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02/19/2021
Serenissima
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Serenissima
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25
Taboo for a year
On their way to New York, Audrey Hepburn and her then-husband Mel Ferrer made a brief stopover in Paris, where they met up with Audrey's dearest friend Hubert de Givenchy for a festive dinner.
On that occasion in late December 1956, Hubert presented her with a small box with a satin ribbon wrapped around it.
"A present? A present for me?" asked Aubrey with certainty.
"A perfume?" she asked, uncomprehending, after unwrapping the box.
Yes, it was a perfume; an exclusive perfume: dedicated to her, his muse.
It smelled floral and powdery, of roses, jasmine, violets and something indefinable - woody?
A perfume that still had no name: it was supposed to be only Audrey Hepburn's own fragrance for a whole year. Only after this time they wanted to start selling it.
Aubrey and Givenchy thought about a suitable name and then said:
"L'Interdit" - the forbidden!
Because it's forbidden to all other women for a whole year!
You really can't give your muse a more personal gift now.
Audrey Hepburn was not only the muse of this fashion designer, she also remained his closest friend until her early death. Both trusted each other and later Hubert's life partner Philippe joined them as the third in the group; he too was accepted into the intimate circle.
Actually a mix-up led to their first meeting.
For the film "Sabrina", the film studios in the USA expected an appropriate wardrobe and asked that Ms Hepburn choose a couturier, who would then accompany her through other films as an outfitter.
Audrey had liked the style of the young Frenchman her age from the start, so she asked to see him in Paris and, overjoyed, flew there the day after next.
She was shown into his study; there he stood behind his desk and froze slightly: had he only been told Ms Hepburn wanted an appointment and he was thinking of Katherine Hepburn! How embarrassing this was to both of them, and yet it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship!
Instead of this lady, there was now a young woman standing in front of him, who had just before taken a walk around town and was dressed extremely casually.
Her request to design him for "Sabrina" the complete wardrobe, interested and flattered him and yet he had to cancel: it was July, in August, all of France is on vacation to the end of September 1953 should begin shooting. How was that going to work?
For the disappointed Audrey directly Hubert de Givenchy could not tailor a new outfit on the fast. But as an already "almost-friend" he found a solution.
There was also with him a chamber with "forgotten dresses". There he led them: beautiful and tailor-made they hung there the most different garments on meter-long rolling clothes racks. Even fit for Audrey; as if they had been waiting for her.
Within two hours, both had taken great pleasure in putting together the collection for "Sabrina"; any alterations were made and by the time filming began, everything had been flown across the Big Pond on time.
"Sabrina" was suitably dressed!
And now three years later at the turn of the year, a fragrance of my own:
"L'Interdit", a fragrance that would be hers alone for an entire year and for which she would later become the advertising icon - the "face".
The eau de toilette, which inhabited a rather encrusted glass tube still left very intense olfactory impressions.
Unlike the perfume, it is not floral-powdery; but of a slightly more floral freshness; but so very much a child of its time: opulent, mysteriously feminine and intoxicating.
Of course, the radiant, cheerfully fluttering glittering aldehydes could not be missing.
The fruit basket, which decorates the Entrée, is as uncomplicated in terms of content as actually the rest of the fragrance composition and yet the composition of bergamot, tangerine, peach and fresh strawberries seems noble and tasty. A little peppery (with the strawberries?) it comes to me and with some cloves were spiked to the aroma enrichment perhaps even the peaches.
Also the selection of the now following flower scent sequence is not particularly exotic.
No, it seems as if Hubert walked through a summer garden with flower basket and scissors and looked for the most beautiful treasures for the planned heart note:
Here a few roses, there a few branches of jasmine, the proud slightly powdery iris also comes along.
Some daffodils with friendly yellow faces, of course lily of the valley and some tendrils Ylang Ylang fall victim to the scissors.
Finally, this basket contains a large bouquet of flowers fresh from the summer garden and full of intensely sensual fragrances.
It is placed next to the already filled fruit basket.
Now what is missing is a base to create a fragrance worthy of a woman whose elegance is so evident.
Again, sticking to the obvious: a dose of tonka bean to replace the vanilla is the only exotic in the fragrance fabric.
Classic, earthy and sensual it continues: Vertiver, cistus / labdanum? and benzo resin stand for it; sandalwood oil may not be missing of course.
Musk promises still a little passion and Ambergold guarantees an all-round perfection of this fragrance woman!
If a perfume should act like a forbidden fruit, then that is fully succeeded with "L'Interdit".
Those who approach this forbidden fruit (and aren't the forbidden the sweetest?) discover a woman who exudes romance as well as perfection and allure.
This is how Hubert de Givenchy saw his perennial muse in wardrobe and fragrance:
the doe-eyed, delicate (always too thin as a consequence of war) Aubrey Hepburn.
By now I've sniffed the glass tube so many times that, of course, my fingers are all sticky too. The original incrustations dissolved and tomorrow morning at the latest I can say how affectionate this charming creature will be.
All too fleeting, however, it does not seem to me. So we spend the night together first.
I just see that a new edition appeared here as well.
So there is still the possibility to smell like Audrey Hepburn, just not so exclusive.
However, we no longer have to worry about breaking a taboo with this!
