Gellé Frères, Gelle Brothers, Lilas, Lilac, 60 ml. of 2 oz. Flacon, Eau de Cologne, 1921, 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.

Lilas or Lilac is presented here in the Eau de Cologne format in a lovely two ounce flacon. This fragrance smells divine. It is perfect and smells as it did so many years ago.

Offered here is an absolutely pristine two ounce bottle of this divine eau de cologne .. so extremely rare, and hardly ever found .. A lovely little treasure .. There is a tiny bit of melted rubber in the neck of the bottle. I was able to remove the whole melting rubber plug (70 years old), and so only a little residue remains .. and it does not affect the scent at all ..