Jacques Guerlain

Born in 1874, Jacques Guerlain left a significant impact in the perfume industry. As he was the third generation of the Guerlain family, he began working in his family’s house of perfume at a young age. His most iconic creation was Shalimar that was released in 1925. It was inspired by the love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. 

His fragrances often embodied a warm feeling from the usage of oriental and powdery notes. His creations often incorporated vanilla, amber, tonka bean, and sandalwood. His signature “Guerlinade” is a well-known accord, which is a blend of bergamot, rose, jasmine, tonka bean, vanilla, and iris. It became the signature for the Guerlain house.

Outside of perfumery, one of his hobbies was horse racing. He owned a stable of thoroughbred racehorses, and he even entered his horses in races. He also was interested in nature and gardening, which likely influenced his creation of perfumery. 

Jacques Guerlain’s work laid the foundation for Guerlain to remain an iconic fragrance house until today.

Photo credit: https://www.fragrantica.com/noses/Jacques_Guerlain.html