Everyone who knows me, knows that I am a history buff. My friends Eunice and Pearl share this interest and many a biography and historical fiction book is passed from one to the other. And then discussed at length. One of our favorite historical figures is Marie-Antoinette. So this little tidbit is for you, girls.
While doing research on Jean-Louis Fargeon, parfumeur to Marie-Antoinette, biographer Elisabeth de Fevreau unearthed notes on the queen's personal perfume. Originally named " Le Trianon," the perfume once used by the queen combines various scents including rose, iris, jasmine, orange blossom and sandalwood. The scent which was renamed "M.A. Sillage de la Reine" was developed by French perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, who combined the ingredients after detailed research. He adhered strictly to the 18th-Century custom of combining "100% natural primary materials" and the scent is "intensely floral".
10 prestige copies of it, bottled in Baccarat crystal were made available in June as a limited edition for the queenly sum of 8,000 Euros . In July 2006, 1000 limited edition copies in crystal bottles made by the crystal manufacturies of Portieux (founded by Marie-Antoinette's grand-father) were made available for 350 Euros (25 ml). Proceeds go towards the remodeling of places that were historically linked with Marie-Antoinette as well as a travel chest once owned by the queen.
Incidentally, Elisabeth de Fevreau's book has recently been translated into English in Great-Britain under the title "A Scented Palace: The Secret History of Marie-Antoinette's Perfumer."
So girls, what do you say: is this book next on our list? And please do me a favor, drop a hint to my husband. Christmas is coming up and I am running low on perfume.
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