What truly defines a great perfume? Is it its history, its heritage, or the emotion it evokes from the first spray? If you are looking for a house that embodies timeless elegance and bold creativity, have you heard of Les Parfums Le Galion?
How can a brand born in the 1930s, founded by a prince and shaped by one of the greatest masters of perfumery, still captivate the senses today? What do creations like Sortilège, Snob, or Diorling tell us, which have crossed the ages to become legendary?
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THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF THE HOUSE LE GALION
The name of this beautiful brand, inspired by large square-stern ships, evokes the open seas and escape. Some beautiful perfume names still remain in our memories: Sortilège , Brumes , Snob … But the memory of Le Galion perfumes was more distant, belonged to the past, the glorious past of beautiful French perfumery.
1930 - 1935: THE FOUNDATION OF LE GALION
In 1930, Prince Murat, descendant of Joachim Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon I and King of Naples, founded the house of Les Parfums Le Galion. Among his first creations were Chypre, Indian Summer, Champs de Mai, Il n'est qu'à moi, Fougère, Galion d'Or, as well as the mysterious 111 and 222.
In 1935, Prince Murat sold his company to perfumer Paul Vacher, already recognized in the profession at that time. Born in Paris in 1902, Paul Vacher, after studying chemistry where he realized that he had a sensory gift for perfume, began in the 1925s with Marcel Guerlain who trained him, then joined Lanvin to participate in the launch of the fashion house's perfumes for which he notably created Arpège in 1927 in collaboration with André Fraysse. He then decided to realize his dream by creating his own House.
1936 - 1946: NEW OWNER OF LE GALION
In 1935, Paul Vacher, a talented perfumer, took over the house of Le Galion, founded a few years earlier by Prince Murat. Creator of iconic fragrances for Lanvin, such as Arpège, Rumeur and Scandal, he decided to launch his own adventure. In 1936, his perfume Sortilège was a dazzling success and became an emblem of the house. At the end of the 1930s, he enriched his collection with Bourrasque, Brumes and magnificent soliflores such as Iris and Tubéreuse, enhanced by exceptional natural raw materials.
After the Liberation, Paul Vacher continued his work by creating notable creations such as Special for Gentlemen (1947), Frac (1949), Lily of the Valley, La Rose (1950), the famous Snob (1952) and Whip (1953). Recognized as one of the great masters of perfumery alongside Ernest Beaux, Ernest Daltroff, Jacques Guerlain and Edmond Roudnitska, he enjoyed an unrivaled reputation. In 1946, when it came to designing an iconic perfume for the House of Christian Dior, Serge Heftler-Louiche and Christian Dior naturally turned to him. Paul Vacher then gave birth to the iconic Miss Dior, an exceptional chypre.
1950s & 1960s: THE BRILLIANCE OF A COLLABORATION AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF PERFUMERY
Paul Vacher acquired a private mansion in Neuilly to set up the factory and offices of Maison Le Galion. For over thirty years, the latter supplied Parfums Christian Dior with the concentrate of Miss Dior as well as exceptional raw materials, including jasmine, rose and neroli. It also brought its expertise in the creation of the "communelles" of these flowers, blends from different harvesters, guaranteeing the olfactory stability and quality of the final product year after year.
In parallel with this collaboration with Christian Dior, Paul Vacher enriched his own catalogue with emblematic creations such as Special for Gentlemen (1947), Frac (1949), Lily of the Valley , La Rose (1950), the famous Snob (1952) and Whip (1953). These creations marked the golden age of French perfumery.
In the 1960s, Le Galion perfumes shone internationally, with Sortilège sold in 97 countries by 1964. Paul Vacher continued his work with creations such as Cologne Extra-Vieille (1967), Galion d'Or, Vétyver (1968) and Eau Noble (1972).
1975 - 1980: A FALL OF THE GALLEON
In 1975, Paul Vacher abruptly left Maison Le Galion. His daughter, Dominique De Urresti, who had worked with him for ten years, took over as the House's "nose" and in 1978 created the perfume Mégara in homage to her father.
In 1980, Le Galion was sold to an American group. Poor management led to its decline, taking with it a certain image of French elegance.
2014 - PRESENT: A RENAISSANCE OF THE GALLEON
But more than 30 years later, Le Galion is reborn, true to its heritage. Iconic creations are reissued, honoring the know-how, distinction and quality that have always defined this exceptional house.
Thus, Le Galion continues to embody the timeless elegance of French perfumery, a living tribute to its rich past.