F. Millot, perfumer - From Eau Magique to Crêpe de Chine, the history of a family (Broché)

Have the great perfumes contributed to the fame of the major perfume brands or have the major perfume brand contributed to the fame of the great perfumes ? The F. Millot perfume company, based in Paris, held a prominent place in the market from 1860 to 1970. And because it was a family-run business, it took on a particular importance in the history of perfumery. Félix Millot, born to a family from Bouchon-sur-Saulx, in the Meuse department, became a perfumer at the age of 30.
He was not a creator but a merchant and manufacturer, like most of the other perfumers of the second half of the 19th century. At that time, the discovery of the synthetic molecules expanded trade and the evolution of the industrial technologies, securing a bright future for the perfumery sector... Unfortunatly, Félix died when he was forty-four years old. His wife Louise expertly ran the perfumery and made it one of the twenty most important of the end of that century, which included Guerlain, Fiver and Roger & Gallet.
She handed on the torch to her grandchildren who had to face the hardships of war, as well as economic, monetary and social crises, yet they managed to pass on their heritage to their own children. Over those years, more than three hundred products were created, most of which were perfumes. But only a few of them, created by Jean Desprez, have come down to us : Récital, Altitude, Regard, Bois précieux and Crêpe de Chine.
The Parfumerie F. Millot hired major artists, like Hector Guimard, for the creation of the bottles, cases and advertissements. Their work, decorating its shops ans its stands at the different Exhibitions, earned the firm many awards. This book was written on the basis of verified historical data. In all modesty, it will certainly interest readers who are either passionate enthusiasts or simply curious.
It may also ensure that perfumes as fine as Crêpe de Chine do not fall into oblivion, after having so much envelopped Parisian elegance in a trail that was enveloping like silk.