The Jfk Cologne: A Signature Scent For The Sophisticated Man

what is the jfk cologne

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was known for his style and class. He wore a fragrance called Eight & Bob, which he discovered during a trip to France in 1937. Kennedy struck up a conversation with Albert Fouquet, the fragrance's creator, and asked for a bottle. The cologne features notes of pink pepper, cardamom, and lemon, and has been described as woody vanilla. After returning to the US, Kennedy requested eight additional bottles, plus one for his brother, Robert, which is how the fragrance got its name.

Characteristics Values
Name Eight & Bob
Creator Albert Fouquet
Notes Pink pepper, cardamom, lemon
JFK's First Encounter with the Fragrance While vacationing in the French Riviera in 1937, JFK met Albert Fouquet and was captivated by the scent he wore.
JFK's Request JFK asked Fouquet for eight samples, "and if your production allows, another one for Bob" (his brother, Robert Kennedy).
Price $195
Limited Quantity Yes

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JFK's favourite cologne was Eight & Bob by Albert Fouquet

John F. Kennedy, or JFK, is known to have worn a few different colognes during his lifetime. One of his favourites was Eight & Bob by Albert Fouquet, which he discovered during a trip to France in 1937. JFK was so taken with the scent that he asked Fouquet for a bottle, and the perfumer obliged, leaving a sample at Kennedy's hotel with a note that read, "In this bottle, you will find the dash of French glamour that your American personality lacks."

Upon returning to the United States, Kennedy wrote to Fouquet to request eight additional samples, "and if your production allows, another one for Bob" (Bob being Kennedy's brother, Robert Kennedy). Thus, the brand Eight & Bob was born. The cologne contains notes of pink pepper, cardamom, and lemon, and is described as a woody vanilla scent.

The story behind JFK's favourite fragrance is certainly fascinating. Albert Fouquet, a Frenchman with a talent for perfume-making, created the scent that captivated the future president. After their initial encounter, Fouquet and Kennedy maintained a correspondence, with Kennedy expressing his and his friends' appreciation for the fragrance. The Kennedy family has never confirmed or denied the story, adding an air of mystery to the already intriguing tale.

The Eight & Bob cologne has recently been re-released for the first time in over 60 years, allowing people to experience a scent tied to a significant historical figure. The cologne's unique packaging, presented in a hardcover book, pays homage to the original distribution method employed by Fouquet's butler, Philippe, who hid the bottles inside books to protect them from seizure by Nazis during World War II.

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JFK also wore America One 31 by Krigler

John F. Kennedy wore many hats during his lifetime, from being the King of Camelot to exuding effortless style from his boat to the ballroom. He was also a fan of fragrances and wore a scent called America One by Krigler.

Krigler was founded by a chemist, Albert Krigler, in Germany in 1904. Albert Krigler fell in love with the daughter of a French perfumer and created a fragrance called 'Pleasure Gardenia', which he presented to her as an engagement gift in 1879. The brand then moved to Moscow, then Saint Petersburg, and finally back to Berlin in 1905, where they opened a store in the Hotel Victoria. Albert became known as the perfumer of hotels and palaces.

In 1930, Albert Krigler's granddaughter convinced the general manager of The Plaza Hotel in New York to give her a space to showcase her perfume. The following year, in 1931, she launched America One, the first scent to be created in the US celebrating the American people and their spontaneous spirit.

America One 31 by Krigler is a woody, spicy fragrance for men. It has a blend of vetiver, bergamot, neroli, and citrus scents, creating a fresh and spicy scent. It is now known as "the fragrance of the leader".

The fragrance garnered attention in the 1950s when John F. Kennedy, then a senator, came to the South of France for vacation. Kennedy was a fan of Ernest Hemingway, who also wore America One 31, and he had to have it. Kennedy wore the fragrance only on very special occasions as it meant a lot to him.

To celebrate JFK's centennial birthday, Krigler launched a soap scented with America One 31, as well as a package that included both the soap and the scent.

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JFK's cologne was hidden in a book

John F. Kennedy's favourite cologne was called Eight & Bob, a fragrance with a fascinating backstory. Kennedy first discovered the scent while vacationing on the French Riviera in 1937. He struck up a conversation with a young Frenchman named Albert Fouquet, who crafted perfumes. Intrigued by Fouquet's fragrance, Kennedy asked for a bottle, and the Frenchman obliged, leaving a sample at Kennedy's hotel with a note that read: "In this bottle, you will find the dash of French glamour that your American personality lacks."

