FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL
It would take a truly magnificent perfume to rescue the fragrance-loving ladies of 1929 from the depression blues – the stock market having infamously crashed and with it, bankrupted many of Patou’s formerly wealthy clients. No sinking in the doldrums for this prestigious house, for perfumer Henri Almeras concocted a formula using the very finest ingredients possible – a seemingly simple blend of jasmine and rose that has not only stood the test of time, but to this day remains a byword for quality, luxury and untamed exuberance.
In a single ounce of JOY, 10,600 jasmine flowers and 28 dozen May roses must be picked, becoming known as ‘the costliest perfume ever’ – a daring move considering the time it was launched, but Patou was a shrewd businessman who had taken the temperature of the times, and found it hot for giving in to the desire for happiness.
Lusciously intense, the rose and jasmine are glorified by the hypnotically heady tuberose, juicy pear, exotic ylang ylang and a champagne sparkle of aldehydes. Darkened iris root adds a classy suede-like pause before sandalwood and civet harken a deeper dry down that veritably purrs on the skin as the sun begins to set…
Jean Patou JOY £68 for 30ml eau de parfum
Buy it at Selfridges
