"Bergamot is elegant, lemon is energetic, mandarin is cheerful. Orange is sunny and ironic. In the Italian city of Ivrea, not far from Turin, a battle of oranges is the highlight of the annual carnival celebrations. In 1801 oranges became a symbol of military defeat when Prince Manuel Godoy y Álvarez de Faria sent a basket of these fruits to his mistress the Queen to celebrate the victory of Spain over Portugal. Only to take their revenge by bearing the name of Portugal for many years after that in the perfume industry. The oranges extoled and sold by merchants accompany the tragic end of Carmen in Bizet's homonymous opera. But my favourite story is a Christmas one. In December, oranges are a gift of light, a message hinting to the end of winter, rebel fruits wearing the colour of summer."
The perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena
"Bergamot is elegant, lemon is energetic, mandarin is cheerful. Orange is sunny and ironic. In the Italian city of Ivrea, not far from Turin, a battle of oranges is the highlight of the annual carnival celebrations. In 1801 oranges became a symbol of military defeat when Prince Manuel Godoy y Álvarez de Faria sent a basket of these fruits to his mistress the Queen to celebrate the victory of Spain over Portugal. Only to take their revenge by bearing the name of Portugal for many years after that in the perfume industry. The oranges extoled and sold by merchants accompany the tragic end of Carmen in Bizet's homonymous opera. But my favourite story is a Christmas one. In December, oranges are a gift of light, a message hinting to the end of winter, rebel fruits wearing the colour of summer."
The perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena