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Price:
£159.00
Size: 100ml Spray
Fragrance Category: Soft Floral
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| | Top Notes: | May rose, hawthorn, jasmine |
| Heart Notes: | Ylang ylang, hyacinth, iris, blackcurrant, violet leaf |
| Base Notes: | Ebony, sandalwood, musk, bourbon vanilla, ambergris |
François Rancé, heir to a Grasse-based family of glovemakers-perfumers well known to the French aristocracy since the early 1600's, dedicated himself in 1795 to perfumery only, and founded the Rancé perfumery company in Grasse, France (there is still a road, "Rue Rance", named after the business in Grasse). François soon became the favourite perfumer of Napoleon the Great, and offered him and his beloved Josephine several exquisite perfumes. In honour of Josephine Bonaparte he created "l'Impératrice", which he presented to the Empress in a precious Sevres porcelain box. The last example of this precious porcelain objet d'art is kept in the Rancé archives.
Now based in Milan, Italy (where the company moved in the late 1800's) Jeanne Sandra Rancé, François's great-great granddaughter has revisited the company archives to create "Josephine" based upon the secret recipe that François had dedicated to Napoleon's beloved.
Josephine was inveterate rose fan. She had all of her mansion, Malmaison, planted with every known rose variety, and was a keen collector. Many of the varieties known today are direct descendants from her collection. She was also crazy for musk (when she and Napoleon separated after 17 years of marriage, and knowing that Napoleon himself disliked its raw scent, she doused all of Malmaison with it, and it was said that the smell of musk still pervaded the mansion 60 years later). Understandably. "Josephine" is an exquisite construct based around both rose and musk.
The full essence of May Rose (found only in Grasse) is given a penetrating, delicate spring harmony by the addition of Hawthorn and Jasmine. Ylang Ylang and Hyacinth bring an atmosphere of sensuality, while Blackcurrant, Iris and Violet leaves combine to complete the perfume's sophisticated magic. Josephine is unique creation blending sensuousness and elegance. It is quite simply the most romantic scent ever created.
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