A Guide to Roger & Gallet

Roger & Gallet, established in Paris 1862, is one of France’s oldest perfume houses renowned for cultivating the art of fine fragrance.

However, their remarkable heritage truly began in 1693 when Italian Gian Paolo Feminis formulated the Aqua Mirabillis, a distillation of medicinal plants purported to have healing properties. Fast-forward a hundred years or so to 1806; Jean-Marie Farina, the heir to the secret Aqua Miribillis apothecary formula creates ‘Eau de Cologne’ and opens a perfume house on the iconic rue Saint-Honore in Paris, eventually supplying the great courts of Europe.

In 1862 the heirs to Jean-Marie Farina, Armand Roger and Charles Gallet, formed a partnership that sealed the company’s future, forging the way in modernising the perfume industry with olfactive innovations that are as beloved today as they were at their birth.

This French perfume house with its beautiful, triple-milled and cauldron crafted perfumed soaps and exceptional fragrances are often found gracing the shelves of stylish pharmacies throughout France, favoured for centuries due to their breathtaking aromas, inspiring legacy and natural ingredients.

Jean-Marie Farina Eau de Cologne is a landmark scent from Roger & Gallet (their very first) with a truly esteemed history. It was created in 1806 by Jean-Marie Farina, heir to the illustrious Aqua Mirabillis formula and was inspired by the Italian freshness of his childhood garden in Santa Maria Maggiore nestled alongside the limpid waters of the Mediterranean ocean, where lemon and orange trees burst with sunshine and a serene atmosphere prevails.

Bright zestiness exudes from every drop of this unisex cologne thanks to the perfectly balanced top notes of lemon and bergamot which work in synergy to cleanse your senses. The heart of neroli and pettigrain provide a strong warmth that’s spiked with aromatic rosemary, alluding to sun-kissed days spent in an idyllic Italian garden. Once the initial flash of citrus has settled, the woody balsamic notes come out to play to create a pleasing aroma with an iron hold. This fragrance will definitely carry you for the day; it’s the kind of scent that people will stop you in the street to enquire about as it’s so deliciously crisp.

Fun Fact: Eau de Cologne was a firm favourite of Napoleon I! It’s reported that this was the only fragrance he would deign to wear, liberally slathering himself daily with its strong, citrusy notes. He was such a fan that he had standing-order with his perfumer to deliver a staggering 50 bottles a month!

The Roger & Gallet Heritage Collection Lavande Royale is a delightful tribute to the soothing scent of lavender. Imagine the aromatic embrace of Provence, where sweet and fresh lavender essential oil dances gracefully with cheerful, sunlit bergamot. This enchanting fragrance unfolds with a beautifully balanced blend, offering a serene yet invigorating experience.

As it settles, the dry down reveals warm, woody notes of cedar that linger gently on your skin, leaving a lasting impression that feels both timeless and sophisticated. Available in a refreshing Eau Fraiche and an indulgent luxurious soap bar, using these together not only elevates your daily ritual but also enhances the longevity of your fragrance. Treat yourself to the comforting allure of Lavande Royale - it's a little slice of tranquility you can carry with you wherever you go.

Roger & Gallet Bois d’Orange Eau Fraiche is a thrilling bouquet inspired by the luxurious garden at the Generallife Palace, located in the mysterious Alhambra Fortress. This exquisite Andalusian garden is consistently bathed in hazy golden sunshine and adorned with grand pavilions, sculptured fountains and flowerbeds full of exotic flowers. Bois d’Orange pays homage to this inspiring relic by inviting you on an olfactory journey through the historical garden, teaming with fragrant orange blossom, citrus fruits and refreshing pools of water.

Bois d’Orange is the scent of summer, opening with an invigorating explosion of citrus fruits. Yet, this isn’t a sharp citrus – it has gentleness to it. In time these citrus notes softly diffuse to allow the sensual heart of orange blossom to emerge, lending this Eau Fraiche an elegant, feminine quality. A base of rich, woody-amber accords impart a lasting impression that dallied on my skin for the full run.

