Houbigant Duc de Vervins – An Aristocratic Scent

January 12, 2012 0 Comments

One of the oldest perfume houses in the business is Houbigant, a French house launched in 1775 by Jean-François Houbigant, with its headquarters at 19, Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in Paris. Started as a shop that was initially selling perfumes, gloves and bridal bouquets, the perfume House of Houbigant turned into the official perfumer of the European royal courts. And, according to rumors, it is due to her Houbigant perfume that Marie Antoinette was indentified as royalty, because only somebody of royal blood could afford such a fragrance.

Among the famous creations from Houbigant comes Duc de Vervins, which was introduced in 1991. As we all agree that these perfumes are reserved for a selected audience, in the beginning you can find it hard to assimilate these memorable scents. I was not tempted to sample any of the perfumes from Houbigant until I noticed the bottle of Duc de Vervins that managed to catch my attention. And my conclusion is contradictory.

Duc de Vervins is a fine scent that brings to mind the powerful fragrances of the 80s. According to Houbigant’s site, this leather fragrance is “not a fragrance for everyone. It was created for the man with innate taste. He is a connoisseur of life. There is nothing ordinary about him. He chooses the best, not to impress but for sheer enjoyment of experiencing the finest in very facet of living”. And while I was testing Duc de Vervins I sensed exactly the feelings described above. The notes of this perfume are: oakmoss, citruses, lavender, amber and spices. In the beginning, the smell seemed very dull and the combination of citruses and oakmoss detected was not able to impress me in any way. However, over time, I discovered fresh facets of Duc de Vervins which convinced me, especially the final, which comes as something very classy, aristocratic.

Houbigant Duc de Vervins Perfume Details

Duc de Vervins is available in 120 ml Eau de Parfum Spray and Eau de Toilette Spray and complementary products in the range, such as: 150 ml Shower Gel and 150 ml After-Shave Balm; the lasting power is above average (more than 10 hours) and the sillage is good.
Olfactory Group: Leather
For: Men
Year Introduced: 1991
Recommended Wear: Day
Dress Code: Casual