La Petite Robe Noire Hair Mist c2014

La Petite Robe Noire Hair Mist by Guerlain, launched in 2014 and created by Thierry Wasser, captures the joyful, flirtatious spirit of the original perfume but reimagined in a delicate mist designed to scent and beautify the hair. More than a fragrance accessory, it is described by Guerlain as a woman’s “everyday secret weapon,” leaving an airy, scented trace wherever she moves—a whisper of elegance that lingers like the memory of silk brushing past the skin.

The scent opens with an effervescent sparkle, as if sunlight has struck the surface of a crystal flute filled with rosé champagne. The first impression is that of a tender floral melody—rose, jasmine, and orange blossom intertwine in a graceful dance. The rose, Guerlain’s eternal muse, radiates with a youthful freshness—its petals soft and dewy, recalling the cool of morning air. The jasmine, delicate yet luminous, lends a creamy, almost honeyed warmth, while orange blossom adds a golden sweetness touched with the brightness of Mediterranean sunshine. Together, they form a floral accord that is light, joyful, and effortlessly feminine.

Then comes the playful heart—a juicy medley of cherry, apple, and blackcurrant, enlivened by green notes that bring crispness and sparkle. The cherry, both tart and candied, recalls the gourmand signature of La Petite Robe Noire’s original Eau de Parfum, though softened here for the hair mist’s lighter form. The apple lends a bright, crunchy freshness, while the blackcurrant introduces a tangy, slightly musky fruitiness, rich in natural aroma molecules such as dimethyl sulfide and blackcurrant bud absolute’s ionones, which lend a natural leafy nuance. The subtle green notes amplify this liveliness, evoking the scent of crushed leaves and orchard air, keeping the sweetness playful rather than cloying.

As the fragrance settles, it drapes the hair in a soft, sensual base of white amber and white musks. The amber adds a gentle, resinous warmth—more like sunlight diffused through silk than heavy oriental amber—while white musks (modern synthetic compounds like galaxolide or helvetolide) wrap around the hair in a clean, velvety aura. These musks also serve a practical function: they cling beautifully to the hair’s keratin fibers, allowing the scent to diffuse subtly throughout the day with every movement. The result is a “halo effect”—the perfume’s radiance surrounding the wearer without overwhelming her.

In La Petite Robe Noire Hair Mist, Guerlain managed to reinterpret one of its modern icons into an ethereal, wearable gesture of luxury. Light enough for daily use yet unmistakably chic, it captures the essence of French femininity: effortless, romantic, and just a little mischievous.

From Guerlain:"Carried everywhere, I am your everyday secret weapon. Heads turn as I go past. I adorn the hair in a deliciously scented veil. I am La Petite Robe Noire hair mist. Fresh Floral. Fresh, delicate, swirling. In the first wink, a bouquet of rose, jasmine and orange blossom takes flight to a delicate melody. The second twirl takes place as cherry, apple and blackcurrant enter the stage, refreshed by explosive green notes. Finally, white amber temptations are revealed and a cloud of white musks envelops the ensemble in a cosy halo."

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a fruity floral hair fragrance mist for women.

• Top notes: sour cherry and blackcurrant
• Middle notes: rose, jasmine, orange blossom, and green notes
• Base notes: white musk and white amber

It is available in the following:

30 ml

Veritable Moelle de Boeuf

To nourish and beautify the hair, Guerlain introduced Véritable Moelle de Bœuf—a richly perfumed pomade formulated from beef marrow, long regarded as a natural remedy for strengthening and stimulating hair growth. In the 19th century, the use of animal fats and marrow was considered one of the most effective treatments for dry, brittle, or thinning hair. The marrow, gently melted and clarified, was believed to restore vitality to the scalp and impart a radiant sheen to the hair. Its dense, lipid-rich composition mimicked the scalp’s natural oils, replenishing moisture and protecting the strands from the effects of heat, sun, and frequent styling. Guerlain, ever the innovator, transformed this simple restorative into a refined cosmetic by perfuming it with a luxurious blend of essences and presenting it in an exquisite porcelain pot.

The base of the formula combined purified bone marrow, beef or veal fat, and hazelnut oil, creating a deeply emollient treatment. The marrow and fat provided the rich, conditioning body of the pomade—each laden with nourishing triglycerides and sterols that softened coarse hair and repaired dryness. Hazelnut oil, prized for its light, silky texture, lent balance to the heavier animal fats, helping the mixture absorb more easily while adding a gentle gloss. It also supplied vitamin E and essential fatty acids, both beneficial for maintaining scalp health and preventing breakage. To this unctuous base, Guerlain added Balsam of Peru and vanilla—not only for their warm, comforting aroma but also for their natural antiseptic and soothing properties, which helped calm irritation and imparted a faint golden tint to the blend.

Once perfumed, the pomade transcended the rustic simplicity of its ingredients. Guerlain’s perfumer would scent the clarified marrow with a selection of cinnamon, lavender, citronella, vetiver, and carnation essences. Each essence served a purpose: cinnamon’s mild stimulatory warmth was thought to encourage circulation to the scalp; lavender lent both a calming fragrance and a natural antibacterial quality; citronella added brightness and kept the preparation feeling fresh; vetiver grounded the composition with its earthy, woody depth; and carnation brought a hint of spicy floral sophistication. Together, they turned the utilitarian act of hair care into a sensory pleasure.

When applied, Véritable Moelle de Bœuf would leave the hair luxuriously soft and gleaming, enveloped in a subtle fragrance that evolved with the warmth of the body. The initial impression would be of creamy sweetness, tinged with the aromatic warmth of vanilla and balsam. As the hair moved, delicate wafts of lavender, spicy carnation, and smoky vetiver would rise, blending with the faint animalic richness of the marrow itself—a scent both comforting and slightly exotic.

The Véritable Moelle de Bœuf pomade was presented in a porcelain cosmetic box of exceptional craftsmanship, made by the porcelain and faience maker Deroche. The small round box, measuring 6.8 cm in diameter, was adorned with grisaille transfers depicting oxen, a refined nod to the product’s principal ingredient, and accented with gilded highlights that added an elegant luster to the surface. Deroche’s work was renowned for its precision and delicacy, qualities that perfectly complemented Guerlain’s luxurious vision.

This collaboration between Guerlain and Deroche exemplified the 19th-century union of art and utility—where even a simple hair pomade became an object of beauty. The fine porcelain, cool and smooth to the touch, protected the precious preparation within, while its decoration reflected the scientific sophistication and decorative refinement of the era. In such a vessel, Guerlain’s Véritable Moelle de Bœuf was not merely a cosmetic; it was a testament to the harmony between French perfumery, craftsmanship, and design.

In the boudoirs of fashionable women, Véritable Moelle de Bœuf stood not merely as a hair treatment, but as a symbol of refinement—transforming a humble apothecary remedy into a luxurious ritual of care and scent.