Anisha Riggs
Joy by Jean Patou is a floral fragrance for women that was first released in 1930. It was created by perfumer Henri Alméras and was once promoted as the costliest perfume in the world. The scent is a blend of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, tuberose, and musk, among other notes. Jean Patou was a designer and couturier in pre-World War II Europe, and his perfume Joy is considered a classic and vintage fragrance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Jean Patou |
| Perfumer | Henri Alméras/Henri Almeras |
| Year of release | 1930 |
| Fragrance notes | Jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang blossom, pear, tuberose, musk, sandalwood, aldehydes, iris root, civet, champak |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette |
| Bottle designer | Louis Süe |
| Bottle size | 30ml, 50ml, 100ml (Eau de Parfum), 30ml, 50ml (Eau de Toilette) |
| Awards | "Scent of the Century" at the Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards in 2000 |
| Wear time | EDT: 10 hours, EDP: 12 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Jean Patou: designer and couturier
Jean Patou, born in Paris in 1887, was a designer and couturier who founded his eponymous fashion house in 1914. Patou first joined the army and travelled to the Balkans and the East, before turning his eye to fashion. He trained in fur and created his first fashion house at the age of 23, before establishing his own brand in Paris.
Patou's designs were inspired by his travels, and he aimed to liberate women from the restrictive clothing of the time. He marketed dresses without corsets, shortened skirts, and launched a sportswear line designed to be worn in the city. He also created a monogram with his initials. His designs stood out from those of his competitors, Jeanne Lanvin and Gabrielle Chanel, and his revenue increased thirtyfold between 1919 and 1924. Celebrities such as Louise Brooks, Josephine Baker, and Mistinguett were all seen wearing his dresses.
Patou is credited with inventing the "designer tie" in the 1920s, displaying men's ties made from the same fabric as his women's dress collection next to his perfume counter in department stores. This style is still prominent among contemporary fashion designers. In 1925, Patou launched his perfume business with three fragrances created by Henri Alméras. In 1928, he created "Huile de Chaldée", the first suntan lotion.
Patou created "Joy", a heavy and intense floral scent, in 1930. It was the most expensive perfume in the world and was designed to relaunch his brand after the 1929 stock market crash. "Joy" was voted "'Scent of the Century" at the Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards in 2000, beating "Chanel No. 5". The perfume was composed primarily of a combination of jasmine and rose, with other flowers such as ylang-ylang, champak, and tuberose.
Patou died in 1936, bringing his brand's early story to an end. The House of Patou survived through its perfumes and has continued to produce fragrances under the Jean Patou brand, including fragrances for Lacoste and Yohji Yamamoto. The company has since been acquired by various groups and continues to produce ready-to-wear lines and accessories for women.
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Joy: a floral perfume
Joy by Jean Patou is a floral perfume for women, first released in 1930. It was created by perfumer Henri Alméras, also known as Henri Almeras. The fragrance is a blend of jasmine, rose, and tuberose over a musky sandalwood base. Other notes include ylang-ylang, champak, pear, iris root, and aldehydes. The perfume is known for its high-quality and expensive ingredients, including absolutes made from jasmine and roses from Grasse, France.
Joy by Jean Patou is considered a timeless and foundational floral fragrance that has been described as intense, luscious, and alluring. It was once the most expensive perfume in the world and was famously promoted as such, reflecting the high cost of its ingredients and the intricate process of its creation. The perfume has a strong presence, and a light application is recommended for daytime events, especially for the EDP concentration. The EDT concentration is more flexible and can be applied more generously.
The bottle design for Joy has also contributed to its allure. The original bottle, designed by French architect and artisan Louis Süe, featured simple and straight lines with a golden thread around its neck. The bottle conveyed a sense of luxury and elegance, enhancing the overall appeal of the perfume.
Over the years, Joy by Jean Patou has been a favourite of iconic women such as Vivien Leigh and Jackie Kennedy, also known as Jackie O. It has left an indelible mark on the world of perfumery and continues to be sought after by fragrance enthusiasts, collectors, and those who cherish its timeless essence.
While the original formulation of Joy by Jean Patou is no longer in production, its legacy endures. The perfume has evolved over time, with modern interpretations and variations introduced to captivate new generations of wearers. Despite the changes, the essence of Joy remains a testament to its name, evoking happiness and a connection to the beauty of flowers.
