Coty, L'Origan, 'Origano', 120 ml. or 4 oz. Flacon, Eau de Toilette, Lalique, 1905, Paris, France ..

If one were to enumerate perfumers who wielded great influence over the course of perfume history, François Coty is among them. A person of great talent and creativity, he gave the world fragrances that would serve as inspirations for many perfumers, despite the fact that he did not have formal perfumery training. Born in Ajaccio, Corsica in 1874, Coty realized that in order to expand the perfume market, the high quality product must be presented in beautiful packaging and at a reasonable price. While marketed as luxury, he deemed that perfume had to be affordable for people of every socio-economic class. While La Rose Jacqueminot (1904) was his first fragrance, incorporating new floral bases, L’Origan (1905) and Chypre (1917) would initiate two new genres of perfumery .. soft sweet floral and chypre.

L’Origan was launched in 1905, and cannot be mistaken for anything but a child of its times. Its soft powdery veil embellished with carnation, violet and heliotrope calls to mind gloves and Edwardian silhouettes. A precursor of Guerlain L’Heure Bleue of 1912, L’Origan reveals the same bittersweet anisic top notes that sparkle like diamond dust in its powdery cloud.

L'Origan ("marjoram”) was the first of Coty's truly great perfumes. The fragrance swept Paris and helped consolidate Coty's reputation as a perfumer-promoter. In L’Origan, Coty demonstrated that it was possible to create a fine but affordable perfume that would appeal both to the upper classes and to the less affluent but very large middle class.

L'Origan by Coty is another case of "they don't make them like that anymore”. Sweet floral notes are combined with spicy and powdery woody accords, its composition includes new materials for that time as coumarine, ionones .. a sweet powdery and woody violet accord, civet, and vanillin, making the fragrance is lush, warm and utterly delicious.

One of the very first of the modern perfumes .. a superb blend .. a warm, rich, floral chypre that is at the same time dense and light.

Top notes are Bergamot, Neroli, Mandarin, Coriander, Pepper, and Peach
Heart notes are Carnation, Jasmine, Rose, Violet, Ylang, Orris, and Orchid
Base notes are Coumarin, Vanilla, Cedar, Sandalwood, Benzoin, Labdanum

Offered here is a charming Lalique flacon with a marvelous carved briar bouchon filled with L'Origan Eau de Toilette. This has been previously opened, but very little used. This is a very collectible and lovely piece. Said by some to be one of the most beautiful perfumes in the world! No box.