Jasmin by Guerlain c1922

Jasmine/Jasmin by Guerlain: Originally created in the 19th century, but recreated by Jacques Guerlain in 1922.  

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is a soliflore based on the jasmine. Jasmine was a popular fragrance during the 19th century, also called Jasmin in French speaking countries. These formulas were based on mixed blends to suggest the odor of jasmine. Natural extracts, infusions, absolutes and tinctures would have been used early on, but as the 19th century drew to a close, newly discovered synthetics such as vanillin would have been utilized. Formulas for Jasmine perfumes appeared in several perfumery manuals and pharmacopeias during the period. The general recipe included the following ingredients:

Guerlain's Jasmin perfume is described as  a soft floral fragrance for women with a dominant sweet jasmine note.

• Top notes: orange blossom, jasmine, lemon, bergamot
• Middle notes: sambac jasmine, Tonkin musk, ylang ylang
• Base notes: sambac jasmine, vanilla and musk.

Recently, I was able to obtain a sample from my good friend Alexandra Star, who has lots of rare antique Guerlain treasures in her etsy shop, Parfums de Paris. If you are interested in experiencing the well blended, floral sweetness of Guerlain's Jasmin, stroll on over to her shop and take a look around. 

When first applied to the skin, I am greeted with the sweetness of sambac jasmine absolute, straight from the flower strewn fields of Grasse. The traditional bubblegum note of this species is very noticeable in the perfume which then evolves into a softer mixture of ylang ylang, with its tropical hint of banana, and a trace of orange blossom which has acquired a honeyed effect. I did not perceive the lemon or bergamot notes in this sample, as it being 100 years old, they are now lost to time. A gentle touch of musk and the warmth of vanilla help round out this perfume. The perfume is at first strong and sweet, but dries down to an airy type of fragrance on the skin.

Bottles:

Presented in a flacon by Cristalleries de Baccarat design # 678, in the Amphore flacon (parfum) during the 1950s and in the beautiful frosted glass Lalique Bouquet de Faunes flacon (parfum) in the 1920s. Also sold in the quadrilobe flacon (parfum) in the 1940s and Goutte flacon (eau de toilette) from the 1920s-1950s.

photo by ebay

photo by rago auctions

photo by ebay seller procoleccion

photo by rago auctions

Photo by ellenaa

Fate of the Fragrance:

Still sold in 1953. Discontinued (date unknown)

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