St. James de Jussy, Fleurs de Tabac, 'Tobacco Flowers', 30 ml. or 1 oz. Flacon, Pure Parfum Extrait, 1949, Paris, France ..

Parfumerie St.James de Jussy was established in 1890, at Halle-aux-Vins, in Paris. The firm was originally known as James Ducellier, with an earlier establishment at 2 Preau des Eaux-de-Vie, and they produced and sold both fragrances and cosmetics.

Fleurs de Tabac was launched quite a bit later in 1949. However, perfumes that featured the flowers of the tobacco plant were flourishing, and by the 1950’s smoking tobacco did not have any negative connotations.

Fleurs de Tabac is the result of a beautiful synthesis of notes. Since there is little written or available describing this lovely scent, I will offer what I am able to regarding its composition. There is a lovely hesperedic burst in the opening, a combination of possibly Bergamot, Neroli, and Lemon, with trails of Orange Blossom. As these settle, a lovely musky dry smokiness is present, underpinned by notes of leather, lifting the scent, but not masking it’s somewhat masculine appeal. One is reminded of some of the gorgeous leathery perfumes of the 1920’s .. Jean Patou’s Lasso or Colony .. Guerlain’s Djedi .. but one with that delicious sweetness of tobacco leaves ..

Reminiscent too, of Caron’s masterful Tabac Blond .. Fleurs de Tabac offers a shimmering pass through the racks of drying tobacco leaves of Cuba .. women rolling cigars on their thighs .. the lovely sweet smoke from a gentleman’s pipe .. soft and a little drier than Molinard’s iconic Habanita, which is so lovely, but considerably sweeter. Finally the perfume softens in the dry down revealing resins .. Frankincense, Myrrh, Amber .. Patchouli is there, providing depth and mystery .. and then Vanilla, sweetening and enveloping the wearer in a sensual smoky-sweet suede .. In other words, it is absolutely delicious, and it is saddening that this smoky and luscious beauty is so very hard, if not impossible, to find.

Offered here is a beautiful one ounce bottle of Fleurs de Tabac in a lovely suede like presentation box. It is absolutely pristine, still sealed with its baudruche and cord, and with minimal evaporation considering the years. Highly collectible and desirable. The old tabac fragrances are getting very hard to find.