Mon Boudoir by Houbigant c1918

Mon Boudoir by Houbigant: launched in 1918. Created by Robert Bienaime.

Indian Summer c1972

Indian Summer by Houbigant: launched in 1972. The fragrance was available in cologne and dusting powder.


It is classified as a green floriental fragrance for women with dry, herbal and spicy facets.

• Top notes: aldehydes, bergamot, narcissus, galbanum
• Middle notes: carnation, lavender, cinnamon, cloves
• Base notes: sandalwood, oak moss, vetiver, ambergris, patchouli, musk, vanilla

Discontinued, date unknown.

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Aperçu by Houbigant c1984

Aperçu by Houbigant: originally launched in 1984. The name means "insight" in French.

In 1984, the powers that be at Houbigant were looking for a name for a new fragrance, two names were chosen, Aperçu and Lutece. At the time, Aperçu was not available for registration and the selection of Lutece was finalized.  A lawsuit ensued as there was a restaurant named Lutece who objected to Houbigant's use of the word Lutece as a fragrance name. However, Houbigant did win the chance to use the name Lutece as a fragrance line. When Aperçu was finally available to be used by Houbigant, it was launched in 2000.

Bain Nouveau by Houbigant c1966

Bain Nouveau by Houbigant: launched in 1966.

Quelques Roses by Houbigant c1997

Quelques Roses by Houbigant: launched in 1997.

Demi-Jour c1987

Demi-Jour by Houbigant: launched in 1987. The perfume was a resurrection of Houbigant's 1933 perfume of the same name. I am not sure if the notes are similar though.

Honeysuckle by Houbigant c1938

Honeysuckle by Houbigant: launched in 1938.

Available in eau de toilette, eau florale and dusting powder.

So what does it smell like? It is a honeysuckle soliflore perfume.

Discontinued, probably sometime in the late 1940s-early 1950s.

photo by ebay seller damosel

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Gardenia Concentre by Houbigant c1935

Gardenia Concentre by Houbigant: launched in 1935. This name was also used by Cheramy, a division of Houbigant.

So what does it smell like? It was a strong, long lasting gardenia scent, with a slight mushroomy odor.

Discontinued, date unknown. Still being sold in 1941.

This same bottle was used for Houbigant's Etude perfume from 1931. Photos by ebay seller vintageglass

The Baccarat crystal bottle rests on a silver plated base and is encased in a box of varnished wood.

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Both the glass stopper, with the engraved Houbigant "H",and the bottle, have an engraved matching number. 

The base of the bottle is also acid-etched "FRANCE".

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The bottle is in superb condition with virtually no flaws that I can find. 

It has a silver metal collar around the stopper opening. 

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The silver metal cap screws onto the collar, over the stopper.

A small paper flower label on one side of the bottle reads: GARDENIA concentre HOUBIGANT.

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The presentation base is metal, with wood on the bottom (& stamped MADE IN FRANCE)

The handmade wood cover is likewise in beautiful condition; highly varnished, with no marks.

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The bottle is 1 3/8" (3.6 cm) square & 3 5/8" (9.4 cm) tall.

Lutece by Houbigant c1984

Lutece by Houbigant: launched in 1984. Apparently, "Lutece" was the old name for the city of Paris.

Moskari by Houbigant c1887

Moskari by Houbigant: launched around 1887 Still being sold in 1923. After this date it was sold under the Houbigant owned Cheramy label. It is interesting to note that the word moskari translates to "mosquitoes" in Basque.

photo by Bennett

Esprit de Noel by Houbigant c1968

Esprit de Noel by Houbigant: launched in 1968. “Esprit de Noel” means “spirit of Christmas.” It was available as eau de cologne and as a room essence. You would add a few drops to a light bulb to fragrance your room with a holiday air.

Premier Mai by Houbigant c1928

Premier Mai by Houbigant: launched in 1908.

Quelques Violettes by Houbigant c1914

Quelques Violettes was originally launched way back in the late 1700s, when it was reportedly a favorite of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Houbigant was her personal perfumer. It was discontinued for decades before being reformulated and relaunched in 1914, but this too was discontinued in the 1960s.


"HOUBIGANT QUELQUES VIOLETTES —a delicate combination of violet scents — with the distinctively “woody" odor. A perfume of wistful charm and beauty that yields forth the inmost nature of the violet."

Houbigant's Eau Florale Concentree c1937

Houbigant's Eau Florale Concentree was introduced in 1937. It was an extra concentrated toilet water, probably eau de parfum type strength. The scents were: Honeysuckle, Lemon Verbena, Quelques Fleurs, Gardenia, Sweet Pea, Magnolia. Wistaria, Quelques Violettes, Ideal, Presence, Cyclamen

Hearsts Internation, 1937:

"Eau Florale Concentree, the new version of perfume, is the first thing you put on after your bath — an exquisite underthing that clothes you in ... Priced for liberal daily use, yet available in the most prized Houbigant odeurs: CONCENTREE."

The New Yorker, 1938:

"EAU FLORALE CONCENTREE is a lovely new fashion in perfuming that you can easily afford. For Houbigant now presents its finest odeurs in this new version of perfume . . . for lavish, all-over-body use ... at ONE DOLLAR."

Hearsts International, 1938:

"Eau Florale -Concentree to be Applied Directly to the skin! You pat it on. Effective your bath, before you dress, and clothe yourself in subtle fragrance. It is light enough for lavish use from tip to toe, lingering enough to last from dawn to dark!"

Drug and Cosmetic Industry, 1940:

"Houbigant adds to the increasing interest in romantic florals this year with a true-to-the-flower reproduction of Wistaria in Eau Florale Concentree. This is a light, exquisite fragrance."

 

Au Matin by Houbigant c1923

Au Matin by Houbigant: launched in 1923, in USA in 1929. Created by Paul Schving and Raymond Kling.

Le Parfum Ideal by Houbigant c1896

Le Parfum Ideal was created by Houbigant by in house perfumer, Paul Parquet in 1896, but it was launched for the first time at the 1900 Worlds Fair, along with another perfume Coeur de Jeanette.

The quintessential label for Le Parfum Ideal features a Gibson Girl sniffing a flower, this label was made of gilded foil and heavily embossed.

Ciao by Houbigant c1980

Ciao by Houbigant: launched in 1980. Created by Givaudan Perfumers. Pronounced "chow."

Essence Rare by Houbigant c1928

Essence Rare was created in 1928. Story goes that Houbigant wanted a big time aldehyde perfume to compete with Chanel’s no. 5, so Roure-Bertrand chemist Paul Schving created Essence Rare.

Chantilly by Houbigant/Dana c1940

Chantilly by Houbigant: launched in 1940. The fragrance was created by "nose" Marcel Billot and named after the famous Chantilly laces.