Immerse; Yourself In The Dragonfly
By Jo Phillips
The name Lalique evokes the brilliance of glass and crystal of jewellery, and of course fragrance
René-Jules Lalique started the business after becoming an apprentice jeweller whilst attending evening classes at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris continuing his education in England. Back in Paris René Lalique designed for many Parisian brands and then took over the workshop of jeweller Jules Destape on Place Gaillon in Paris. As early as 1888 he designed his first parures in finely-wrought gold inspired by Antiquity and Japonism, and broke with jewellery-making tradition by including innovative materials in his pieces.
With his work and name gaining wide spread recognition he won competitions, exhibited his work and created jewellery for well-known entertainers such as actress Sarah Bernhardt. His desire to “create something that had never been seen before” earned him the accolade of “inventor of modern jewellery”. He revolutionised jewellery styles of the period, becoming a favourite with leading socialites, and was admired by the most distinguished of his fellow-jewellers. His work was commissioned by the great courts and collected by the world’s wealthy.
So when René Lalique took part in the 1900 Great Exhibition in Paris, it was the crowning moment of his career. It was that same year he was also named Officer of the French Legion d’Honneur. In 1905 René Lalique opened a shop at 24, Place Vendôme, where he exhibited not only his jewellery but also the glass objects crafted in his workshop at his estate in Clairefontaine, near Rambouillet.
World renowned perfumer François Coty was so impressed by René Lalique’s designs that he asked him to put his talent to work for the perfume industry. They worked together revolutionising the perfume industry and made it possible for the first time to offer perfumes in attractive bottles at affordable prices. From then on, Lalique worked increasingly on designs for the perfume sector, finally devoting himself entirely to more industrial techniques of glass production. It was many years later that Marie-Claude, the grand-daughter of René Lalique, created the first fragrance, “Lalique de Lalique” in 1992, and went on to expand this side of the business with over 65 perfumes now in the range.
In 2014 The NOIR PREMIER collection was lunched. These exclusive perfumes celebrate the rich heritage of Lalique.
OR INTEMPOREL is a spicy oriental fragrance in which the two main notes, tobacco and coffee. The perfume is a scent that evokes the precious metal of gold.
FLEUR UNIVERSELLE, contains rum and cinnamon notes, the aroma of warm sand from the immortelle is intensified by the coolness of pink pepper and freshness of cardamom.
TERRES AROMATIQUES is a garrigue scented fragrance that complements the most iconic plant to come from the Midi: thyme, enhanced with lavandin
ROSE ROYALE fruity facets of rose absolute by supplemented with peach and osmanthus.
FRUITS DU MOUVEMENT a fruity and floral fragrance in which the gourmand prune note slowly gives way to the opulence of jasmine absolute and woody nuances.
ÉLÉGANCE ANIMALE a sensual woody oriental fragrance combining leathery, fruity and floral notes in perfect harmony.
Septmeber 2017 see the newst launch of the Noir Premier Collection with the launch of ILLUSION CAPTIVE a classic chyPre fragrance (traditionally citrus top-notes, a middle centered on cistus labdanum, and a mossy-animalic base-note ). This scent developed by perfumer Karine Dubreuil-Sereni with her choosing to include bergamot, fig leaves, cinnamon, rose, jasmine, cedar, patchouli, cistus labdanum, vanilla, tonka bean and myrrh.
The packaging is inspired by René Lalique’s Libellule (Dragonfly) brooch, the pattern on the bottle representative of the delicate wings. As with all of the NOIR PREMIER collection the bottle comes in its own presentation box with this one being a shinny lacquered black box.
Lalique Illusion Captive will be available in 100 ml Eau de Parfum.