Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant c1912

Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant, introduced in 1912 and crafted by perfumer Robert Bienaimé, stands as a pioneering example of the floral bouquet genre in perfumery. This timeless creation intertwines the essence of a myriad of flowers into a harmonious olfactory symphony. Imagine a fragrant garden in full bloom, where delicate petals of jasmine, rose, tuberose, and lily of the valley dance together in the gentle breeze. Each floral note contributes its unique character: jasmine exudes its sweet, narcotic allure, rose lends its romantic elegance, tuberose adds a creamy richness, and lily of the valley imparts a fresh, green vibrancy.

Quelques Fleurs is more than just a blend of flowers; it embodies the artistry of its era, capturing the essence of femininity and sophistication. Beneath the floral tapestry, subtle hints of citrus add a sparkling brightness, while a whisper of musk and sandalwood lends a soft, lingering warmth to the composition. The fragrance unfolds like a bouquet presented to a beloved, evoking memories of springtime gardens and romantic encounters.

In its signature bottle, Quelques Fleurs is a testament to timeless elegance. Adorned with delicate embellishments, it reflects the luxurious allure of early 20th-century perfumery. With its intricate blend of floral notes and its enduring popularity spanning over a century, Quelques Fleurs remains a quintessential masterpiece, capturing the essence of timeless femininity and the allure of a floral bouquet preserved in perfume form.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral fragrance for women. It's dominant notes are lilac, rose, jasmine, lily of the valley, violet, and orchid..

• Top notes: aldehydes, violet leaves, acacia, bergamot, orange blossom, hyacinth, orchid, honey, tarragon, verbena, green note, sage, lemon, marjoram
• Middle notes: lavender, heliotrope, lilac, genet, jasmine, lily, rose, carnation, ylang ylang, orris, violet, lily of the valley, clove, tuberose, reseda, phlox, elderberry
• Base notes: privet, tonka bean, ambergris, oakmoss, musk, civet, vanilla and sandalwood

The heart of Quelques Fleurs contained the synthetic aroma chemical hydroxycitronellal, which gave it the rich lily of the valley note. The linalool of rose oil became a synthetic component, and so did the amyl salicylate from clover. It also had the C-12 MNA aldehyde which gave it facets of fresh amber, aldehydes, moss, citrus, tuberose, metallic, waxy, and coumarin.

L'Amour de l'art, 1950:

"Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant: You breathe flowers or rather a few flowers. It's the whole soul of a sheaf of roses and lilacs, jasmines and violets that exhales in a wonderful freshly picked bouquet, sweet as the spring, blooming like summer."

Combat, 1954:

"Water Some Flowers of Houbigant: with its slender leaves with the flexibilities of swords, and its lace of asparagus, here is the sheaf that we could only pick if the weather accelerated its race madly. mourning and cardinal roses, Spanish genets, Cretan sages, May lilacs, July lilies and September lavenders. A hundred burning or wild, fresh or dark aromas are exhaled from this 'calendar of flora', precious as the little books illustrated with portraits of flowers offered to ladies at the end of the century."

Combat, 1955:

"Quelques Fleurs (perfumed cologne) by Houbigant - you have to know the language of flowers, to 'decipher' the woman who comes to you scented in this way. Red rose: fire of the heart...Jasmine: friendliness...Hyacinth : gallant games...Iris: happy news...Quarantine: fidelity...Lilac: excitement...Marjoram: happiness...Carnation: voluptuousness...Phlox: I like where you are...Acacia: elegance...Verbena: enchantment...And the violet? And the elderberry? And the lily? And the privet which ferments with bees?"

Original prices in 1920.

Based on the original prices using an inflation calculator, these products would cost the following in 2023 money:

• Ideal extract would cost $67.61 to $131.24.
• Ideal toilet water would cost $115.33.
• Ideal face powder would cost $79.54.
• Ideal Talcum would cost $15.91.
• Quelques Fleurs extract would cost $83.52 to $302.25.
• Quelques Fleurs toilet water would cost $141.58.
• Quelques Fleurs bath salts would cost $39.77.
• Quelques Fleurs face powder would cost $99.43.
• Quelques Fleurs talcum would cost $15.91.

Perfumery and Essential Oil Record - Volume 3 , 1912:

"THE name Houbigant in the perfumery world stands for all that is rich, elegant, and time- honored...Within the last few weeks a new perfume, "Quelques Fleurs," has been perfected, and has already attained great popularity in Paris."

The Judge, 1929:

"QUELQUES FLEURS Houbigant's fragrant expression of eternal modern youth. The Perfume that has enslaved the smart sophisticates of two continents. In an exquisite silk-lined gift box, $7.50. Other sizes at $1, $2, $4 and $15."

Harper's Bazaar, 1933:

"QUELQUES FLEURS— "Many flowers," perhaps the world's favorite perfume— $2.20 to $30.00"

American Druggist, 1939:

"Houbigant "Little Original" Parfum Quelques Fleurs Extract "double dram" replica of "Modele Original." Perfume. Quelques Fleurs. Replica flacon and coffret. Retail. $1.50"

Ladies Home Journal, 1949: "QUELQUES FLEURS (Pronounced "Kelka Flur")

• Perfume $18.50, $12.50, $7.50, $3.50
• Eau de Toilette $3.75, $2.50 
• Sachet Powder $1.75 
• Bath Softener $3.50, $2.50 
• Talcum Powder $1.00 
• Dusting Powder 2.00 
• Hand lotion $1.00."

