The number 68 evokes not only a physical address but also an identity—an enduring symbol of Guerlain’s Parisian soul. It conjures images of golden light filtering through crystal chandeliers, mirrored salons reflecting Art Deco elegance, and the hum of the Champs-Élysées outside. The name itself suggests sophistication and exclusivity, as though one were stepping into a world where perfumery, design, and memory intertwine. “Le Parfum du 68” feels both modern and timeless, much like the house that inspired it—a blend of contemporary refinement and century-old savoir-faire.
When it was launched in 2013, the world of perfumery was experiencing a resurgence of heritage storytelling. Consumers sought authenticity, craftsmanship, and connection to legacy brands. Fashion, too, reflected this duality—minimalist silhouettes paired with opulent materials, a nod to both restraint and indulgence. Guerlain’s reinterpretation of its own history aligned perfectly with this moment. While niche perfumery leaned toward experimental compositions, Le Parfum du 68 celebrated tradition with a modern signature, reaffirming Guerlain’s place as the arbiter of French luxury.
Women (and men) of this period, accustomed to sleek designer fragrances and celebrity scents, would have found Le Parfum du 68 a rare expression of depth and dignity. Its name alone—rooted in a historic address—implied exclusivity and belonging to an elite circle of connoisseurs. To wear it was to carry the aura of Guerlain’s Parisian heritage: a perfume that was not merely a cosmetic accessory but a statement of culture and refinement.
Interpreted in scent, Le Parfum du 68 translates the warmth of Guerlain’s Maison into fragrant form. Classified as a woody spicy floral, it opens with the luminous freshness of mandarin and petitgrain, a nod to the citrus tradition of classic Colognes. The heart blossoms with immortelle, rose, and ylang-ylang, weaving a tapestry of sun-drenched florals over a gentle spice of cardamom and pink pepper. Beneath it all, a luxurious base of cedarwood, benzoin, tonka bean, and incense glows softly, like polished wood warmed by candlelight. The immortelle note—rich with maple and honeyed tones—echoes Guerlain’s signature ambery-gourmand warmth, binding the composition with comfort and familiarity.
In context, Le Parfum du 68 was both nostalgic and innovative. It did not chase the fleeting trends of the 2010s—those dominated by gourmand excess or minimalist transparency—but rather offered a sophisticated synthesis of both worlds: the craftsmanship of the past rendered through modern precision. Its structure and refinement placed it firmly within Guerlain’s lineage, echoing the sensuality of Shalimar and the powdery elegance of L’Heure Bleue, yet with the clarity and luminosity suited to the contemporary palate.
To honor this exquisite formula, Guerlain turned once again to Baccarat, who crafted the bottle as a reinterpretation of the legendary Turtle Flacon—first introduced in 1914 to commemorate Guerlain’s original move to 68, Champs-Élysées. This connection across a century underscores the brand’s philosophy: true luxury lies in continuity. The turtle, symbolizing longevity and wisdom, becomes the perfect emblem for a house that continues to evolve while remaining steadfastly true to its origins.
In essence, Le Parfum du 68 is not just a perfume—it is Guerlain distilled into scent. A fragrant homage to history, artistry, and place, it captures the spirit of a Parisian landmark reborn, whispering softly of the past while welcoming the future with grace.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? Le Parfum du 68 is classified as a woody spicy floral fragrance for women.
- Top notes: immortelle, rose
- Middle notes: incense, heliotrope, benzoin, spices
- Base notes: Guerlinade accord, woods, leather, tonka bean
Scent Profile:
Le Parfum du 68 opens with a golden light — a radiant fusion of immortelle and rose, two ingredients that immediately express contrast: warmth and freshness, earth and air, tradition and sensuality. Immortelle, also known as Helichrysum italicum, hails primarily from the sun-soaked hills of Corsica and the Mediterranean basin. Its blossoms never fade, even after picking — hence the name “everlasting flower.” Its scent, however, is far from delicate: it is warm and spicy, with a distinctive maple syrup richness underpinned by hints of curry, honey, and tobacco. Naturally containing neryl acetate and β-diketones, immortelle contributes an almost glowing, ambered tone that lingers. Here, it lends the perfume its burnished gold heart — a solar warmth that radiates softly through every layer of the composition.
