Rancé Joséphine Eau de Parfum

This 1805 women's fragrance by Rancé is dedicated to Joséphine de Beauharnais, Empress of the French and wife of Napoleon. It is initially introduced by fresh spring flowers and hyacinth, while the heart note is characterized by jasmine, iris, black currant and ylang-ylang, in addition to the rich May rose. In the base, notes of musk, ebony, sandalwood, amber and bourbon vanilla round out the floral, sensual fragrance.

Founded in Grasse, the Maison de Parfumeurs, Rancé, is one of the oldest family businesses in the perfume industry. The glove maker Louis Rancé established the tradition of the house in the first half of the 17th century when, following the fashion of the time, he produced perfumed gloves. In 1795, his grandson François decided to devote himself exclusively to perfumery and quickly gained prominence, finally becoming Napoleon’s favourite perfumer. Over 100 years ago, the company moved to Milan, where Rancé is still based today. At Rancé, they composes new fragrances, just as well as they strive to preserve the creations of their ancestors from oblivion. The company’s extensive archive contains the compositions of all the fragrances that belong to the Rancé legacy. They draws on this source at Rancé, carefully adapting the recipes of the 18th and 19th centuries to current requirements. However, they don’t lose track of the chracter of the original composition. For the most part, Rancé has always used natural ingredients from flower petals and leaves, some of which are grown and cultivated in Grasse.