The Story of L'Heure Bleue

Twilight of the Belle Epoque

In Perfume Legends, Michael Edwards tells the story of L’Heure Bleue and how it came about.

One evening, Jacques Guerlain was out walking along the Seine. As the sun was setting and the Eiffel Tower stood a black lattice against the sky, gas lamps on the opposite bank rippled in the waters below. As the light turned pastel, Jacques had an eerie vision. It was something so strong he couldn’t express it in words, so he described it in odors; it was of course L’Heure Bleue.