Against this, the rose rises in gentle contrast. The variety that Guerlain favored in such creations was typically Rosa damascena from Bulgaria or Turkey — prized for its velvety texture and complex profile. The Bulgarian rose, rich in citronellol, geraniol, and phenylethyl alcohol, offers brightness and depth at once: a multifaceted balance of lemony freshness and honeyed warmth. In Le Parfum du 68, the rose acts as a bridge — tempering the resinous sweetness of immortelle with tender petal notes. Together, they unfold like a tapestry of sun and silk, embodying Guerlain’s signature contrast of comfort and refinement.
As the perfume deepens, the heart reveals its complexity — a union of incense, heliotrope, benzoin, and a symphony of spices. The incense, likely frankincense from Oman or Somalia, provides a mineral brightness and dry, smoky resinousness that balances the gourmand sweetness below. Its aroma molecules — alpha-pinene, limonene, and incensole acetate — give that recognizable “church air” purity, evoking meditative calm. In contrast, benzoin from Siam or Laos brings warmth and smoothness. A balsamic resin derived from the Styrax tonkinensis tree, benzoin smells of vanilla, caramel, and amber. It contains vanillin and cinnamic acid, which contribute its creamy sweetness and fixative strength. In Guerlain’s hands, benzoin has always been a beloved note, part of the brand’s iconic “Guerlinade” accord — lending its signature caress to the skin.
Heliotrope softens this heart with its powdery almond sweetness. Its scent, reminiscent of marzipan and sugared violets, comes from heliotropin (piperonal), a naturally occurring aromatic chemical that became one of perfumery’s earliest synthetics. Heliotropin provides that nostalgic, almost tactile softness — as if one could smell velvet. In Le Parfum du 68, it wraps the incense and benzoin in a creamy cocoon, turning the sharpness of resin into a tender whisper. The spices — likely a subtle blend of cardamom, pink pepper, and perhaps a touch of cinnamon — animate the composition, bringing a gentle vibrancy that keeps the perfume from becoming too languid.
In the base, Guerlain’s craftsmanship truly shines. The Guerlinade accord — that secret signature shared across so many of the house’s masterpieces — emerges, woven from vanilla, tonka bean, iris, and musk. Here, it anchors Le Parfum du 68 in familiarity, the olfactory equivalent of silk lining in a couture gown. Tonka bean, sourced from Venezuela or Brazil, imparts its characteristic warm, almond-like scent thanks to coumarin, the molecule responsible for its sweet, hay-like aroma. This coumarin-rich note harmonizes beautifully with benzoin and immortelle, deepening their gourmand tendencies while maintaining sophistication.
The woods and leather complete the drydown with elegance and restraint. Cedarwood, with its pencil-shaving dryness and aromatic clarity, grounds the sweetness, while a refined leather accord — likely constructed through isobutyl quinoline and other synthetic modifiers — lends a supple, animalic undertone. These modern synthetics enhance the natural resins, ensuring the composition feels timeless rather than nostalgic. Subtle musk molecules provide the final texture: clean yet sensual, like warm skin after hours of wear.
Smelling Le Parfum du 68 is like walking through Guerlain’s newly restored flagship at dusk — sunlight fading through beveled glass, the air perfumed with polished wood, gilded mirrors, and the faint echo of history. It is an olfactory architecture, built of resins, florals, and spices, each ingredient chosen not just for beauty, but for the story it tells. Immortelle’s eternal glow, rose’s soft elegance, benzoin’s gentle sweetness, and leather’s quiet strength — all merge into a fragrance that feels both modern and eternal, an aromatic embodiment of Guerlain itself: heritage renewed, luxury reimagined.
Bottle:
For the 2013 Christmas limited edition, Guerlain unveiled one of its most breathtaking collector’s creations — Le Parfum du 68 housed in a monumental one-liter bottle of black crystal, an object that transcends mere perfumery to become a true work of art. This masterpiece was born from the resurrection of a century-old Baccarat mold, originally created for the legendary Tortue (turtle) bottle of 1914, which had been commissioned to celebrate the opening of Guerlain’s boutique at 68, Champs-Élysées. For this modern reinterpretation, the mold was refined and subtly reworked, allowing Baccarat’s artisans to capture the original spirit of the design while bringing new precision and depth to its form. The result is a bottle of hypnotic beauty — black crystal that absorbs light rather than reflecting it, embodying mystery, refinement, and quiet opulence.
