L'Interdit
| File:Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday trailer.jpg Audrey Hepburn | |
| Product type | Perfume |
|---|---|
| Owner | |
| Introduced | 1957 |
| Discontinued | discontinued in the 1990s in the US before reformulating in 2002 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
L'Interdit (pronounced [lɛ̃.tɛʁ.di]) was a perfume created in 1954 by Hubert de Givenchy.[1] The word interdit is French for "forbidden." The parfumeur behind this feminine aldehydic-floral fragrance was Francis Fabron (1913–2005). It has a delicate, floral, powdery aroma. It contains notes of rose, jasmine, violet and, at the heart, a blend of woods and grasses.[2][3]
Givenchy created the perfume for Audrey Hepburn, who wore it exclusively until its release to the public in 1957.[4] Hepburn also became the first actress to become the face of a perfume, for L'Interdit.[1]
Creation
[edit | edit source]L'Interdit was secretly created in 1954 and was worn only by actress Audrey Hepburn, to whom it was given as a gift by Hubert de Givenchy, who had dressed her. For this, he called on a laboratory in Grasse, Roure Bertrand Dupont (nowadays Givaudan), who started with a base of aldehydes, reminiscent of the smell of soap, frost, and freshly cleaned sheets,[5] which lifts and enhances floral scents, and became a popular ingredient in perfumes of the 1950s.[6] In those years, perfumers also often used bouquets of scents, whereas nowadays the notes are more linear.[citation needed] L'Interdit thus includes tonka bean in the base note. Olfactologist at Givenchy, Françoise Donche notes that “without being sulphurous, L'Interdit evokes a passionate seduction. The mischievous side of the top notes turns out to be quite sensual in the end, the carnation is not so demure and the clove, a burning spice, brings a clearly intoxicating touch.” It is part of the “floral aldehyde” family.
In 1957, Hubert de Givenchy decided to market the perfume, to which Audrey Hepburn replied: “But I forbid you”. The star finally lifted his ban and participated in this to give the name to the perfume.[7]
Success
[edit | edit source]L'Interdit quickly became successful with 4000 sales in its first days; a promising figure considering, at the time, it was only sold in France.[7]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
