Like the cult-favorite nail polish or iconic lipstick shades, beauty products have no shortage of fascinating origin stories. But arguably the most fascinating is the complex and compelling world of fragrance. The inspiration for Parfums de Marly, a contemporary niche fragrance house, dates back to the 1700s.

Founded in 2009, Parfums de Marly combines history with elegant and sophisticated perfumery. At the helm is Julien Sprechcole, founder and creative director from Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Perfumes are time capsules and have the power to take us on a journey. I have always loved the 18th century, when horses and perfumes were the pride and glory of France. The latter succinctly sums up the core of the brand, but to fully appreciate it, one must take a journey into a bygone era.

First, Parfums de Marly was inspired by the former King Louis XV of France and his iconic weekend estate, the Château de Marly. Located on the outskirts of Paris at the edge of the Royal Park, it was known as the Palace of Pleasures, where the king held lavish meetings with a limited entourage of members of his court and foreign dignitaries. The king loved to entertain and famously declared: "I have made Versailles for my court, Trianon for my family, and Marly for my friends."

The château was not only sumptuous and luxurious, it was also known as La Cour Parfumée (the Court of Perfumes). Every day, the king demanded that everything be perfumed, from the fans to the gloves to the fountains on the grounds (believe it or not).

Besides his ardent passion for fragrances, King Louis XV also had a passion for horses: in 1743, he commissioned the French sculptor Guillaume Coustou to sculpt two Carrara marble horses for the grounds of the Château de Marly. (Thus, Sprechcole made the horses, which adorn the bottles of all men's fragrances, the symbol of the Parfums de Marly.

Today, many people may recognize this French perfumer's bottles. The women's bottle is elegantly curved to reflect the female form, with a uniquely luxe cap reminiscent of jewelry, floral moldings inspired by 18th century picture frames, and a tassel at the top reminiscent of the tie-backs and hanging leather of elegant window curtains. The men's bottle is simple, sophisticated, and weighty, with the brand logo on the front. The line is no stranger to the vanity cabinets of high-end department stores and loyal fragrance lovers. Yet despite its contemporary popularity among luxury perfume connoisseurs, the brand represents the royalty and luxury of a bygone era.

Today, Parfums de Marly boasts 33 fragrances ranging from feminine to masculine, created to reflect the art de vivre of the Château de Marly. While the compositions of the fragrances vary widely, they share the common goal of "reviving the splendor" of the 18th century, as Sprechcole puts it, combining the bold with the classic:

The latest addition to the Parfums de Marly lineup, Haltan, launched in 2021, is a rich and woody classic fragrance with a modern interpretation. The green and gold bottle opens with fresh herbal notes of bergamot and clary sage, followed by middle notes of saffron and praline, and ends with base notes of precious woods that pay homage to the forests surrounding Château de Marly.

Delina, with its chic pastel pink bottle, you may have seen it on social media. One of the undeniable hero fragrances in the Parfums de Marly lineup, Delina pays homage to the lush gardens of Versailles; since its launch in 2017, thousands of reviewers have testified to its projection, sustainability, and refinement. It is a perfect balance of the fruity scent of lychee and rhubarb, the floral scent of Turkish rose and peony, and the sensual scent of pear and musk. The scent proved so popular that the brand launched several variations, including a shower gel and a rich body cream.

Looking to the future, it is safe to say that the brand shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. After all, says Sprecher, "There are many more exciting developments for this brand. We just have to wait and see.