Godet, Chypre, 'Cyprus', 30 ml. or 1 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1953, Paris, France ..

Godet Parfums existed during the golden Art Deco era of Modern perfumery. Conceived at the dawn of the 20th century in 1901 .. some sources claim 1907 as the establishment date .. and founded by Julien-Joseph Godet, the house released a profusion of new perfumes throughout the late 1920s. It appears Godet was dormant during the 1930s and 1940s but may have been briefly resurrected, or possibly bottles of an older stock appeared and were marketed as new, as late as the early 1950s. Godet presentations were well produced; many were housed in numbered Baccarat Cristalleries flacons with artfully lables and highly detailed boxes.

The perfumes must have earned for themselves a good reputation; several were admired enough that they were acquired, rebranded and sold by other houses. History tells that Julien-Joseph died in 1913, leaving his wife Louise and Godet's director Abel Ravaud to carry on the company. Ravaud was married with children at the time and it appears the relationship between Mrs. Godet and her new partner was purely one of business. Nevertheless the two must have gotten on well because Godet went on to produce their most successful perfumes after 1913.

The house eventually won a gold medal for their perfume presentations at the influential 1925 Paris Exposition Des Arts Décoratifs. In fact, from this exposition the term Art Deco was coined. The gold medal win was an important achievement for Godet. The exposition was an international tour-de-force in which France staked a claim as the arbitour of good taste and high culture in a post WW1 world and you can bet they only sent their finest product to be judged in that arena.

Offered here is "Chypre" released in 1920. "A candy-sweet bergamot and lemon opening with a dry and light herbal tint from heliotrope, is followed by something simultaneously rich, sweet and light. The florals have perhaps a touch of violet and the perfume has a soft powdery note within it. The oak moss and labdanum base of this Chypre is clean, yet pronouned with maybe a bent toward woodiness, rather than leather or patchouli. Overall it is a sublime and tender perfume, not too spicy and I think very well preserved. It does not throw huge sillage, but has good longevity, which is only another sign, along with the character of the opening, that indicates this Godet was produced with only top quality in mind."

"This is a most unusual chypre, the lightest fragrance I’ve ever experienced with that designation. For me it is more of a leather than a chypre. First impression is of a very sweet combination of ylang ylang and orange blossom, quite feminine. Slowly the vanilla-like softness of the heliotrope and the dryness of the violet make themselves known as the base notes wait patiently in the wings.

I expected them to suddenly burst forward and overwhelm the foregoing with a dry, earthy richness, but such is not the case. What emerges for my nose is a fragrant leather, supported by a pungent tobacco leaf (not listed) and the warm woods of sandalwood and patchouli. Overall this shy chypre rates for me as a vanilla/tobacco/leather. Truly feminine but easily wearable these days by both sexes. Its very gentleness and subtlety put it in a category all its own. One of the best leathers I’ve experienced." Jack Twist, Basenotes Review

Top notes are Bergamot, Orange Blossom, Lemon, and Neroli
Heart notes are Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Heliotrope, and Geranium
Base notes are Violet, Oak Moss, Labdanum, Sandalwood, Leather and Patchouli

Offered here is a pristine sealed bottle of Godet’s well known but long forgotten chypre. A classic and collectible perfume. Comes in its beautiful original presentation box. Excellent seal evidenced by very little evaporation ..