The flagship Guerlain boutique in Paris has been trading at No. 68 Champs-Elysees for the past 103 years and has served as THE destination for perfume pilgrimages since the first world war. In 2006 - some 92 years on - the much-loved perfume house launched a cologne whose name memorializes their prestigious street address; Cologne du 68.

A scent that has been designed to enjoy with liberal application, Cologne du 68 is an aromatic citrus blend, one that is vivifying, uplifting and very much in keeping with Guerlain's vast back-catalogue of finely scented eaux. 

A genderless perfume, Cologne du 68 features a crisp citrus opening - a zesty blast of bergamot, mandarin, petitgrain orange and orange blossons. But, just as one might be thinking "citrus overload!", the sharpness is subdued by rousing florals including jasmine, freesia, frangipane, iris, ylang and rose. It has been meticulously blended to marry the more acerbic facets with the florals so that it remains resolutely unisex. Oily green aromatic accords of rosemary and sage manage to round out the composition, furnishing it with a slightly earthy, viridescent vibe.

Despite the name, its an eau de toilette concentration, and is therefore much longer lasting than traditional colognes. Cologne du 68 is a non-complicated scent without compromising on quality and luxuriousness. 

Whilst his name is little known today, French born perfumer Jean Desprez has authored a number of global perfume giants; his first – Crepe de Chine – (created in 1925 for the company F. Millot) is still widely revered as a perfume pillar of the past. Another of his epic worldwide sensations was Bal a Versailles… a fragrance for women which remains widely revered and worn today by both genders.

Epitomising the ‘Oriental’ fragrance classification, Bal a Versailles was launched in 1962, and showcases a complex arrangement of components. With a trajectory that begins with abundant citruses and aromats (such as rosemary and cassia leaf), Bal a Versailles runs the gamut of florals too: rose, jasmine, orange blossom, neroli, ylang-ylang and lily-of-the-valley all feature, over a dense ground of leather, tolu balsam, resins, cedar, civet, musk, vanilla and amber. Whilst it might read as though Desprez’s concoction spared only the kitchen sink, that which makes Bal a Versailles so magical is that the blend is absolutely seamless…. it literally blankets the skin in a mantle which is smooth, carnal, sensuous and head-turning! It almost takes on a life of it’s own, dragging those in it’s orbit even closer.

Bal a Versailles has endured countless tweaks over the decades, thanks in part to restrictions on a handful of raw materials. However, even in it’s modern incarnation, it is both unique and memorable. Perhaps best avoided at work (well, that depends on the work!), Bal a Versailles is the ultimate winter comfort fragrance. It has titanic projection and persistence…. they will definitely know when you enter a room. And as far as I’m concerned, that’s not always a bad thing!

Almost 90 years after the very first perfume was offered to customers whom frequented their famed Parisian salon, the hallowed French fashion house of Rochas started a new chapter in their story with Les Secrets de Rochas – a trio of fragrances launched in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Secret de Rochas Rose Intense was launched in 2015 and straddles the line between Paris and Persia… whilst its primary focus is trained on dewy May rose (one of the most popular components of Eastern perfumery), it’s treatment is defiantly European.

Celebrating femininity in all of its incarnations, Rose Intense is a floral oriental inspired by a woman’s boudoir – her personal domain, and the epicentre of her  own sensuality. It opens with a joyous flight of passionfruit and peach -  two components that have been steeped in the delicate scent of rose. At it’s heart is a blossoming floret of osmanthus, which is supported by slightly bitter green rose-leaf accords. These nuances dance across an ambery, musky foundation, peppered with grassy mosses and earthy patchouli. It feels confident, sassy and audacious.

The perfect scent for evenings spent with a special someone, Secret de Rochas Rose Intense is intoxicating and mysterious. It manages to stay semi-transparent and gauze-like, which only adds to it’s allure. Proof positive that Rochas still produce engaging perfumes to this day.