Hélène Rancé 1795 2010

I can easily imagine that this fragrance was very much liked by the ladies in the salons during Napoleon's time and was eagerly sniffed by the gentlemen on the ladies. But I’m not really into Napoleon.

Much more interesting, I find, is that the scent would certainly have pleased the beautiful Helena from Greek mythology, although she would probably have added oranges and mandarins instead of passion fruits and papaya.

Hélène has something mystical, mysterious, and suits a beautiful woman (girls, we are ALL beautiful, we know that!) like a beautiful dress.

The sweet, white flowers like lily, ylang-ylang, and later jasmine are kept in check by the violet and the rose. The papaya and the passion fruit are not perceivable, just a certain fruity spiciness, but only very little.

Hélène initially displays an enormous powderiness, really as if one is not spraying it on but rather dusting it on thickly like in the French salons of that time.

Thank goodness this impression fades quite quickly, and the powderiness takes on a delicacy that suits feminine skin.

Despite the iris in the base, the fragrance is quite sweet, so it’s not for lovers of greener or fresher scents. Rather, it develops a slightly oriental note that combines vanilla with musk and woods.

Hélène is undoubtedly a pure women’s fragrance. I wouldn’t wear it under 30 or as a man, it comes off as over-perfumed and - forgive me for saying so - campy. Hélène also doesn’t suit spring or summer, but is - like Laetitia - more of a scent for autumn and winter, which she certainly knows how to brighten up.

Hélène is a fragrance for established women, confident and self-assured, who like to stride through the world elegantly dressed and elegantly scented.

Hélène is not an everyday fragrance and also not a common fragrance. It is truly something special and once again shows that Rancé rightly enjoys a good reputation.