Les Cocottes de Paris is a new niche brand from Anaïs Beguine of Jardins D’Écrivains. They debut with three fragrances: La Castiglione, Melle Cléo and La Belle Otero.
Anaïs Beguine has begun a new chapter, focusing on the nineteenth-century French courtesans known as the Queens of Paris, The Cocottes. They entertained, seduced and made headlines to the point where they imposed their style and taste on Europe and the Americas. Les Cocottes de Paris brings you new perfumes that tell a story centered on three scandalous icons.
La Castiglione ~ "This nocturnal, vampire-like creature has burst upon the social scene, where she brings a fragrance of newness. She is perfectly beautiful with a boldness that makes her fashionable." Notes for the oriental fragrance include citron, mugwort, copaïba, licorice, patchouli, cedar, ambergris, myrrh and styrax.
Melle Cléo ~ "Harmony, precision, classicism, style and restraint are the values Cléo de Merode acquired at the Paris Opera. But her controlled appearance concealed a more ambiguous nature. Like a fierce hetaira, she stood out in a sort of brothel that was to become the foyer of the ballet school. In 1896, she was considered the world's most beautiful woman. An absolute star, she captured her contemporaries' imaginations." Notes for the floral fragrance include rosewood, bergamot, litchee, night blooming cereus, ylang ylang, rose, cotton flower and lichen.
La Belle Otero ~ "The beautiful gypsy, La Belle Otero, has an insatiable nature. The Queen of Elegance frequented kings and rich bankers from Paris to New York, St. Petersburg and Monte Carlo. She was the most spellbinding and the most ruthless courtesan of the Belle Époque. She devoted her life to dancing, men, precious stones, gambling parties and, above all, freedom." Notes for the woody floral include neroli, pepper, absinthe, fig, ginger, violet, musk, buchu, lavender, narcissus, frankincense, sandalwood and iris.
Les Cocottes de Paris can be found now at Indigo Perfumery, 100 ml Eau de Parfum, $110 each.
(via indigoperfumery)
These sound lovely…I would probably buy them just for the backstory, lol. I’ve always had fascination with “les grandes horizontals”, as the great courtesans of Europe were called, and own several books on the subject. The notes of La Castiglione sound very appealing. Pretty bottles too!
I have less general interest in the subject matter, but the brand has done a good job on the Ecrivains line, so will put these on my “try list”.