The already high concentration was increased slightly, bringing it up to the level of Eau de Parfum Extrême.
When it was launched in 1882, Fougère Royale revolutionised the world of perfumery and established modern perfumery as we know it today.
Fougère Royale was the first fougère fragrance ever created. It established a completely new fragrance family that today encompasses the most popular and successful men's fragrances. These include Brut by Fabergé, Paco Rabanne, Azzaro, Boss by Hugo Boss and Prada by Prada for Men.
Even more important, however, was the fact that Houbigant was also the first perfume house capable of isolating individual ingredients from natural raw materials. The main ingredient was coumarin, a component of the tonka bean. Drawing on the history of the House of Houbigant, they succeeded in reviving this outstanding classic in a contemporary and elegant way. To ensure that the original formula of Fougère Royale was preserved, the House of Houbigant collaborated with the unique ‘perfume professor’, Roja Dove. He enthuses:
"Houbigant's Fougère Royale, the world's first modern perfume, is a legend. Being asked to help create a new legend for 2010 was a dream come true. The owners of Houbigant, the Perris family, have invested a lot of time, energy and love to preserve the reputation of France's oldest perfume house. It is our declared goal to restore Fougère Royale to the success it enjoyed in the past. This fragrance is intended to be the fragrance for everyone who is discerning but also stylish. I worked with a great perfumer, Rodrigo Flores-Roux from Givaudan, to create this masterfully reworked formula. We believe we have succeeded in creating a masterpiece of the ‘Fougère’ family...
The fragrance
The top note of Fougère Royale is an invigorating cocktail of sparkling citrus aromas. These combine with an aromatic bouquet of Mediterranean herbs. Lavender and Moroccan chamomile set the pace here.
The heart notes reveal floral and spicy rondeletia accords. Geranium essences, warm spice notes, precious rare rose essences and absolutes of pepper, cinnamon and clove make this fragrance so precious.
The base note captivates with earthy, woody harmonies combined with ambergris. Mossy aromas and sensual patchouli are caressed by the warmth of tonka bean and sage absolute.
The already high concentration has been slightly increased, raising it to the level of Eau de Parfum Extrême.
The bottle
In collaboration with designer Jean-Christophe Gaydon, the classic crystal bottle originally created by Lalique at the beginning of the 20th century has been modernised. All the details from the original design have been retained, but the overall impression is more modern and ‘masculine’: each small square has been cut into the glass in a diamond shape to give the bottle more luminosity. The shoulder details of the bottle are inspired by the Art Deco style of the late 19th century. The front and back of the bottle have been curved to resemble a cushion, adding further opulence.
The zamak cap
Zamak is the name given to a special alloy of die-cast zinc and is very similar to the original bottle. The nickel-plated cap reinforces and emphasises the opulent overall impression. The details are reflected on the top of the cap, and the name Houbigant is engraved in Art Deco style on all four sides.
Men Collection
Since its foundation, Houbigant has perfumed the men who have shaped history: from Louis XVI to Napoleon to the Russian tsars. The Houbigant books record that Napoleon stopped at the Houbigant store during his 100-day campaign to fill his suitcases with perfume before continuing his march to regain power. Today, as then, Houbigant puts men at the centre of attention with a collection dedicated to them, consisting of precious raw materials and refined combinations.
