Gellé Frères, Gelle Brothers, Chypre, Cyprus, 120 ml. or 4 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1920, 1940, Paris, France ..

In 1826, the brothers Jean-Baptiste and Augustin Gellé share formulas with well known perfumer Jean-Louis Fargeon and open a shop in the Second District of Paris at 35 Rue des Vieux Augustins as "Perfumed Soap by Gellé Frères."

In 1844 at the same address, their shop was renamed "Gellé Frères, Successeur de Taveau" and was famed for its role as "inventors of the products to regenerate, maintain and support beautiful hair, perfumes and soaps of all kinds ..." Their factory was located in La Chapelle 1. In 1855, the company renamed as "Gellé Aîné & Cie", and a new plant was inaugurated in Neuilly-sur-Seine. They had a catalog which showcased their many products, and indicated which of them had been medalists honored at various exhibitions, such as Paris 1849, and London 1851 Expositions.

In 1870, the factory was destroyed because of the Franco-Prussian War. A new factory was inaugurated later in Levallois-Perret, near the institution of Oriza L. Legrand, a very famous perfumer of the time. Their toilet soap, "La savonnette de toilette Gellé”, became a flagship product. The plant also produces one of the first toothpastes, noted during the Universal Exhibition of 1878 and 1889 reported as "invented by Dr. Eugene Devers."

Paul Émile Lecaron latterly purchased Gellé Frères and later he became the president of the Union of French perfumery, opening a flagship store at 6 avenue de l’Opéra. In the 1890s, Gellé brothers revived the production of perfumes and launched a series of floral-based fragrances, in homage to the past century, Trianon. In 1900, the house is honored at the World Expo.

Chypre fragrances were very popular and fashionable during the 1920's and many perfume houses created a signature chypre. Gellé Frères were among the first to change the known formulas of ‘colognes', which were traditionally composed of simple citruses such as bergamot, lemon, orange, with fresh but somewhat fleeting scents. A chypre could combine as many as 33 different plants extracts and essential oils. This began a new style of colognes in France.

Top notes are Bergamot, Neroli, Mandarin, and Orange Blossom
Heart notes are Jasmine, Honeysuckle, and Orris
Base notes are Vanillin, Coumarin, Oak Moss, Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Labdanum, and Styrax

Offered here is a lovely four ounce bottle of this beautiful and refreshing fragrance. It can be worn by both men and women. The bottle has never been used and is still sealed. Absolutely gorgeous ..
Tiny damage to label .. otherwise pristine