LIFE, 1954:

" Quelques Fleurs Hand Lotion Trio tinted in blue, cream and pink. $1.00."

Bottles:

Quelques Fleurs was presented in a myriad of bottles over the years. 

The parfum can be found in both Baccarat and non-Baccarat crystal bottles, while the Eau de Toilette, Cologne and Eau de Parfum bottles can be found in splash and spray bottles.

Original Disk Shaped Bottle for the Parfum/Extrait:

• 3/5 oz bottle stands 2" tall.
• 0.25 oz bottle stands 2" tall.
• 0.5 oz bottle stands almost 2.5" tall
• 1 oz bottle stands 3" tall
• stands 4.5" tall
• 2 oz 
• 2.25 oz
• 5 oz 
• 8.5 oz bottle stands 5.75" tall.
• bottle stands 8" tall.
• 9.5"

Please note that this bottle was ALSO used for the Eau de Toilette, these are usually the larger sized bottles.

• 8 oz bottle stands 5.5" tall
• 6" tall holds Eau de Toilette

Catalog Numbers:

• Ref. 1710 - Parfum
• Ref. 2710 -Parfum
• Ref. 2715 - Lotion
• No. 676 - Powder

Louis XV Flacon:

From 1924-1930, Quelques Fleurs was presented in a sumptuous crystal bottle reminiscent of the 18th century. Known as the Louis XV Flacon, the bottle had a long, ringed neck and a fluted base enameled with courtly scenes and the name Houbigant. The bottle featured a gilded ground glass, ball shaped stopper.

Vanity Fair, 1927:

"The most successful odeurs of perfume history are Quelques Fleurs and Le Parfum Idéal, by Houbigant. These odeurs, in the Louis XV bottle designed for Houbigant by Baccarat, of Paris, are especially appropriate as gifts — each is $25.00."

Vanity Fair, 1929:

"QUELQUES FLEURS or Le Parfum Ideal in a silk-lined Chamois case that plays treasure chest for these incomparable fragrances. $20 the Grand Flacon with Atomizer. Quelques Fleurs or Le Parfum Ideal in the most luxurious flacon that ever imprisoned a fragrance. A Louis XV gold embellished bottle serves as a befitting shrine for the supreme perfumes."

Eau de Toilette:

The earliest bottle used for the Eau de Toilette features a frosted glass stopper molded with stylized flowers. Sometimes people mistake this bottle for Lalique, but this is not a Lalique creation. The bottom of the bottle is molded with the name Houbigant and has "Made in France" in acid etching on the base. This particular bottle was sold in the 1910s-1930s. The bottle stands just over 5.5" tall x 3" wide. The bottle was also used for other Houbigant Eau de Toilettes, not just Quelques Fleurs.

Theatre Magazine, 1916:

"Did you know that Houbigant, for the first time, is putting out his expensive perfumes. Ideal. Coeur de Jeanette, Quelques Fleurs in dollar bottles? You will find them all at the perfume counter in Frenchy dresses of opaque glass."

Other Bottles:

Fate of the Fragrance:

The Quelques Fleurs line, celebrated for its exquisite floral bouquet since its launch in 1912, faced a transition by 1981 when the original formulation, including popular sizes like the 1 oz and 0.5 oz Parfum bottles, was discontinued. This decision marked the end of an era for the fragrance, leaving enthusiasts and connoisseurs nostalgic for its classic allure and botanical complexity.

However, in 1984, Houbigant revived and reimagined Quelques Fleurs with a reformulated edition known as Quelques Fleurs L'Original. Launched in association with Claire Fragrance (Parfums Claire),

this reissue aimed to honor the timeless essence of the original fragrance while incorporating contemporary sensibilities. Perfumers painstakingly preserved the essence of the iconic floral bouquet, ensuring that notes of jasmine, rose, tuberose, and lily of the valley retained their signature harmonies. The reformulation was not merely a replication but a revitalization, adapting to modern tastes while maintaining the fragrance's historical prestige.

Quelques Fleurs L'Original emerged in a redesigned bottle that paid homage to its heritage, blending classic elegance with a touch of modern refinement. This revival allowed new generations to experience the allure of Quelques Fleurs, continuing its legacy as a cornerstone of floral perfumery that transcends time and trends. The reformulated Quelques Fleurs L'Original thus stands as a testament to Houbigant's dedication to preserving the essence of a beloved classic while embracing the evolution of fragrance craftsmanship.

Quelques Fleurs L'Original is still classified as a floral fragrance for women.

• Top notes: bergamot, galbanum, tarragon, lemon
• Middle notes: jasmine absolute, tuberose, lily of the valley, violet absolute, rose absolute, ylang ylang, carnation, broom flower absolute, orange blossom, beeswax absolute, clove
• Base notes: oakmoss absolute, sandalwood, civet, cedarwood, musk, orris, tonka bean