We'll spray a little, buy a paper cup of coffee and something sweet out of a bag, and then go window shopping!
Come on, Holly! Breakfast at Tiffany's!
On that occasion in late December 1956, Hubert presented her with a small box with a satin ribbon wrapped around it.
"A present? A present for me?" asked Aubrey with certainty.
"A perfume?" she asked, uncomprehending, after unwrapping the box.
Yes, it was a perfume; an exclusive perfume: dedicated to her, his muse.
It smelled floral and powdery, of roses, jasmine, violets and something indefinable - woody?
A perfume that still had no name: it was supposed to be only Audrey Hepburn's own fragrance for a whole year. Only after this time they wanted to start selling it.
Aubrey and Givenchy thought about a suitable name and then said:
"L'Interdit" - the forbidden!
Because it's forbidden to all other women for a whole year!
You really can't give your muse a more personal gift now.
Audrey Hepburn was not only the muse of this fashion designer, she also remained his closest friend until her early death. Both trusted each other and later Hubert's life partner Philippe joined them as the third in the group; he too was accepted into the intimate circle.
Actually a mix-up led to their first meeting.
For the film "Sabrina", the film studios in the USA expected an appropriate wardrobe and asked that Ms Hepburn choose a couturier, who would then accompany her through other films as an outfitter.
Audrey had liked the style of the young Frenchman her age from the start, so she asked to see him in Paris and, overjoyed, flew there the day after next.
She was shown into his study; there he stood behind his desk and froze slightly: had he only been told Ms Hepburn wanted an appointment and he was thinking of Katherine Hepburn! How embarrassing this was to both of them, and yet it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship!
Instead of this lady, there was now a young woman standing in front of him, who had just before taken a walk around town and was dressed extremely casually.
Her request to design him for "Sabrina" the complete wardrobe, interested and flattered him and yet he had to cancel: it was July, in August, all of France is on vacation to the end of September 1953 should begin shooting. How was that going to work?
For the disappointed Audrey directly Hubert de Givenchy could not tailor a new outfit on the fast. But as an already "almost-friend" he found a solution.
There was also with him a chamber with "forgotten dresses". There he led them: beautiful and tailor-made they hung there the most different garments on meter-long rolling clothes racks. Even fit for Audrey; as if they had been waiting for her.
Within two hours, both had taken great pleasure in putting together the collection for "Sabrina"; any alterations were made and by the time filming began, everything had been flown across the Big Pond on time.
"Sabrina" was suitably dressed!
And now three years later at the turn of the year, a fragrance of my own:
"L'Interdit", a fragrance that would be hers alone for an entire year and for which she would later become the advertising icon - the "face".
The eau de toilette, which inhabited a rather encrusted glass tube still left very intense olfactory impressions.
Unlike the perfume, it is not floral-powdery; but of a slightly more floral freshness; but so very much a child of its time: opulent, mysteriously feminine and intoxicating.
Of course, the radiant, cheerfully fluttering glittering aldehydes could not be missing.
The fruit basket, which decorates the Entrée, is as uncomplicated in terms of content as actually the rest of the fragrance composition and yet the composition of bergamot, tangerine, peach and fresh strawberries seems noble and tasty. A little peppery (with the strawberries?) it comes to me and with some cloves were spiked to the aroma enrichment perhaps even the peaches.
Also the selection of the now following flower scent sequence is not particularly exotic.
No, it seems as if Hubert walked through a summer garden with flower basket and scissors and looked for the most beautiful treasures for the planned heart note:
Here a few roses, there a few branches of jasmine, the proud slightly powdery iris also comes along.
Some daffodils with friendly yellow faces, of course lily of the valley and some tendrils Ylang Ylang fall victim to the scissors.
Finally, this basket contains a large bouquet of flowers fresh from the summer garden and full of intensely sensual fragrances.
It is placed next to the already filled fruit basket.
Now what is missing is a base to create a fragrance worthy of a woman whose elegance is so evident.
Again, sticking to the obvious: a dose of tonka bean to replace the vanilla is the only exotic in the fragrance fabric.
Classic, earthy and sensual it continues: Vertiver, cistus / labdanum? and benzo resin stand for it; sandalwood oil may not be missing of course.
Musk promises still a little passion and Ambergold guarantees an all-round perfection of this fragrance woman!
If a perfume should act like a forbidden fruit, then that is fully succeeded with "L'Interdit".
Those who approach this forbidden fruit (and aren't the forbidden the sweetest?) discover a woman who exudes romance as well as perfection and allure.
This is how Hubert de Givenchy saw his perennial muse in wardrobe and fragrance:
the doe-eyed, delicate (always too thin as a consequence of war) Aubrey Hepburn.
By now I've sniffed the glass tube so many times that, of course, my fingers are all sticky too. The original incrustations dissolved and tomorrow morning at the latest I can say how affectionate this charming creature will be.
All too fleeting, however, it does not seem to me. So we spend the night together first.
I just see that a new edition appeared here as well.
So there is still the possibility to smell like Audrey Hepburn, just not so exclusive.
However, we no longer have to worry about breaking a taboo with this!
We'll spray a little, buy a paper cup of coffee and something sweet out of a bag, and then go window shopping!
Come on, Holly! Breakfast at Tiffany's!
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