Syringa du Japon by Guerlain was introduced in 1870, a creation by Aimé Guerlain that beautifully captures the romantic spirit of the late 19th century. The name “Syringa du Japon” is French, pronounced “See-ran-ga doo Zha-pon,” and translates to “Lilac of Japan.” The term Syringa refers to the Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata)—a species admired for its clusters of creamy white flowers and their softly sweet, almond-vanilla scent. The addition of du Japon not only situates the flower’s origin but also evokes the fascination with Japanese art, nature, and aesthetics that swept through Europe during this time.
The name itself conjures images of tranquil oriental gardens, white lilacs shimmering under dappled sunlight, and the refined serenity associated with Japanese design. For a Parisian woman of the 1870s, the phrase Syringa du Japon would have felt exotic and sophisticated—a breath of floral opulence filtered through the mystique of the East. It would have suggested both refinement and escape, a fragrant portal to lands newly opened to European imagination after Japan’s emergence from centuries of isolation.
The year 1870 was a turbulent and transformative time. France was on the brink of the Franco-Prussian War, and within a year, the Second Empire had fallen, giving rise to the Third Republic. Yet, amid social unrest, fashion and culture continued to evolve. Women’s dress was opulent—corseted silhouettes with layers of silk, lace, and crinoline—yet there was an emerging desire for lighter, more personal forms of luxury. Perfumery, too, was entering a period of innovation: Aimé Guerlain was among the first to blend natural essences with synthetic aroma molecules, creating more complex and long-lasting compositions.
In this context, Syringa du Japon represented both tradition and progress. The scent—classified today as a floral oriental (floral amber)—blended sweet, creamy florals with warm, resinous undertones of amber, musk, and wood. The floral heart likely featured notes reminiscent of lilac, jasmine, heliotrope, and perhaps orange blossom, capturing the powdery, sun-warmed scent of Japanese tree lilac. The oriental base added a sensual, lasting warmth—an early expression of the Guerlain signature that would later define masterpieces such as Jicky (1889) and Shalimar (1925).
For women of the era, a perfume named Syringa du Japon would have felt like a fragrant jewel of refinement, aligning with the growing Parisian fascination for Japonisme—the art and design movement that celebrated Japanese motifs, fabrics, and aesthetics. The scent would have symbolized grace, poise, and a cosmopolitan curiosity—a whisper of faraway lands distilled into something intimate and wearable.
In the landscape of its time, Syringa du Japon was forward-looking. While many perfumes of the mid-19th century remained simple soliflores—single-note floral waters—Guerlain’s creation displayed a more sophisticated architecture, one that foreshadowed the modern structure of perfumery. It wasn’t merely a lilac fragrance; it was an evocation, a sensory interpretation of the East filtered through French romanticism—a delicate harmony of purity, sensuality, and travel captured in scent.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral oriental (floral amber) fragrance — with a sweet, creamy, and slightly spicy floral heart resting on a warm, resinous, and musky base.
- Top notes: sweet orange, Portuguese orange, lemon, neroli, citral, green notes, acacia, mock orange, methyl anthranilate, honeysuckle, methyl acetophenone
- Middle notes: orange blossom, hydroxycitronellal, anisic aldehyde, reseda, rose, magnolia, jasmine, indole, lilac, heliotropin, cinnamic alcohol, isoeugenol, ylang ylang, alpha ionone
- Base notes: sandalwood, rosewood, pepper, patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla, musk, opoponax
Bulletin de la Société d'encouragement pour l'industrie nationale, Volume 96, 1897:
"As we have noted about the essence of roses it is likely that this species as well as their perfumes pelargonium must not only geraniol and citronellol but still ethers compounds of these alcohols. The work of MM. J. Dupontet, J. Guerlain we have already mentioned as well as the observations made by MM. E. Charabot and G. Chiris confirm this hypothesis Terpineol Terpilénol G10H18O. This compound has a pleasant scent of syringa is sold commercially in perfumery under the name of Syringa, Lilacine, Muguet, etc.. The old syringa extracts were completely eliminated by terpineol products. Used in measured amounts in effect provides a scent that is indistinguishable from the fresh flowers of syringa. This compound is a product of hydration of turpentine or a dehydration product of terpine."
Bottles:
Presented in the Carre flacon.