Upon returning to the United States, Kennedy wrote to Fouquet, requesting eight additional samples and "if your production allows, another one for Bob", referring to his brother, Robert Kennedy. Thus, the brand Eight & Bob was born. The cologne became a favourite among Hollywood nobility, with the likes of Cary Grant and James Stewart requesting bottles of their own.

However, tragedy struck in 1939 when Fouquet died in a car accident. Fortunately, his fragrance-making endeavours were continued by Philippe, the Fouquet family butler, who had often assisted Fouquet in his perfume-making. When World War II began, Philippe took great measures to protect the precious bottles from the Nazis by hiding them inside books that he cut by hand. After the war, Philippe never produced the perfume again.

Decades later, the formula and production process were recovered by Philippe's family, and the Eight & Bob cologne was relaunched, allowing people to experience the same scent worn by JFK. The cologne is currently sold worldwide and remains one of the most exclusive fragrances, with a limited production. The ingredients are kept a closely guarded secret, but it is known to contain extracts of the "Andrea" plant, which can only be harvested in December and January, adding to the exclusivity of the fragrance.

Today, the cologne continues to be presented in a unique and clever way, honouring Philippe's ingenuity during World War II. The bottle is hidden inside a hardcover book, a nod to the past when it was carefully concealed from enemies. This presentation not only adds to the allure of the fragrance but also serves as a reminder of its rich history and the lengths people went to protect it.

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JFK discovered Eight & Bob while on vacation in France

John F. Kennedy, or JFK, was known for his effortless style, and his cologne was no exception. JFK's favourite fragrance was Eight & Bob, which he discovered while on vacation in France in 1937.

While touring the French Riviera, Kennedy struck up a conversation with a young Frenchman named Albert Fouquet, who was known for his expertise in crafting fine fragrances. JFK was captivated by the scent that Fouquet wore. Fouquet kindly left a sample of the cologne at Kennedy's hotel with a note that read: "In this bottle, you will find the dash of French glamour that your American personality lacks."

After returning to the United States, Kennedy wrote to Fouquet, thanking him for the kind gesture and requesting eight samples of the cologne, "and if your production allows, another one for Bob". Bob was, of course, Kennedy's baby brother, Robert Kennedy. Fouquet complied with the request, labelling the samples "Eight & Bob", and a brand was born.

The ingredients of Eight & Bob are a closely guarded secret, but it is known to contain extracts of the "Andrea" plant, discovered by Fouquet on a trip to Chile. The cologne can only be produced in limited quantities, as the plant can only be harvested in December and January, and only 7% of the harvest is usable.

Eight & Bob was recently re-released for the first time in over 60 years and is now available for purchase, allowing people to add a bit of French glamour to their personalities, just like JFK.

shunscent

JFK's cologne is described as woody vanilla

John F. Kennedy's favourite cologne, Eight & Bob, is described as woody vanilla. JFK first discovered the fragrance in 1937 while vacationing in the South of France. He struck up a conversation with its creator, Albert Fouquet, known for his expertise in crafting fine fragrances. JFK was captivated by the scent and asked for a bottle.

Fouquet obliged and left a sample at Kennedy's hotel with a note that said, "In this bottle, you will find the dash of French glamour that your American personality lacks." JFK was so taken with the cologne that he wrote to Fouquet after returning to the States, requesting eight more samples and "if your production allows, another one for Bob" (Bob being JFK's brother, Robert Kennedy). Thus, the brand was born.

The cologne features notes of pink pepper, cardamom, and lemon, and its ingredients remain a closely guarded secret. The only known fact about its composition is that it contains extracts of the "Andrea" plant, discovered by Fouquet on a trip to Chile. This plant can only be harvested in December and January, and only 7% of the harvest is usable, making the fragrance a limited edition.

The scent has been described as "very much like 1940" and "dapper" by a brand representative, and those who wear it today say it smells classy and rich. The cologne comes in a hardcover book, paying homage to Philippe, the Fouquet family butler, who hid bottles of the perfume inside books during World War II to prevent them from being seized by Nazis.

Frequently asked questions

The cologne worn by John F. Kennedy was called Eight & Bob by Albert Fouquet. JFK first discovered the fragrance while vacationing in the French Riviera in 1937.

You can buy Eight & Bob from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in the US.

Eight & Bob is described as a woody vanilla and a unisex scent. It contains extracts of the Andrea plant, which can only be harvested in December and January.

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