Henry Jacques Parfums  is one of the most prestigious and exclusive brands of the French high perfumery.

The name Henry Jacques is surrounded by an aura of charm, romanticism and discretion. It’s the story of a passion, sincere and pure, accompanying a man throughout his life, so intense as to be handed down for generations, protected and preserved as the most delicate of feelings, like a great love story.

Henry Jacques boutique at Harrods 6th Fl. (photo credit: Anthoscents)

The story of the Maison, breathes the very essence of its founder: Henry Cremona, an eclectic and refined man, a world traveller. His voyages to faraway lands led him  to collect a great amount of olfactive memories, exotic and evocative scents inspiring a true passion for Perfumery. In 1978, following the encounter with one of the last great noses of the French tradition, he founded the Maison Henry Jacques in the heart of Provence.

Henry Jacques boutique at Harrods 6th Fl. (photo credit: Anthoscents)

His obsession for rare and valuable raw materials and his continous pursuit for perfection, are reflected in the creation of real olfactive gems for a privileged élite of collectors and connoisseurs. Over the years the prestige of the perfume house grows in the shadow and the name Henry Jacques spreads, whispered like a secret, in a discreet word of mouth.

In Draguignan laboratory, the skill and craftsmanship converge in the distillation and composition of precious fragrances, restoring the excellence of a tradition that finds its roots in Grasse, historical “hearth of perfume-making.” Through the reflex of gleaming crystal ampules, myriads of delicate petals and crystallized resins are transformed into essential oils and natural absolutes.

Henry Jacques Haute Parfumerie
(Photo credit: Anthoscents)

A luxury Parisian apartment, at 14 Rue Margueritte, receives clients individually and by appointment to discover the wonderful creations or agree the composition of superb bespoke scents. Then, in the laboratory of Draguignan, a team of perfumers draws from a majestic library of odors. By choosing amid 1200 natural essences and absolutes, a new perfume comes to life or a classic historic fragrance sees its beauty flourishing again through the old formulas kept in the atelier’s archives.

Thanks to Anne-Lise Cremona, Henry Cremona’s daughter and current president of Henry Jacques Parfums, a chink opens in the thick curtain of  confidentiality surrounding this fairytale realm… even just for a fugacious, intoxicating olfactory contemplation. At Harrods Sixth Floor, down the hall of the magnificent Salon de Parfums, the first official HJ boutique was inaugurated in October 2014.

Henry Jacques Flacon Couture
(photo credit: Anthoscents)

Hidden among the massive carved wooden walls, one after the other, several drawers and shelves reveal precious crystal and gold ampoules, kept in antique chests or gathered on massive wooden trays. A place suspended in time, where you can embark on a journey of the senses between sublime creations and authentic works of art able to seduce the sight and smell.

All Henry Jacques creations are mainly composed with natural essences and precious absolutes, intense and pure, not diluited. Few drops on the skin are sufficient to allow the fragrance to unfold in all its stunning and mesmerizing beauty.
The olfactory signature of the fine elixirs is represented by three special bouquets. Once the composition of a perfume is completed, one of these bouquets is added as a defining note, becoming the hallmark of all HJ creations.

Today, after more than 30 years devoted to the creation of bespoke perfumes, the Maison presents its wonderful collections.

Les Classiques de HJ brings together a selection of over 50 perfumes amid the most representative formulas of the brand.

Henry Jacques boutique at Harrods 6th Fl. (photo credit: Anthoscents)

A collection that ranges from delicate harmonies to more complex creations, kept in small crystal flacons whose transparency enhances natural nuances of the perfumes (portrayed in the cover image). Les Caves à Parfum a personalized selection of 10 or 15 perfumes (15 ml) housed in a single elegant wood casket. A valuable olfactory wardrobe that recalls a tradition from the 18th century, when it was customary amongst the ladies of the French court to carry with them a treasure chest with their most precious elixirs.

Henry Jacques boutique at Harrods 6th Fl. (photo credit: Anthoscents)

But it would be impossible to convey the stunning beauty of Henry Jacques creations without mentioning the two collections that perpetuate the legendary style of the Maison: The Collection Couture, the most iconic HJ creations, composed by five generations of perfumers,  presented in Limited Edition Crystal flacons exalting the magic aura of the fabolous elixirs. La Collection Joaillerie, fine jewelry meets high perfumery through fully bespoke creations: from fragrance, to one-of-a-kind crystal flacons adorned with golden details and precious stones, nestled in personalized caskets.

If that’s not enough to make you dream, I invite you to watch the video made by the prestigious Studio Harcourt Paris for Henry Jacques and let your eyes explore the magic of this scented universe.

For further details on the story and the creations of Henry Jacques Parfums, click on this link.