Le Galion, La Rose, 'Rose', 3.7 ml. or 0.13 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1937, 1950, Paris, France ..

Le Galion, French for galleon, is a large warship or trader sailing ship with three or more masts .. lateen-rigged on the after masts and square-rigged on the foremast and mainmast .. whose dominance of the seas during the 15th to 18th centuries resulted in what we recognize today in the brand's logo.

The firm was supposedly founded by Prince Murat, but it was perfumer Paul Vacher who created the Le Galion fragrances, trademarked in 1936. He worked at Guerlain, one of the oldest perfume houses in the world, among other perfume houses. Vacher is best known for his parts in the creations of vintage Miss Dior for Christian Dior in 1947 with Jean Carles, and Arpège for Lanvin in 1927 with André Fraysse, as well as his Diorling, again for Dior in the 1960s.

The name of this beautiful brand, inspired by majestic seafaring vessels with their vast square sterns, evoked thoughts of freedom and escape. Some of the beautiful fragrances associated with the brand have stayed in our memories ...

Talented perfumer Paul Vacher became the owner of Le Galion in 1935, having bought the perfume house from its founder, Prince Murat. Having created fragrances for many prestigious houses including “Lanvin”, for whom he co-created Arpège, Rumeur, and Scandal with Andre Fraysse, he thought it was time to branch out on his own. In 1936, his perfume Sortilège became an immediate success and remains one of the jewels of the house.

In the late 1930s, he followed up with Bourrasque, Brumes and the beautiful floral fragrances Iris and Tubéreuse. All of his fragrances were produced from the finest, natural, and raw ingredients. After the liberation of France in 1944, Paul Vacher continued to create fragrances such as Special for Gentlemen (1947), Frac (1949), Lily of the Valley and La Rose (both 1950), the very famous and well named Snob (1952) and Whip (1953). By now Paul Vacher was an esteemed perfumer, considered by some as one of the masters of perfumery alongside Ernest Beaux, Ernest Daltroff, Jacques Guerlain and Edmond Roudnitska.

In 1946 when Serge Heftler-Louiche and Christian Dior wanted to develop a fragrance for their fashion house, they naturally turned to Paul Vacher. He created a beautiful fragrance for them called simply, Miss Dior. In the early 1960s, Christian Dior Perfumes turned once again to Paul Vacher and this time he created Diorling (1963). The Le Galion Perfume House was now famous internationally and, by 1964, Sortilège, was being sold in 97 countries worldwide. Paul Vacher continued to create fragrances for his own perfume house, the Cologne Extra-Vieille (1967), Galion d’Or & Vétyver (both in 1968), and Eau Noble (1972).

Launched in 1937, La Rose is a soliflore perfume by Le Galion. Notes are Bergamot, Violet Leaf, Rose, Attar of Roses ..

Simply a beautiful rose .. very tiny and very rare .. almost no evaporation, and oh so precious! This tiny vial might once have belonged in a set.