Pharmacists rejoice. In the pharmacy sales of Fragrant Waters rose (in volume) by almost 10% in one year. An achievement in a sector gained from sluggishness since the volume of sales of fragrances in perfume has declined by more than 2% at the same time.
- Back to basics
We all remember the big bottles of eau de Cologne, scented with Amber, the Orange Blossom ... which were still enthroned on the counter pharmacies some twenty years ago.
"Traditionally in the 15th century, apothecaries made vinegars and elixirs," explains Elisabeth de Feydeau, author of "Les Parfums", Robert Laffont. Their virtues were mostly medicinal, and we remember those four thieves who had invented a vinegar, a mixture of macerated aromatic herbs that protected them from the plague, in 1630 (a version in Pharmacy could still be found, until 1937!). Closer to home, apothecaries became pharmacists, and in 1862 two cousins Armand Roger and Charles Gallet bought a house of Pharmaceutical Cologne, with the successful future that we know.
"As for Francois Coty, he learned the trade internship with a friend pharmacist who made a cologne close to the pharmacopoeia" says Francis Kurkdjian, famous perfumer.
- Well-Being, Freshness and Wake
" In a few years, our fragrant offer has evolved considerably," says Françoise B, head of a pharmacy near the Champs Elysees. We went from the Eau de soin to the real Eau de Parfum. "
- Waters with therapeutic virtues
Since 1987, Jacques Courtin-Clarins has revived tradition with this Dynamizing Water which combines a true olfactory pyramid (thyme, lemon, rosemary on patchouli background) with a phytotherapeutic formula to "beautify the mood, and restore skin vitality , and firmness ".
Since then, others have followed. Biotherm and its Vitamin water with grapefruit, Garancia, and its Eau de Sourcellerie which combines aromatic plants with a powerful antioxidant in a powdered fragrance. As for Roger and Gallet, he is changing his Eau de Toilette tradition and proposes the beneficial effects of Fig, Green Tea or Rose to prepare us for a soothing sleep.
- From Eau de Toilette to Eau de Parfum
While fresh and natural waters, such as those of Weleda, are still successful, today we are seeing an evolution towards wake-up formulas. For Caudalie and his Zeste de Vigne I had been asked for a fresh water, says Francis Kurkdjian, but more recently, for Roger and Gallet, I reworked the Fleur de Figuier to give it a real wake "
And it is now real Eaux de Parfums (at really competitive prices) that we find in Liérac, (Three White Flowers), Nuxe, (Prodigious the Perfume) Esthederm (One Evening in Summer), Occitane (Neroli & Orchid) and always Caudalie (Divine Perfume). Let's bet that this is just the beginning ...
WATERS OF CARE:
Eau Dynamisante, Clarins, 75 € the 200 ml.
Biotherm Vitaminized Water, 47,80 € per 100 ml.
Water of Sourcellerie, Garancia, 32,45 € the 50 ml.
Aqua Duna, Eclae, € 29.90 per 100 ml.
Garden of Life, citrus, Weleda, 22,60 € the 50 ml.
Eau Fraîche Zest of Vine, Caudalie, 22,20 € the 50ml.
THE PERFUME WATERS:
Flower of Figuier, Eau de Parfum, Roger & Gallet 52 € the 50 ml.
Eau Sensorial with Three White Flowers, Liérac, 22 € the 100 ml.
Prodigious, Perfume, Nuxe, 45 € the 50 ml.
One evening in Summer, Esthederm, 45 € the 50 ml.
Neroli & Orchid, L'Occitane, 57 € the 75 ml.
Divine fragrance, Caudalie, 41,40 € the 50 ml.