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Joy's ingredients: jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, pear, musk, and more
Joy by Jean Patou is a complex perfume with a unique blend of ingredients. Its top notes include fragrant jilt tuberose, luscious rose, ylang-ylang blossom, aldehydes, sweet and mouthwatering pear, and green notes. The heart of the perfume is a passionate blend of pure and sweetly fresh jasmine notes, seductive and balmy spicy iris root, and May rose. The base notes are sensual musk, warm and milky-powdery sandalwood, and mild musky civet tones.
The perfume is known for its high concentration of jasmine, with 10,000 jasmine flowers used to create 30ml of the parfum, along with 28 dozen roses, making it one of the most expensive ingredients in perfumery. The combination of jasmine and rose gives the perfume its unique and luxurious scent, with the jasmine providing irresistible top notes and the rose adding a luscious and tender touch.
Ylang-ylang is another key ingredient in Joy, adding a floral and slightly spicy scent to the blend. The perfume also contains champak and tuberose, contributing to its complex and alluring floral composition. The pear note in Joy is mouthwatering and sweet, providing a delightful contrast to the floral notes.
Musk is a prominent base note in Joy, adding a sensual and warm touch to the perfume. The musk in Joy is of high quality, contributing to the overall luxurious and elegant feel of the fragrance. The civet musk in the base notes adds a mild and musky tone to the overall scent, rounding out the composition.
The combination of these ingredients creates a timeless and extraordinary perfume that has been described as "the world's most expensive perfume" and "the scent of the century." Joy by Jean Patou is a true masterpiece in the world of perfumery, with a complex and alluring scent that has captivated wearers since its release in 1930.
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Joy's bottle: designed by Louis Süe
Joy by Jean Patou is a floral fragrance for women, created in 1929 by perfumer Henri Alméras. It is considered one of the greatest fragrances ever made and is known for its high-quality ingredients, including absolutes made from jasmine and roses from Grasse. The perfume was created as a reaction to the 1929 Wall Street crash, which had affected the fortunes of Jean Patou's wealthy American clientele.
The bottle, with its simple and straight lines and a golden thread around its neck, was designed by the architect Louis Süe. It was designed to have a simple, classical feel, and it leaves an impression of luxury, hinting at the high quality of the perfume within. The bottle was produced in 30ml, 50ml, and 100ml sizes for Eau de Parfum, and 30ml and 50ml sizes for Eau de Toilette. In 1932, Jean Patou designed a small black and red bottle for the perfume as well.
Louis Süe designed all the perfume bottles and boxes for Jean Patou. The House of Patou is known for its luxurious and elegant presentations, and the bottle for Joy is no exception. The simple yet luxurious design of the Joy bottle has become iconic and is instantly recognizable to many, reflecting the timeless and extraordinary nature of the perfume itself.
The perfume has attained enormous success over the years and was voted "'Scent of the Century" by the public at the Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards in 2000, beating its rival "Chanel No. 5". Joy remains one of the best-selling perfumes of all time and is considered a landmark example of the floral genre in perfumery.
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Joy's legacy: worn by Jackie Kennedy, Vivien Leigh, and other icons
Jean Patou's Joy, a perfume for women, was launched in 1930. It was created by Henri Alméras and is known for its floral composition, featuring notes of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang blossom, tuberose, pear, and green tones. The perfume was initially marketed as "the world's most expensive perfume" during the Great Depression in 1929, a time when the luxury fashion market was suffering.
Over the years, Joy has been worn and beloved by several notable women, leaving a legacy as an iconic fragrance. Here is a look at some of the famous women who have been associated with Joy:
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh, the legendary actress renowned for her role as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind," is said to have worn Joy as her signature perfume. Sir Patrick Stewart confirmed this in an interview, adding to the association between the fragrance and the iconic actress.
Jackie Kennedy
Jackie Kennedy, the former First Lady of the United States and a style icon, was also a devoted wearer of Joy. It is reported that Joy was one of her favourite fragrances, and she wore it frequently.
Other Notable Figures
Joy has also been associated with other prominent women, including Marilyn Monroe, who some believed should have adopted the perfume as her signature scent. Additionally, in the early 20th century, celebrities such as Louise Brooks, Josephine Baker, and Mistinguett were seen wearing Jean Patou's designs, though it is not confirmed if they wore the Joy fragrance.
Joy's legacy is intertwined with these influential women, who, through their association with the fragrance, have contributed to its enduring fame and allure.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Joy by Jean Patou is a designer perfume. Jean Patou was one of the great designers and couturiers of pre-World War II Europe and had his own couture house.
Joy is a floral perfume with notes of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, tuberose, musk, sandalwood, pear, and iris root.
Joy by Jean Patou was first released in 1930.
