Balmain: the new French style
After having made his arms with Lucien Lelong, Pierre Balmain decides to fly with his own wings. In 1945, he opens in the 8th arrondissement of Paris his own house of couture baptized soberly House Balmain. Its style, particularly for the post-war period, marked by careful volumes, a structure drawn and an undeniable modernity soon seduce women in all Paris. After a first successful collection, he decided to surf the "couturier-parfumeur" trend and in 1946 he released a first fragrance entitled "Elysée 64/83", whose name refers to the telephone number of the couture house. He then went out, in collaboration with Germaine Cellier, the first perfumer, the perfume "Vent Vert" in 1947. His very intense notes of galbanum express an unusual originality in perfumery as well as the freedom of the post-war period.
Jolie Madame from Balmain
The perfume Balmain will be a resounding success with the perfume "Jolie Madame" in 1949. This chypre fragrance presents notes of violet, neroli, gardenia, "vetiver" , iris, "jasmine" and "pink". The fragrance is such a success that Pierre Balmain decides to baptize his next collection of the name of perfume. Like the fragrance, this collection will be known and recognized for its particular audacity. Fougueux and intense, it evokes the prestigious evenings. Balmain describes this fragrance as "the perfume of adventure for evenings of passion and enchantment". He tries to address sexy women and rock'n'rolls. Jolie Madame still symbolizes all the audacity of the 1950s.
The Renewal of the Balmain House
Although the disappearance of the couturier in 1982, for many years, impacted the Balmain house, it was reborn from its ashes at the arrival of the couturier Christophe Decarnin in 2006. If Balmain had seduced the crowned heads of the 1950s as well as the best known actresses, the new generation of personalities is also seduced by the restoration of the day to the sexy and opulent style of the Balmain house. Among the fans of the brand are Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Audrey Tautou, but also Marion Cotillard. In 2007, the Maison Balmain released a fragrance entitled "La Môme", a floral fragrance with "heart notes" of violets, myrrh and raspberry, a tribute to Edith Piaf and to the film by Olivier Dahan. Among the recent creations, there is also the re-edition in 2012 of the perfume "Ivoire" originally released in 1979. This chypré floral fragrance with notes of mandarin, "rose", ylang-ylang and galbanum is timeless. Like Balmain's clothing collections, it caters to the elegant, demanding, girlish and sexy woman.
