Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant, launched in 1912, is a fragrance that immediately conjures an image of a garden in full bloom—a celebration of nature’s most beautiful flowers, elegantly arranged. The name itself, Quelques Fleurs, is French and translates to "Some Flowers" in English (pronounced kel-ku flur). The simplicity of this phrase evokes a sense of restraint and refinement. It suggests a collection of blooms, not in an extravagant, overwhelming way, but in a measured, delicate, and harmonious arrangement, which speaks to the elegance and grace of the early 20th century. The word "fleurs" (flowers) stirs images of soft, fragrant petals, and "quelques" (some) brings to mind a more restrained, less ostentatious vision, one of modest beauty, making it a perfect choice for a fragrance that aimed to convey timeless femininity.
The launch of Quelques Fleurs came during a period known as the Belle Époque, a time of cultural flourishing in Europe, particularly in France. This era was characterized by a love for beauty, art, and refinement. The fashions of the time were marked by elegant, structured silhouettes, with corsets, long skirts, and lavish but tasteful fabrics. Women of the Belle Époque, especially in the upper classes, would have related to a perfume called Quelques Fleurs as a reflection of their sophisticated, cultured tastes. This was an era in which perfumes were worn to complement the wearer's identity—a way to express one's status, taste, and refinement. The soft, elegant floral blend of Quelques Fleurs would have felt appropriate for the era, as it reflected the delicate femininity and grace that were highly prized in society at the time.
Quelques Fleurs was also launched just before World War I, and while the war itself would shift society dramatically, the perfume encapsulated a moment of peace, beauty, and optimism. In a time when the world was on the cusp of dramatic change, a fragrance that celebrated nature’s simplest yet most profound beauty must have felt like an antidote to the darker days ahead.
The composition itself—created by perfumer Robert Bienaimé—was groundbreaking in many ways, especially in its use of synthetic ingredients that were novel at the time. The rich, intoxicating lily of the valley note, which was a key feature of the fragrance, was brought to life by the synthetic aroma chemical hydroxycitronellal. This gave the perfume an almost crystalline freshness that became emblematic of the lily of the valley note in floral perfumes, making it both an innovation and a classic. The inclusion of synthetic components like the linalool from rose oil and amyl salicylate from clover marked a shift in the perfume industry, moving toward a more scientific approach to fragrance creation. These synthetics allowed perfumers to capture the essence of flowers in ways that had never been possible before, lending Quelques Fleurs a fresh, modern character that was distinct from the traditional, more natural floral compositions of the past.
In terms of its overall structure, Quelques Fleurs was classified as a floral fragrance with dominant notes of lilac, rose, jasmine, lily of the valley, violet, and orchid. These notes blend together in a soft, harmonious bouquet, with each flower bringing its own unique character. The lilac offers a powdery, slightly sweet undertone, while the rose adds a soft, romantic depth. The jasmine, rich and opulent, contrasts with the delicate freshness of the lily of the valley, which shines through as the dominant note. The violet, with its powdery, slightly earthy quality, gives the fragrance a more grounded, almost nostalgic feel, while the orchid adds a touch of exoticism and sensuality.
The scent is further enriched by the inclusion of C-12 MNA aldehyde, which imbues the fragrance with facets of amber, aldehydes, moss, and citrus. These elements bring a sparkling freshness to the composition, adding complexity and depth. The aldehydic note gives Quelques Fleurs a clean, soapy quality that was characteristic of many fragrances of the time, while the amber and moss add a touch of warmth and earthiness. The hint of tuberose adds a creamy, slightly waxy texture, while the underlying metallic and coumarin notes create a subtle, sophisticated finish that lingers on the skin.
In the context of other fragrances on the market in 1912, Quelques Fleurs was both unique and aligned with the trends of the time. While floral perfumes were certainly in vogue, Quelques Fleurs stood apart due to its use of synthetic materials, which gave it a modern, innovative edge. The perfume’s bouquet of flowers was crafted to evoke the timeless beauty of nature, but the synthetic elements added a contemporary twist that set it apart from other floral fragrances of the period. It was a forward-thinking fragrance that embraced the technological advances of the time while staying true to the elegance and refinement that was so cherished by the women of the Belle Époque.
For women of the time, Quelques Fleurs would have been a scent of distinction—elegant, timeless, and fresh. It embodied the grace and beauty of the natural world, but also spoke to the modernity of a new era in perfume-making. It was both a tribute to the delicate flowers that women adored and a reflection of the changing world around them—a scent that captured the essence of an unforgettable moment in history.
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. 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.
- 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
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?"
Scent Profile:
In Quelques Fleurs, each note unfurls like a delicate petal, weaving a tapestry of floral elegance with subtle undertones that evoke both freshness and depth. The top notes, starting with a crisp burst of aldehydes, immediately greet the senses with a soapy, clean effervescence. It’s the same bright clarity you might experience when walking into a room full of freshly washed linens, crisp and airy.