Each of the thirty bottles produced — only thirty pieces worldwide — was meticulously gilded by hand by the Ateliers Gohard, renowned Parisian artisans celebrated for their mastery of gold leaf and restoration of French heritage monuments. Their golden touch frames the deep black crystal with subtle glimmers, as though Paris itself — elegant, eternal, and radiant — had been captured in molten gold. The bottle rests beneath a glass dome, a presentation that recalls 19th-century displays of rare art objects, emphasizing its dual nature as both perfume and sculpture. This luxurious presentation was exclusively available at Guerlain’s flagship location, making it not merely a fragrance but a tangible expression of the maison’s devotion to craftsmanship and history.
The composition inside this extraordinary vessel was created by Thierry Wasser as a tribute to Guerlain’s mythical address at 68, Champs-Élysées. It is described as a woody and spicy fragrance, playing upon the contrast between hot and cold spices — a dialogue of warmth and freshness that symbolizes the dynamic rhythm of Paris itself. The immortelle note forms the golden heart of the perfume, lending its honeyed, sunlit depth and unmistakable character, while floral nuances soften the composition with elegance. The base — a classic Guerlain signature — envelops the senses with tonka bean, benzoin, incense, and leathered resins, creating a sensual trail that is unmistakably “Guerlain”: rich, enveloping, and infinitely sophisticated.
This edition stands as a testament to Guerlain’s philosophy of perpetual reinvention, linking past and present through art, craftsmanship, and fragrance. The 1914 turtle bottle had once symbolized patience and endurance — a playful nod by Jacques Guerlain to the time it took to complete the original Champs-Élysées boutique. A century later, in 2013, the turtle returned in black crystal, now representing longevity, heritage, and renewal — the same enduring spirit that has carried the house of Guerlain through generations. In every detail, from its sculpted shell to its molten gold finish, Le Parfum du 68 in its black crystal form embodies not just luxury, but legacy — an object meant not merely to be worn, but to be admired, treasured, and remembered.
From Guerlain:
"To mark the reopening of the historic boutique of 68, Champs Elysees, Guerlain reinterprets the mythical turtle bottle of 1914 Revisited Baccarat black crystal in his monumental version of 1l. This technical feat is made possible by the restoration of an old mold 100 years. This treasure of Guerlain Heritage is the witness of the traditional know-how of Guerlain and expertise of Baccarat. Turtle comes to life at the center of its majestic setting, under a glass bell, a magical setting of Paris, gilded with fine gold. A meticulous work of a Master of Art Workshops Gohard.
The fragrance is a unique work, an extract of perfume composed by Thierry Wasser, in homage to the mythical address of 68, Champs Elysées. A woody and spicy fragrance, which plays the contrast between the cold and hot spices spices. The immortelle majesty layout, gives its character to floral heart, while tonka, benzoin and incense, colored notes leather wrap the fragrance in a wildly Guerlain wake.
1913 Guerlain settles on the Champs-Elysees. To celebrate the event, Jacques Guerlain offers the Parisian "Champs Elysees Parfum" in its stunning crystal Baccarat turtle bottle, ironic reference to the length that had taken the work.
A century later, Guerlain continues to reinvent and reinterpret the mythical turtle bottle of 1914, thanks to the restoration of an old mold Baccarat 100 years."
The eau de parfum edition of Le Parfum du 68 was created to offer a wider audience the opportunity to experience this distinguished fragrance, though still within the refined exclusivity of the house. Unlike the opulent black crystal flacon crafted by Baccarat for the limited edition parfum, the eau de parfum was presented in Guerlain’s iconic square bottle, a design long associated with the brand’s most elegant creations. The glass was etched with an intricate rendering of the façade of the Guerlain flagship boutique at 68, Champs-Élysées, a subtle yet meaningful tribute to the very heart and heritage of the house.
This architectural engraving transforms the bottle into more than a vessel for scent—it becomes a keepsake of Guerlain’s Parisian legacy, a miniature homage to the building that has symbolized French luxury and savoir-faire for more than a century. The clean geometric lines of the bottle reflect the maison’s balance between modernity and tradition, while the detailed etching captures the artistry that defines Guerlain’s craftsmanship.
Although this edition made the fragrance more accessible than the rare black crystal version, it remained available exclusively at Maison Guerlain, preserving its sense of privilege and intimacy. To own Le Parfum du 68 in this form was to hold a piece of the Champs-Élysées itself—an emblem of timeless elegance, refined taste, and Parisian artistry, bottled for those who appreciate both the scent and the story behind it.
