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GUERLAIN'S iconic bee bottle can be purchased in the kingdom for the first time with the launch of the perfumier's new stand at Paris Gallery.
The House of Guerlain was founded in 1828, when Pierre-Franois Pascal Guerlain opened his perfume store at 42, rue de Rivoli in Paris.
As both the founder and first perfumer of the house, Pierre-Franois composed and manufactured custom fragrances with the help of his two sons, AimŽ and Gabriel. Through continued success and the patronage of members of France's high society, Guerlain opened its flagship store at 15, rue de la Paix in 1840, and put its mark on the Parisian fashion scene.
The success of the house under Pierre-Franois peaked in 1853 with the creation of Eau de Cologne ImpŽriale which was created for Empress Eugenie, wife of Emperor Napoleon III.
The scent was presented to the empress in what became known as the 'Guerlain bee bottle' which was made of Baccarat crystal embossed with 24-carat gold bees, the symbol of the royal house, and a gold plaque bearing Eugenie's name.
Imperiale earned Guerlain the prestigious title of being Her Majesty's Official Perfumer (France), which led him to create perfumes for Queen Victoria and Spain's Queen Isabella II among other royalty.
Now luxury loving Bahrainis can own their very own recreation of the bee bottle (made to order in France) filled with one of the heritage scents, the full selection of which will only be available in the kingdom at Paris Gallery.
The perfume house was handed down from father to son with various Guerlains creating the signature scents featured in the heritage collection including Jicky, 1889, created by AimŽ Guerlain, possibly in honour or an English girlfriend, L'Heure Bleue, 1912, said to reflect the light before darkness as war engulfed Europe, Mitsouko, 1919, inspired by the heroine of the Claude Farrer novel La Bataille, and Chamade, created in 1969 for the new woman who was emerging onto the world stage.
All these and more are now available at the Guerlain station at Paris Gallery in Bahrain City Centre.