The aldehydes mix seamlessly with the bright, citrusy tang of bergamot, offering a sparkling, almost effervescent zest. The green note, faint and herbaceous, tingles with the coolness of freshly cut grass, while the lemon adds a sharpness that cuts through the sweetness, creating a delicate balance. Orange blossom adds an innocent, powdery sweetness, with its soft, honeyed nuance, while the acacia brings a subtle warmth, reminiscent of golden sunlight filtering through leaves.
Hyacinth, with its sweet, slightly waxy floral character, evokes the feeling of walking through a spring garden, while the tarragon introduces a fleeting herbal sharpness. Finally, the violet leaves bring a cool, green freshness, setting the stage for the more complex floral heart to come.
As the fragrance settles, the middle notes reveal their rich, floral heart, where the essence of a blooming garden truly comes to life. Lavender, with its calming, herbal aroma, adds a touch of powderiness, grounding the blend with a clean, almost woody undertone. The heliotrope's almond-like sweetness wraps around the lavender, softening its edges and infusing a creamy, almost edible quality into the fragrance.
Lilac introduces a soft, slightly powdery floral tone, cool and violet-tinged, its delicacy blending with the lush, dewy jasmine. Jasmine, its opulent, sweet floral richness, creates an almost intoxicating aura of sensuality that envelops the wearer, as though you are surrounded by a garden of night-blooming flowers. The lily and rose bring their own layers of elegance—lily with its heady, slightly waxy fragrance that deepens the floral richness, and rose, always classic, with its romantic, rosy sweetness that feels timeless and pure.
The tuberose, creamy and lush, is unmistakable, offering a creamy, slightly tropical texture that thickens the heart of the fragrance with its heady, voluptuous nature. As you move through these blooms, the lily of the valley shines with its sweet, fresh, almost ethereal fragrance, giving a glimpse into the fragrance’s secret heart.
The orris, with its soft, powdery elegance, contrasts beautifully with the carnation’s spicy, clove-like warmth, and clove’s subtle richness adds depth and intrigue to the bouquet. A fleeting hint of elderberry, sweet and dark, adds a unique, mysterious undertone, like a hidden berry patch within the garden, completing the complex, layered floral heart.
The base of Quelques Fleurs grounds the composition, slowly revealing its warmth and depth. The tonka bean adds a sweet, almost vanillic warmth, blending seamlessly with the ambergris, which brings a salty, musky, slightly animalic depth. Oakmoss provides a rich, earthy backdrop, enhancing the fragrance’s complexity with its dark, forest-like undertones, while the musk introduces a soft, sensual smoothness that lingers on the skin like a whisper.
Civet, animalic but subdued, adds an underlying warmth that complements the sweetness of the vanilla and the creaminess of the sandalwood. The sandalwood, warm and velvety, brings a rich, smooth woodiness that wraps around the entire composition, giving the fragrance a soft, creamy foundation. Privet, with its delicate floral sweetness, rounds out the base, providing a final softening touch, almost like the faintest trace of flowers lingering in the air after the sun has set.
The addition of synthetic ingredients such as hydroxycitronellal (for the lily of the valley note) and the aldehydic elements that enhance the fragrance’s clean, fresh character, were revolutionary at the time. These synthetic components allow Quelques Fleurs to remain timeless, offering a bouquet that feels both modern and classic.
The C-12 MNA aldehyde, which gives facets of amber, moss, and citrus, introduces a softness to the floral heart, while the waxy, metallic, and coumarin undertones evoke the scent of beeswax and crushed flowers, adding a rich, textured depth. These carefully blended elements contribute to the perfume’s complexity, making it both delicate and bold—a fragrance that evolves over time, revealing its layers and facets with every wear.
Taken together, Quelques Fleurs is a fragrance that channels the full spectrum of a flower garden, from the first green shoots to the final petals falling to the earth. It is a perfume of beauty and elegance, capturing the essence of nature's most refined blooms in an ever-changing dance of scent. Each note, whether natural or synthetic, is perfectly balanced to create a floral fragrance that is at once fresh, sweet, spicy, creamy, and richly complex. It is a perfume that captures the essence of femininity, of timeless beauty, and of a garden in perpetual bloom.
Original prices in 1920.
- Ideal extract would cost $69.50 to $134.91.
- Ideal toilet water would cost $118.56.
- Ideal face powder would cost $81.76.
- Ideal Talcum would cost $16.35.
- Quelques Fleurs extract would cost $85.85 to $310.70.
- Quelques Fleurs toilet water would cost $145.54.
- Quelques Fleurs bath salts would cost $40.88.
- Quelques Fleurs face powder would cost $102.20.
- Quelques Fleurs talcum would cost $16.35.
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:
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:
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
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