of the construction work on the new shop.

Baccarat bottles:

• 80cc/80ml/2.7 oz - 11cm/4.33" (changed to 60ml - 10.2cm/4.02" in 1995 as a limited edition) 
• 125cc/125ml/4.2 oz - 12.5cm/4.92" 
• 250cc/250ml/8.4 oz - 15.5cm/6.1" 
• 500cc/500ml/16.9 oz - 19.5cm/7.68" 
• 1 liter/1000ml - 24.5cm/9.65" 
• Originally, the legs were frosted glass 

Pochet et du Courval bottles:

• 30cc/30ml/1 oz - 8.5cm/3.35" 

Also sold in the Borne flacon (parfum), the Guerre flacon (parfum), the Goutte flacon (eau de toilette), the Montre flacon (eau de cologne), the Amphore flacon (parfum), the quadrilobe flacon (parfum) and possibly others.

Fate of the Fragrance:

Still being sold in 1938. Discontinued date unknown.


Relaunched in 1995, for a limited edition of only 1300, in a 60ml replica of the Baccarat turtle flacon. Discontinued.

Again reissued in 2008, in a limited edition of only 27 copies, housed in a 60ml replica of the 1914 Baccarat Turtle flacon, in an oval shaped red leather presentation case, engraved on one side with the Guerlain logo, retailing for $13,807 each. H: 20 cm

c1995 reissue. Photos from ebay seller eaudefine.

The perfume was completely reformulated by Jacques Guerlain and Jean-Paul Guerlain, and relaunched in 1996. So what does it smell like? It is classified as a fruity floral fragrance for women.  It bears no resemblance to the original Parfum des Champs-Elysees.

• Top notes: aldehydes, melon, blackcurrant, almond, violet, peach, anise
• Middle notes: mimosa, rose, peony, lilac, hibiscus, lily of the valley, almond blossom
• Base notes: sandawood, benzoin, vanilla, cedar, almond tree

I tested a vintage 1990s sample and it started off with sharp aldehydes and citrus, then the jasmine, mimosa and rose became more prominent..

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