Gardenia Concentre(1920)

A concentrated gardenia soliflore from Houbigant, opening on bergamot before an overdosed gardenia heart, closing on musk and sandalwood. Gardenia, like several other soliflore subjects of the period, yields little usable natural oil, so this composition's gardenia note would have been substantially reconstructed using synthetic materials to capture the flower's rich, creamy-tropical character. It reflects Houbigant's continued exploration of exotic and heavily-scented flowers alongside its more restrained European florals.