Houbigant

Jean-François Houbigant launched his perfume business at 19, Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, in 1775 . Houbigant was twenty three years old at the time and — so it is said — arrived at the location of his new business with a basket of flowers. The Basket of Flowers, “A la Corbeille de Fleurs" became the sign over his shop and is regarded as the oldest of the great French perfume houses. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries Houbigant was sought after by most of the nobility and Royalty.

But the great Houbigant legend — not verified — is that Marie Antoinette, in disguise on her flight to Varennes, was wearing a Houbigant fragrance, which caused her to be identified as royalty when her coach was stopped, because none but royalty would have possessed such a magnificent perfume!

The great Houbigant perfumer, Bienaimé created in 1913 the classic perfume "Quelques Fleurs", and is available once again today. The famous mens fragrance from the house Houbigant is the Duc de Vervins.