1826

Soft and understated. Elegant and enchanting. Histoires de Parfumes has become a bit of a personal obsession as of late, and 1826 Eugénie de Montijo an unlikely new staple in my library. It started as a blind buy of a deeply discounted bottle. The note breakdown alone didn’t do much to peak my interest, but my acquisition was prompted more by the intriguing reviews here on Fragrantica paired with a growing desire to explore this house in earnest after falling head over heals for both Ambre 114 and 1899 Hemingway. I’m not going to carry on endlessly about it since the reviews below that inspired me to take the plunge generally proved to be right on the mark. 1826 really does smell like the pages of old, well loved books - a dry and mellow patchouli being the soul of this allegorical accord. And user brightflashes makes a particularly apt observation about the enduring progression of the scent that, “even more astounding is that the scent is non-linear too, so it's like walking through a library.” This one could certainly set the bar for olfactory experience associations for all who have ever considered themselves devout bibliophiles with sentimental idealities of the culture of reading - a claim that I think Histoires de Parfums would regard as high praise considering the literary influences at the heart of the house’s artistic vision. It’s likely what Gérald Ghislain and Sylvie Jourdet were aiming for in the first place, and if so, I’d say they hit their mark. As for me, one day I will leave this world, and if I am indeed heaven bound, it will be to a cozy independent bookstore, softly incandescent-lit with storied oak bookshelves, screen printed posters adorning old plaster walls and vast windows that look out on a perpetually rainy and lush late Spring day. And it will smell of 1826.

What a beautiful, delicate, suave, relaxing aroma ... Clear, sensual, tempting, unforgettable ... I'd rather say it's a gourmand-aromatic rather than an oriental. It's dedicated to Eugénie de Montijo, last French empress. She was born in Granada, Anadalucia, and she loved the aroma of patchouli. 1826 starts quite heavy and spicy, reminds me of Ambre Sultan at this stage. But it only lasts a few minutes. Then it becomes more and more milky and vanillic, sweet, but stays transparent all the time. I think I smell something similar as in Clinique Simply - a bright accord of anise, which is not listed in any of them. It gives this fragrance a pale, lunar light. It's so well blended ... Absolutely nothing stands out. One light accord of patchouli, white flowers, amber, vanilla ... Recently I've been so bored with spices and flowers shouting at me from almost every composition out there... And when 1826 touched my skin I felt like in a scented heaven. A Zen-like scent. Modest and modern at the same time. Sounds perfect? Yes, but it has 2 very serious drawbacks. One: there's almost no sillage! A true skin scent. I literally have to put my nose onto my wrist to smell it. You really have to use a lot, and still only YOU will be able to smell it ... Pity, considering how beautiful it is and that I'd love to share its beauty with someone around ... Two: No lasting power! After 2 hours there's no trail of it. Almost made it to my wish-list, but I think I'll look for something with better sillage and staying power. But I'll never forget 1826.

Empress-Worthy Luminous Soft Purple Florals on a Dark Patchouli Base... Composed as a tribute to the Empress Eugénie de Montijo, I could imagine Amparo Rivelles (1925-2013) wearing this on set as she played the title character in Eugénia de Montijo (film 1944). Notes from the discovery set insert read: "The first and last French empress was a sparkling beauty who influenced the mundane life and artistic refinement of her time. In her honor, a luminous fragrance: A sensual amber carried by the full-bodied power of white flowers and patchouli, leaving an unforgettable trail." The listed notes are close to what the pyramid here states: "Top Notes: Bergamot, Tangerine Heart Notes: White Flowers, Violet, Cinnamon, Ginger Base Notes: Patchouli, Amber, Incense, Blond Woods, White Musk, Vanilla." This is really well blended, so it's hard to pick out individual notes, but I definitely get the violet in form of soft purple florals over a woody-amber-patchouli base. There's a powderiness along with the patchouli that's done in a similar way to other Histoires de Parfums scents. This isn't a dupe of anything, but I would put it in a family of scents similar to Black Orchid Tom Ford. This doesn't go as black as Black Orchid, and keeps the florals in the soft purple range, which do give a luminous feel. Several hours into the drydown, there remains a cashmeran-oud skin-scent. Performance is slightly above average for a year round wear, with a really beautiful trail. Enjoy!

Edit (2022): It's amazingggggg how taste changes. I tried this back when I was just really getting into perfume (omg I was 26 and had never worn a perfume in my life!). Now at the old age of 31, I return to it and I just wonder what was wrong with me? Did my nose just not work? This is wonderful. Yes, you get the dry spiciness of cinnamon. It's warm, almost smoky. Dry dry dry and very clean! It's really sophisticated. If only the first hour of it never goes away, it would be a 10/10 but no, unfortunately, the longevity isn't great on my skin. Regardless, this is way more beautiful than I let on before. Classy, and classic without being old and stale. 8.5/10 Original: You’re initially hit with a heavy blow of tart citrus. But it quickly starts to dry down into some florals, apparently there is cinnamon but I can’t detect it, however the ginger it’s noticeably lining each wave of scent that comes out of it. Just as that is starting to get comfortable on your skin, the patchouli, vanilla and wood notes come through to hold it all up. This isn’t bad at all, and it reminds me of their 1740 except with sweetness and lightness. And more importantly, it feels like it fits into 1826. 7.5/10

1826 is an angelic perfume, a white, soft, effervescent aura of musky, sweet, woody, and creamy patchouli. The soft hint of vanilla couples beautifully with dry and dusty patchouli. This perfume is so good, it is in the league of a couple of Tom Ford's perfumes, probably the house I love most and find the most luxurious of all. This is more of a white patchouli than his White Patchouli, which seems substantially denser, spicier, and darker in comparison. This is more along the lines of his White Suede. Patchouli is very obvious here, but I can't say I have ever experienced it so light and bubbly before. I actually wondered if there might be aldehydes in the top notes. This is a rare creative beauty, another gem from this house. I have no problems with sillage or longevity, as is the case with most perfumes from this house.