Bienaimé, Bienaime, Vermeil, 'Vermilion', 20 ml. or 0.68 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1935, Paris, France ..

Robert Bienaimé studied the chemistry of perfume in college and excelled. Within three years Bienaimé had mastered the basics of perfume creation and had adopted a creation style of his own. He worked initially for Houbigant, and continued to create for Houbigant until sometime shortly after the financial meltdown of 1929.

After the death of Paul Parquet at Houbigant, Robert Bienaimé became co-partner with Fernando Javal, son of the late Alfred Javal, Parquet's partner in Houbigant who had worked the marketing and production sides of the business. The Houbigant firm briefly took on the Javal name and then became Bienaimé Houbigant. During these years of expansion Bienaimé brought to Houbigant the talents of Paul Schving, Paul Leroux, Raymond Kling, André Copaux, Degont Desplanques and Marcel Billot among others.

In 1935, Bienaimé launched his own Paris fragrance house, originally located at 396-rue saint-Honoré, Paris, where Bienaimé began to create fragrances under his own name. Bienaimé fragrances continued to appear during the 1940's and existed until 1950, but it would appear that the house did not survive for long after the war. Bienaimé also launched a cosmetics company under the name Robel. In spite of considerable activity in support of various industrial processes and other institutions, Bienaimé continued his involvement in his own perfume company until his death in 1960 at the age of 84.

Robert Bienaimé is one of my favourite perfumers of all time. He created' La Vie en Fleurs' in 1935, right at the same time he launched 'Fleurs D'Ete'. Both are the most beautiful feminine florals. As perfumer for Houbigant from around 1910 to 1935, Robert Bienaimé created fragrances such as Lilac, a single flower fragrance and, one of Houbigant's all time best sellers, Quelques Fleurs, a floral bouquet.

No notes have been available about Vermeil. It smells so wonderful and is long lasting. I imagine its structure to be something like this ..

Top notes are Neroli, Petitgrain, Orange Blossom, and Bergamot
Heart notes are Rose, Carnation, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, and Honeysuckle
Base notes are Sandalwood, Vanilla, Ambergris, Spices, and Benzoin

Vermeil was launched in 1935. 'Vermeil is an oriental scent for women with rich touches of precious woods, balsamic notes of vanilla and ambergris married with opulent florals mixed with pungent spices. I can attest to the fact that it smells wonderful .. a combination of floral, woody, and leathery notes.' Cleopatra's Boudoir

Vermeil was launched in 1935. I do have a couple of Eau de Cologne versions of the Vermeil, and it smells absolutely lovely! I pick up woodsy, floral, and suede-like notes. I have recently received a small flacon of this, and I can attest that it smells divine ..

Offered here is a lovely 2/3rds oz. flacon of this mysterious fragrance in its signature Bienaime bottle and original presentation box. It is absolutely lovely .. very wearable today ..