"Par Amour": a love story
My curiosity is now well-known; and since I was very taken with the scent "Empire des Sens" (see comment), I naturally wanted to learn more about its background and discovered the beautifully designed homepage of the brand "La Maison Godet". I found it not only very appealing but also very informative. The name Godet meant nothing to me, but that doesn't mean much. I've only recently been exploring beyond the mainstream of fragrances, and there is still so much to discover! "La Maison Godet" was founded in 1901 by Julien-Joseph Godet; for him, the creation of beautiful scents and artisanal craftsmanship went hand in hand. He met many artists who were in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. What a time that must have been! Every night in a different "salon," in a different bar: Eating, drinking, and chatting with friends and those who could possibly become friends later on. In 1908, he met the painter Pierre Bonnard and dedicated "La Reine de Fleur" as a personal scent to his wife Marthe. In 1920, the first Godet boutique opened on Rue de Rivoli in Paris, and Pierre Bonnard introduced Julien-Joseph to the painter Henri Matisse. "Petite Fleur Bleue" was launched in 1920, and in 1925, Henriette Darricarrère, the muse of Henri Matisse, wore "Folie Bleu" for the first time. So "Empire des Sens" is not a coincidence; the name Godet has long held its place in the world of fragrance. Following in the footsteps of her ancestors, Sonia Godet eventually took over the company in 2016. She too remains true to the family philosophy. Thus, "Par Amour" saw the light of the fragrance world (again) in 2017 under her guidance. A rose scent that told me a charming story; of course, the story of a love. She wanted to finally write to her beloved; she had already laid out her finest stationery, the fountain pen, and the small bottle of her favorite pink-violet ink. She sat down at her dressing table, where the rich bouquet of fragrant Grasse roses from the garden stood in her favorite vase. So, looking into the mirror, she wanted to write to him; here she was very close to her beloved! She thought of him, longed for him, and suddenly felt as if a fine pink veil lay between her and the mirror. The garden roses smelled sweet, and their fragrance enveloped her tenderly; she clearly saw through this fine veil the emotions that were reflected on her face in the mirror. Was she dreaming? The fountain pen in her hand turned into an old-fashioned quill; this, in turn, transformed again: she held a branch of her beloved Centifolia rose in her hand! The ink became sandalwood oil and smelled sensual. What was happening to her? She sat in a balsamic cloud of rose and sandalwood; warm streams of patchouli and vanilla, along with the sweetness of tonka bean, embraced her. She listened to the delicate sound of these fragrance notes and discovered resinous nuances: labdanum! She recognized this scent from the cistus that was so familiar to her. How often had she encountered these blooming plants with their always slightly crumpled leaves and pink flowers on her walks. She saw herself in the mirror: sitting in a pink tent of wonderful scents; feeling a bit scared yet very, very comfortable! Suddenly, she heard the voice of the man of her heart: so soft, so warm, and very clear! "Ma Chérie c'est une Rêve: Par Amour!" was his loving message! "Par Amour" was originally released in 1951; it probably did not meet expectations: the fragrance was discontinued. Under Sonia Godet, it experienced a renaissance. "Par Amour" is not just a scent of rose; it is the fragrance of a woman who is as successful as she is elegant. A woman who is also willing to explore her limits; who cannot always resist temptation. It is the scent of a woman who enjoys being seduced but also likes to seduce herself. Was the song "La Vie en Rose" perhaps written for her and not for Édith Piaf? C'est la Vie! - Life is sometimes pink! With the only average longevity of this fragrance - what can you expect from roses?! - it is a pleasure to re-spray and dive into a new love story again and again. Rosy, sensual, lightly powdery, and as timeless as the name and the feeling it evokes, this fragrance creation is. The time of roses is indeed infinite; that of love, anyway! Updated on 05/04/2021
