The Classic Scent Of Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn is known for her iconic scent choices. The actress, who is considered a beauty icon, wore several fragrances over the years, including Krigler English Promenade 19, Acqua di Parma Colonia, and L'Interdit by Givenchy, which was created especially for her by her close friend and fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy.

Audrey Hepburn's signature scent was L'Interdit by Givenchy

The composition of L'Interdit includes spices, citrus fruits, peach, and strawberry, with heart notes of iris, violet, narcissus, ilang-ilang, lily of the valley, and rose. Although Hepburn asked that the perfume not be made publicly available, in 1960, anyone could buy the famous scent. L'Interdit became an instant legend as women around the world wanted to smell like the famous actress.

Hepburn is known to have worn other fragrances, including Acqua di Parma Colonia, which she is said to have discovered while visiting Italy for an exhibition on Italian cinema in the 1950s. Krigler English Promenade 19 is another perfume Hepburn is associated with, reportedly first encountering the scent while filming Roman Holiday in Italy in 1952.

L'Interdit was created for Hepburn in 1957 by Hubert de Givenchy

Audrey Hepburn, the iconic actress, had a close relationship with the late French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy. She trusted him with designing much of her clothing, both for films and real life. Givenchy also created a custom fragrance exclusively for the actress. According to lore, when de Givenchy asked Hepburn if he could mass produce the scent, she told him, "Je vous l’interdis!", which means "I forbid you!" in English.

However, in 1957, the fragrance, named L'Interdit, was released to the market. The perfume's name means "forbidden" in French, a cheeky nod to Hepburn's initial response. L'Interdit included top notes of spices, citrus fruits, peach, and strawberry, with heart notes of iris, violet, narcissus, ilang-ilang, lily of the valley, and rose. The scent was a huge success, with women all over the world wanting to smell like the famous actress.

L'Interdit was created for Hepburn by Hubert de Givenchy as a custom fragrance. Hepburn was a muse to the designer, and they shared a close relationship. Givenchy designed many of her iconic outfits, including the now-famous white floral dress she wore to the 1954 Oscars. It is only natural that he would create a unique fragrance for her as well.

The release of L'Interdit in 1957 was a significant event in the world of perfumery and popular culture. The scent became legendary, with women flocking to buy it and wanting to emulate Hepburn's elegance and style. The success of L'Interdit solidified the connection between Hepburn and the House of Givenchy, with the fragrance becoming an iconic symbol of their collaboration.

While the original L'Interdit is no longer available in its original form, the House of Givenchy has relaunched the fragrance multiple times, including in 2003 and 2007, with a simplified bottle design. In 2018, the brand reinvented the fragrance with a modern twist while still paying homage to the original. The new version, L'Interdit Eau de Parfum, features top notes of orange blossom, jasmine, and tuberose balanced with earthy vetiver and patchouli.

The fragrance was inspired by the French Riviera

Audrey Hepburn's favourite fragrance was L'Interdit by Givenchy, a custom scent created exclusively for the actress in 1957 by the late French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy. Hepburn had a close relationship with de Givenchy, who designed much of her clothing for films and real life.

Hepburn reportedly discovered the scent while filming 'Roman Holiday' in Italy in 1952. The name of the fragrance, L'Interdit, means 'forbidden' in French, a nod to Hepburn's initial request to de Givenchy not to mass-produce the scent. However, in 1960, the fragrance became widely available to the public, and it has since been re-launched multiple times, with the most recent reinvention in 2018.

The iconic scent has become legendary, with women around the world wanting to smell like the famous actress. Today, the fragrance is described as a floral white bouquet, with top notes of orange blossom, jasmine, and tuberose, balanced with earthy vetiver and patchouli. The bottle design has also evolved from its original cabochon shape to a simpler rectangular glass bottle with the Givenchy logo.

L'Interdit includes notes of spices, citrus fruits, peach, and strawberry

L'Interdit, Audrey Hepburn's signature scent, was created in 1957 by Hubert de Givenchy, the head of the Givenchy fashion house, for his muse, Hepburn. The scent includes notes of spices, citrus fruits, peach, and strawberry, with the heart of the scent featuring iris, violet, narcissus, ilang-ilang, lily of the valley, and rose. The perfume's name, L'Interdit, means "forbidden" in French, a nod to Hepburn's response when Givenchy asked if he could mass-produce the scent for her. She reportedly said, "Je vous l'interdis!", or "I forbid you!".

Despite Hepburn's initial wishes to keep the fragrance exclusive, L'Interdit was released to the public in the 1960s and became an instant classic. The original formulation has since been modernized, with the current version featuring top notes of orange blossom, jasmine, and tuberose balanced with earthy vetiver and patchouli. The bottle design has also evolved, with the original cabochon-style bottle replaced by a simpler rectangular glass bottle with the Givenchy logo.

The relationship between Hepburn and Givenchy extended beyond fragrance. Hepburn trusted Givenchy with designing much of her clothing, both for films such as Funny Face and for her personal life. One of the most iconic designs was the white floral dress she wore to the 1954 Oscars.

In recent years, L'Interdit has been relaunched and continues to be a sought-after fragrance, paying homage to Hepburn's timeless elegance and style. The scent has left an enduring legacy, just as Hepburn's fashion choices have remained influential and revered.

Today, L'Interdit by Givenchy remains an iconic fragrance, a testament to Hepburn's enduring influence on fashion and beauty. The modern formulation and packaging pay tribute to the original creation while offering a contemporary take on Hepburn's signature scent, capturing the essence of her timeless elegance and sophistication.

Audrey Hepburn also wore Krigler English Promenade 19

Audrey Hepburn is known for her iconic scent choices. She was the muse of Hubert de Givenchy, the head of the Givenchy fashion house, so it's no surprise that she favoured perfumes by Givenchy. One of her fragrances was L'Interdit, made especially for her in 1957. However, Audrey Hepburn also wore Krigler English Promenade 19, which is still one of the brand's best-selling scents.

Krigler English Promenade 19 is an elegant and luxurious fragrance with notes of neroli, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, white flowers, and grapefruit. Hepburn first discovered the scent while filming Roman Holiday in Italy in 1952. The fragrance was inspired by the French Riviera in the early 1900s, where the Krigler family fragrance house was built. The current head of Krigler, Ben Krigler, notes that the scent is a nod to the Promenade des Anglais, a seaside path in Nice.

The fragrance has a rich history and is still beloved today, with the scent now available in the form of a candle or bar soap. Hepburn's iconic status and elegant style, as well as her close collaboration with Givenchy, have solidified her place as one of history's premier glamour girls. Her choice of Krigler English Promenade 19 as one of her signature scents further adds to her legacy of timeless elegance and luxury.

In addition to Krigler English Promenade 19 and Givenchy's L'Interdit, Hepburn has also been associated with Acqua di Parma Colonia. This fragrance was founded in 1916 by Italian baron Carlo Magnani and gained cult status in the 1950s when Hollywood stars like Hepburn discovered it during a visit to Italy. Hepburn's association with this timeless and elegant fragrance further highlights her influence on the world of beauty and fragrance.

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