Fleur d’Osmanthus is one of the latest fragrance creations from perfumery masterminds Roger & Gallet. The light scent is as delicate as a hummingbird in flight, created by renowned perfumer Nathalie Lorson (of Perles de Lalique/Dolce & Gabbana Sicily fame) to transport you through scent to a tranquil Oriental Garden of Eden. This classically feminine cologne has been inspired by the extraordinarily rare and mysterious Osmanthus flower, sweetly nicknamed ‘the flower of happiness’ as its heady fragrance has renowned stress-reducing and joy-inducing properties. This beautiful flower grows serenely in the gulf of the legendary Guilin Chinese valley, where it’s gently coaxed into bloom with an extraordinary two year dance.

To my nose this scent is a harmonious swirl of sweet spring flowers, contrasted brilliantly with the bright, yet subtle nuances of citrus. Once the opening cascade of delicately soft floral notes with their whisper of happy Osmanthus simmer down, and the heart of zesty grapefruit and mouth-watering mandarin have added another dimension, the warmth is found in the base notes where the vanilla-tinged benzoin, toasted almonds and heat-infused musk dominate. Ultimately, it’s a very fresh, gauzy and eminently wearable fragrance that would complement a woman of any age; especially those who’re fond of citrusy-florals.

Imagine the scents and sensations of basking in the sun-soaked brilliance of a Calabrian garden and you’ll have fashioned Roger & Gallet’s Citron, an archetypal eau that plunges your senses into an intoxicating pool of vitality. With every breath the sublimely refreshing citrus notes of cedrat and grapefruit are released, dashed with the politely sizzling nuances of mint, basil and cardamom. Woody blends have the final word, guaranteeing that this unisex cologne leaves a revitalising impression on both my skin and mind.

Gingembre Rouge is a mysterious, spicy fragrance, born after a trip to Zanzibar and crafted by Alberto Morillas and Amandine Clerc-Marie. The love story of this vibrant scent begins with a colourful explosion of ginger, escalating to a sweet embrace of flora and striking lychee, peaking with a burst of sparkling pomegranate seeds. To my note, this is the perfect, mesmerising summer scent.

The Roger & Gallet Cedrat fragrance captures the essence of the Mediterranean, drawing inspiration from the sunny shores of Italy's Calabrian coast. It opens with vibrant notes of shimmering citrus and grapefruit, delivering an invigorating burst of freshness. A refreshing hint of mint adds a lively twist, enhancing the overall brightness.

As the fragrance unfolds, it incorporates the subtle essence of a fresh sea breeze, perfectly balanced by warm woody notes. This combination creates a refreshing yet grounding scent that evokes the carefree spirit of summer days by the sea. Cedrat is all about that uplifting feeling, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a burst of sunshine in their daily routine.

Fleur de Figuier Eau Fraiche is a delightfully feminine fragrance encompassing the fruit and the flower of the ancient fig. It has been crafted by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, whose nose has brought us a range of classics including Jean-Paul Gaultier’s Le Male, Elie Saab’s Le Parfum and Narciso Rodriquez For Her. This dainty cologne was conceived during a trip to the Mediterranean garden of Esterel, an idyll nestled between the ocean and the sleepy French region of Provence. With a simple sniff of this soft-floral posy you are transported to the sun-soaked gardens of Esterel, carpeted with soft verdant grass with wild-grown flowers, primordial trees bursting with lush fig fruits and cool, crystal blue streams teeming with beautiful, blue-tailed dragonflies.

This complex Eau Fraiche fragrance opens with the crisp green aroma of fig in a full-on fruity twang. This gently sweetens to reveal bold notes of mandarin, leaving a fresh sunshiny-citrus tang in its wake. With another inhale the creamy notes of milk and warm Cedarwood envelop you like a second skin, evocative of a rousing sunset stroll across the lawns of Esterel hand-in-hand with your beau. Fleur de Figuier is a scent suitable for every woman, as magnificently intense as a glass of ice cold water on heavy, hot day.

Concocted to evoke a memory of time spend amongst the splendour of the Bengali Palace Gardens, Roger & Gallet Rose is an ethereal refinement of silky petals as delectably soft as a caress with a silk sari. With the first inhale of this magical aroma my nose tingles with the sweetness of rose, with a second the nuances of honeyed amber emerge, tinged with creaky almond milk to create a fragrance as rich in warmth and mystery as India.