Coming Attraction: Parfums Houbigant Paris Orangers en Fleurs

The legendary House of Houbigant is introducing its newest luxury fragrance, Orangers en Fleurs ($180 or $600) - a celebration of the orange tree. I could not be more excited.

The orange blossom is historically renowned as a symbol of fertility and abundance, stemming from the tree's ability to produce flowers and fruit simultaneously. Both carry an amazing scent. I may have more orange blossom fragrances than any other genre in my growing collection. I love it.

According to Houbigant, the tradition of incorporating the orange blossom into marriage rituals dates back to ancient China, where brides were known to don an orange blossom insignia on their gowns. During the Crusades, the fashion of wearing orange blossoms spread from east to west, resulting in nineteenth century brides across Europe incorporating orange blossoms into their own weddings. Queen Victoria, one of Houbigant's most devoted and prestigious clients, wore an intricate crown of orange blossoms on her wedding day in 1840. The orange tree is also a favorite tree of perfumers because it is one of the most versatile of all scent sources and gives them a collection of amazingly variable rich scents.

Oranges en Fleurs is a result of the creative marriage between the House of Houbigant and Jacques Flori, senior perfumer at Robertet, a company that specializes in natural raw materials, perfume compositions, and food flavorings. Together, they have developed a beautifully sophisticated fragrance, centered around the warm head notes of orange blossom. A heart of Turkish rose and Egyptian jasmine is highlighted by a subtle combination of tuberose and orange leaf absolute. The accord is delicately balanced by the fresh floral note of ylang, slightly spiced with nutmeg.

True to the brand's history, Orangers en Fleurs is composed with only the finest raw materials with the highest level of purity for a sensory experience that is unparalleled. The end result pays homage to the original values of perfumery, but captures the modern essence of finely crafted fragrances.

The edition is showcased in a lavish, handmade hardwood lacquered box, with an engraved emblem. The bottle is a stunning, modernized version of an original Baccarat crystal bottle, designed for the 20^th century.

Top notes: Orange blossom, rose absolute, and Egyptian jasmine absolute
Heart notes: Tuberose, eau de brouts, ylang comores, and nutmeg
Base notes: cedar wood and musk

The eau de parfum will be priced at $180 and will be available at Neiman Marcus and Bergodorf Goodman in August. I will be confined to that, although the perfume will be available at $600. In October, body products will be launched.

I must have Orangers en Fleurs the moment it arrives. With the possible exception of the nutmeg note, it looks like it was custom-made for me.

Photo courtesy of Houbigant