Quelques Fleurs l’Original by Houbigant

It brings me memories of Lady Diana, but not in the classic sense. This smells like dozens of coquettish floral bouquets that have passed through florists’ hands: arranged, wrapped in silk, with shiny sprays and organza ribbons. It’s a studied, dressed-up florality. I prefer something more wild, with plants like Un matin d’orage or Olene, where flowers grow barefoot among pebbles. That’s why Jardin Secret by Houbigant conquered me: I prefer the garden to a room full of arrangements. Quelques fleurs reminds me of the smell of a doll, like Magdalene, perhaps because Lady Di was, after all, a toy doll.

I’m not sure if my review adds much, but after trying it, I join the consensus: perfumes from over a century ago rarely have the same feel as when they were first released. The current version of Quelques Fleurs has two drawbacks: it’s been heavily reformulated and has a coarse finish. Be warned: if you like it, use it generously; I spend fifteen euros on aquatic colognes that smell like a bucket, yet it’s disheartening that its legend is tarnished by being sold with such a crinkled texture. It’s an essential to understand history, alongside No. 5, Shalimar, and other classics. The difference is that the others arrived in 2020 reasonably alive, albeit modernised. Quelques Fleurs did not; what’s sold today has cheap perfume packaging. With so many notes listed, I only pick up seven or eight, and it’s hard to identify them because they feel more like chords. The opening is rare: a greenish swarm with acidity, something smelling of fluorescent mimosa or guava. You can feel the coarse texture, which then softens, though the soapy finish is common in florals. In between, there are undefined, artificial floral chords, nothing jarring but lacking naturalness. The base leaves a rough, spicy, cold paste, like a cracked mass of carnations and white flowers with flashes of chlorophyll grass and soapy vetiver. It’s not a bad perfume; after the strange opening, it feels dynamic, I suppose due to the reformulations and the cheapening of the genre. I haven’t felt it romantic or bucolic as its legend suggests; I see it as perfect for daily wear, not excessively old-fashioned; it could pass for a soapy floral from the sixties or seventies. But anyone wanting to taste what Lady Di wore to her wedding today won’t find it. PS: It’s not a bad perfume, it’s amusing from the middle phase, but I think it’s overpriced. A perfume at one and a half euros per millilitre should smell much more refined.

I bought this perfume today, and although I tested it and it stayed on my skin for hours without evaporating, I love it. I like perfumes that take time to transform; it’s a good sign that it won’t lose that first touch that hooks you. This one has that guarantee. I feel very comfortable wearing it, very floral. I detect the bergamot and that musk that neutralises the talcum powdery note. Recommended 100% if you like intense aromas, in this case, florals. It reminds me of Jessica McClintock’s style: very floral, long-lasting, strident, intense, and muuuuch feminine.

I’ve always been interested in this fragrance, which claims the title of being the first multifloral perfume in history. Moreover, it’s said that many great houses took it as a reference, including Chanel No. 5, which came out nine years later. The old version is a soft floral with aldehydes, lilac, musk, vanilla, honey, and heliotrope. I clearly detect these notes. It’s like a soft, shy, talcum-powdered, creamy, and sweet lilac. A very romantic floral and representative of the Belle Époque. The jasmine and roses are there, but hidden behind the lilac, difficult to perceive. There’s also a soft base of sandalwood and civet that adds richness without being noticeable. The new version is much more strident and potent, not only in longevity but in composition. The base is more affected by woods: there’s sandalwood, but also oak moss and cedar. The heliotrope, vanilla, and honey of the first version now shine less than the green and citrus notes. They are two different perfumes, except that… once the new version settles on the skin, the magic happens: the lilac rises above everything, positioning itself at the top. It’s a creamy, talcum-powdered lilac, less sweet than the original but with the same characteristics. Here is where both versions unite past and present, smelling practically identical. Classic of classics, worth trying both the vintage and the new formula. I recommend this fragrance for lovers of the Belle Époque.

One of my favourites: a characterful classic, very different from the rest. Very feminine and lasts all day.