L’Air du Temps, a symbol of post-war revival
These are called The Dawn, The Zenith or The Twilight. They are very inspired by the original L’Air du Temps while adding a touch of novelty linked to the evolution of the sun during the day. Also, as if to better understand the latter, what would you say here to take a leap in time to reclaim the history of the very first L’Air du Temps perfume?
L’Air du Temps, a symbol of post-war revival
L’Air du Temps is a juice that first appeared in 1948. It succeeded Coeur Joie and was immediately adopted for its fresh and delicate fragrance as well as for its symbolism. Indeed, this juice was developed by Robert Ricci who then wanted to capture the spirit of his time. As the war had just ended, the daily life seemed loaded with new things. The world was about to change and fragrances could only follow these evolutions, becoming lighter and more floral. The idea was to embody the renewal of women. L’Air du Temps is a fragrance celebrating the happiness of being free at the end of World War II. Its lightness echoes the new found freedom and the feeling of finally being able to live again. In other words, L’Air du Temps is more than just a perfume. It is the reflection of a significant era. It is similar to the rebirth of Tout-Paris, a Paris full of surprises and longings for modernity. As its name suggests, L’Air du Temps is a juice that fits perfectly with the trends of its time when it was released. What’s more, history has wanted its notoriety to endure and for it to be a simply timeless fragrance.
The floral lightness of Nina Ricci
L’Air du Temps is today considered to be a true legend in perfumery. It was created by perfumer Francis Fabron and is based on a fairly short formula. In addition, it only contains about thirty components, which is very little for a perfume. It essentially revolves around a floral heart. This contains gardenia, jasmine and rose. Likewise, this whole is refreshed by citrus fruits and in particular by bergamot. What is more, a particularly innovative juice, L’Air du Temps also contains benzyl salicylate, a component widely used today but at the time almost unknown in the perfume sector. This gives here a feeling of slightly spicy purity. It evokes in this sense the carnation and thus enhances the general character of this fragrance. The iris and violet also give it a more powdery sensation while the whole ends with a more round and sensual base emanating from amber and musk. On the bottle side, L’Air du Temps was first presented in an ovalized sun-shaped case. This was then redesigned in 1951 by Marc Lalique. It is to him that we owe its iconic shape that we all know, similar to two chiseled doves flying above a crystal whirlwind. Indeed, what more beautiful way than this one to symbolize the found peace? This was then redesigned in 1951 by Marc Lalique. It is to him that we owe its iconic shape that we all know, similar to two chiseled doves flying above a crystal whirlwind. Indeed, what more beautiful way than this one to symbolize the found peace? This was then redesigned in 1951 by Marc Lalique. It is to him that we owe its iconic shape that we all know, similar to two chiseled doves flying above a crystal whirlwind. Indeed, what more beautiful way than this one to symbolize the found peace?
The history of Nina Ricci’s legendary fragrance “L’Air du Temps” dates back to 1948. “L’Air du Temps” holds a special place within the Nina Ricci brand. Indeed, the first perfume of the brand “Coeur de Joie” did not produce the expected effect. It was “L’Air du Temps” that propelled the brand to the forefront of the stage as a perfumer. Moreover, it was the post-war era and “L’Air du Temps” noted a real revival, offering a breath of fresh air and freedom. In 2016, in order to put this emblematic fragrance back in the spotlight, Nina Ricci offers us a revisit.
The first spicy floral in perfumery created by Francis Fabron
In 1948, “L’Air du Temps” marked a turning point in the world of perfumery . It is the first time, in fact, that a perfume offers a floral / spicy association. The fragrance is also revolutionary because it offers a short formula, because it contains only about thirty components, thus differing from other perfumes of the time. To make “L’Air du Temps”, Francis Fabron collaborated with Robert Ricci, the son of the designer. Regarding his inspiration, the perfumer says “I imagined the perfume I would like to smell on the shoulders of the woman I love … flowery, spicy”. A total break with the heady fragrances of the time, Francis Fabron imagines a dazzling floral heart. He also uses benzyl salicylate for the first time. From organic synthesis, benzyl salicylate gives off green and floral tones as well as an incredible purity and lightness … A real revolution for the time, “L’Air du Temps” marked the spirits. We must not forget that “L’Air du Temps” was the perfume of Princess Lady Di …
The floral scent of L’Air du Temps
A true myth, “L’Air du Temps” represents values of peace, rediscovered freedom and novelty. About this fragrance, Robert Ricci affirmed “There is in the Air of Time a small miracle which gives it its strong personality”. “L’Air du Temps” takes off on the freshness of bergamot. This is associated with the flowery tone of carnation then enhanced by rosewood. The heart is feminine and delicate and combines wonderful flowers such as centifolia rose, Grasse jasmine, iris and gardenia. The gardenia is a green shrub with very fragrant white flowers. It is very popular in perfumery and it is found in many feminine compositions, generally in beautiful floral bouquets like here. The gardenia gives off very floral tones, but also green and opulent. The base of “L’Air du Temps” is sensual and enveloping, because it associates sandalwood, cedar, amber and white musks. Revolutionary, the bottle is also revolutionary, because it reveals a dove placed on the stopper, symbol of peace. In 1999, the “L’Air du Temps” bottle was named “Flacon du Siècle”, a magnificent award commensurate with Nina Ricci’s legendary fragrance.
Spicy Powdery