Courvoisier – French Chivalry and Gallantry

COURVOISIER® is a company in Jarnac, in the heart of France, which produces prestigious brandy. The brand COURVOISIER® Cognac is reputed to have been Napoleon's brand. Besides producing quality beverages, the enterprising owners are also in the business of producing cigars with cognac flavor. Now their new product is a perfume for men.

The famous brandy Courvoisier XO Imperiale was "created like a few drops of perfume that reflect sensuality and elegance." It was voted the world's best brandy in 1994. Courvoisier XO Imperiale brandy is composed, just like a perfume composition, of notes originating from different cognac plants: Petite Champagne, Les Borderies and Fins Bois. It retails at US$161.

After innumerable bottles of various labels of cognac sold, COURVOISIER® and Beam Global Spirits & Wine, in cooperation with Fortune Brands Inc., decided to launch a new bottle, only this time it contains not brandy, but the company’s first fragrance for men. The perfume was developed in cooperation with Kraft International Marketing Company, which has 25 years of experience in licensing and distribution, with significant success in the perfume industry. COURVOISIER® introduced L’edition Imperiale, named after one of their top brandies. The fragrance, described as a woody-oriental, was presented in October 2006 at the International Duty Free Show in Cannes. It "targets 25-35 year old males who are ambitious, determined and have a desire to succeed."

The goal is to achieve the level of quality that will be in line with the years of tradition in cognac production, and the wish of the company is that this bottle becomes a symbol of prestige and power. The perfume is inspired by the time of Napoleon’s reign, when people had a better sense of honor, pride, and chivalry. Therefore, the fragrance is modern and yet nostalgic. The bottle was designed in France, and the silver stopper is shaped in the form of Napoleon’s plume.

The fragrance is comfortable, light and warm, but most importantly, it foreshadows refined enjoyment, a good mood and self-confidence. The creators of the perfume tried to capture that unique feeling of overwhelming pleasure provided by the top-class brandy.

The top notes open with wafts of mild and fresh mandarin, cardamom, winy tagetes and coriander. Middle notes include Atlas cedar wood, smoked tea, royal calla lily and nostalgic violet, while the base contains exotic vetiver, fir balsam, leather nuance and warm amber.

The perfume comes in concentrations of Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum, and retails at US$98 for 75ml, and US$145 for 125 ml. It is available since spring 2007.

Author: Sandrina (sandrina_bambina)
Fragrantica Member