ParfumPlus Arabia

CERTAIN FRAGRANCES HAVE become so legendary, their names can only be uttered with the utmost respect. These are the longstanding icons of the perfume industry. Behold, the Great Ones. These days there are more than a thousand new fragrances launched each year. Once in a while a new astonishing perfume presents itself to the fragrance community and earns its place in the Hall of Famous Fragrances. Sadly, however, most new perfumes are quickly forgotten. The situation differs drastically from, for example, the year 1917, when only 22 new perfumes were launched. Perhaps then, it is not a coincidence that the most iconic fragrances were created at a time when quality was rated higher than volume or trend appeal. We are talking about perfumes that tell a story in one single whiff. In the first of our two part series, we will take you through five famous fragrances that have survived the test of time and emerged as trendsetters in the domain of perfumery. Consider Guerlain's Mitsouko for example. This fragrance was launched in 1919, in the aftermath of a devastating war that left most of Europe ravaged and shocked. As an escape from their cruel situation, many turned their attention towards the mystical Orient. It is precisely this sentiment, often termed Orientalism, that Guerlain's Mitsouko represents. The name of the fragrance stems from the Japanese word for mystery. Alternatively it has been proposed that the name represents a character in a novel La bataille by Claude Farrère. The novel tells a story of a woman caught in between her love for a British officer and her Japanese husband during the time of war. In Guerlain's masterpiece you can sense all this and much more. The subtle balance of bergamot, rose, jasmine, and peach create a sense of longing for the loved one far away. At the same time the wooden base notes lend a dark undercurrent for the otherwise floral and fruity fragrance, suggesting a possible tragic outcome for the story. Mitsouko is an absolute classic, true history in an attractive bottle with a formula that has remained unchanged for more than a century now. P A R F U M P L U S 13