L'Air du Temps

1948 FloralEDTFrance

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Editorial notes

01
A spicy aldehydic floral composed as an ode to the mood of post-war peace, named after the French phrase for 'the spirit of the times'.
02
Robert Ricci commissioned the scent in the wake of the Second World War, framing it as the olfactive equivalent of dawn after a long night.
03
Marc Lalique introduced the frosted-crystal flacon with the intertwined-doves stopper in 1951. The Fragrance Foundation later named it Perfume Bottle of the Century.
04
Composed by Francis Fabron in 1948 around carnation, rose and jasmine over a sandalwood-iris-musk base. The doves were added three years after launch.

Dossier

Edition · 000

Status · Active. Heritage flacon.

A spicy aldehydic floral.

Composed by: Francis Fabron
Bottle by: Marc Lalique
Founder: Maria 'Nina' Ricci
Country: France

The pyramid

Top: bergamotnerolirosewoodaldehydes
Heart: carnationrosejasmineylang-ylanggardenia
Base: sandalwoodvetiverirismuskbenzoin

The brief

Robert Ricci commissioned the scent as an ode to post-war optimism and reconciliation.

NameThe French phrase 'l'air du temps' means 'the spirit of the times', chosen to capture the mood of peace and renewal after WWII.

The flacon

Frosted crystal flacon topped with the intertwined-doves stopper, introduced by Marc Lalique in 1951.

Footnotes

The L'Air du Temps flacon was named 'Perfume Bottle of the Century' by the Fragrance Foundation.

The Curator's Note

The doves arrived late, but they made the bottle.

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