Joy - Perfume Contra Recession

Although not as well known today as Coco Chanel, Jean Patou was one of the most famous and influential couturiers of his time. Like Chanel, he revolutionized the "look" of women's wardrobe. He also introduced sportswear for women and designed the first tennis skirt. In 1928, Jean Patou created "Huile de Chaldée", the first sun tan oil ever created. 

His exclusive designs were created mostly for the wealthy American socialites. But when the financial markets crashed in 1929, many of his clients, especially the rich American women, were bankrupted and the "need" for luxury fashion vanished overnight.

The ingenious couturier decided, however, that something had to be done if he himself wanted to survive the bad economy. To dispel the gloom of Great Depression he launched a superb olfactory creation, the legendary Joy.

Indeed, his "Maison Patou" survived through this day thanks to his perfumes. Joy wasn't the first creation of the house. And it wasn't the last either. 

Joy - Perfume Contra Recession

Created by Henri Alméras as carefully as one of Patou's Haute Couture dresses, magnificent and timeless, Joy gathers extremely rare flowers in a unique concentration: 10,000 flowers of jasmine and 28 dozen Bulgarian roses come together to compose the heart of a single ounce of Joy! The perfume also contains other precious flower essences such as ylang ylang and tuberose.

The simple, but incredibly elegant bottle that was created specially for Patou by the French architect and artisan Louis Süe, appears to stand in a stark contrast to the flowery, joyous opulence of this perfume. But both, the fragrance and the bottle are reflections of the contemporary mind. 

This exquisite perfume was, indeed, uplifting to the senses! I definitely added a little joy to the everyday lives of those women who wore it during that difficult times. Although prohibitively expensive, Joy was a luxury they could still afford to buy.

Jean Patou joked that Joy would be "the costliest perfume in the world" ... and, to this day, Joy most certainly is one of the most expensive perfumes ever created. Many more creations followed, but none achieved the same status.

By Dominique Allmon 

P.S.

This is an absolutely fabulous fragrance. You cannot feel depressed while wearing it. However, I would not suggest that you spent your last money on it, but if you can afford it, wear it with joy!

Paris... Toujours!

An urban heaven... In 2007 President Sarkozy set up a commission to identify and select 10 architects to head up multi-disciplinary teams, including in some cases geographers, transportation engineers, social scientists, and even philosophers. The President’s charge was simple: dream up bold visions for transforming Paris into a model “Post-Kyoto Metropolis of the 21st Century.” It takes courage and vision to transform urban spaces on a large scale and the challenge lies in transformation, adaptation, innovation while preserving the existing city and allowing a symbiosis between the old and the new.

Images of Paris represent an urban ideal – a jewel in the history of city-making. A network of broad avenues designed by Baron Haussmann in the 19th century connects civic monuments and beautifully shaped public spaces. This network is overlaid on a rich urban fabric that has evolved over 2000-plus years along the River Seine. Pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods are connected to an extensive metro system servicing the city’s 20 districts located within the inner city’s boundaries. The new projects will create an even more unique space for people to live, work and visit.

An interesting exhibition is dedicated to the results of President's challenge at the Cité de l'architecture until November 2009: Le Grand Pari(s)

Hydrangea Waterfall

Blue Hydrangea

Just like the last green in a color pot

So are these leaves, withered and wrecked
Behind the flower umbels, which reflect
A hue of blue only, more they do not.

Reflections are tear-stained, inaccurate,
As if they were about to cease,
And like old blue notepaper sheets
They wear some yellow, gray and violet,

Washed-out like on a child's apron,
Outworn and now no more in use:
We contemplate a small life's short duration.

But suddenly some new blue seemingly is seen
In just one umbel, and we muse
Over a moving blue delighting in the green.

Reiner Maria Rilke
translation Guntram Deichsel 

Image: Hydrangea by Dominique Allmon©2009