Grès, Gres, Cabochard, 'Familiar', 60 ml. or 2 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1958, Paris, France ..

Grès was a French haute couture fashion house. Parfums Grès is the associated perfume house, which still exists, and is now based in Switzerland. Grès' signature fragrance was Cabochard, which created by Bernard Chant, and launched in 1958

Germaine Émilie Krebs, known as Alix Barton and later as "Madame Grès", relaunched her design house under the name Grès in Paris in 1942. Prior to this, she worked as "Alix" or "Alix Grès" during the 1930s. Formally trained as a sculptress, she produced haute couture designs for an array of fashionable women, including the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Dolores del Río.

In French, Cabochard means 'stubborn' or ‘headstrong’, which reflected Madame's free spirit and will. Cabochard was created after Madame Grès' trip to India. She described a beautiful perfume to the young perfume creator Guy Robert .. very flowery, rich like tuberose yet softer, contrasted by fresh, slightly green notes. It was a water hyacinth. After several trials, Madame Gres recognized her perfume. It was light and floral. Cabochard was launched in 1958 and instantly became very popular. Madame Gres said that it reminded her of her walks along the long and empty beaches of India .. the sharp freshness of the morning air, the warmth of sandalwood .. with a touch of flowers and the comfort of the sea breeze.

Cabochard starts out with a burst of citrus and deep green notes. It is a dark fragrance right from the start, and the leather is apparent almost immediately. The floral notes are muted .. when smelled from a distance they are barely noticeable, but from up close, the jasmine is more obvious and seems to weave in and out. It dries down to an animalic leathery chypre with woods, moss, and a touch of smoke. It stays very dry for the first hour, then starts to take on a hint of sweetness from the patchouli.

Top notes are Begamot, Mandarin, Green Notes, and Aldehydes
Heart notes are Galbanum, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Rose, Clove, and Oak Moss
Base notes are Tobacco Iris, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Leather, Patchouli, and Labdanum.

The feminine Ylang Ylang mingles with the other precious flowers, the bright Bulgarian Rose and the Jasmine from Grass, which gives Cabochard its classical touch. In the drydown, the the fragrance gets darker and deeper thanks to intense ingredients such as Moss, Vetyver, Musks and Patchouli that exude mystery and exotic sensuality.

Offered here is an increasingly rare full 60 ml. or 2 oz. bottle of this divine fragrance. It has been opened, but barely used, and it sports its inimitable grey velvet bow! No box.