The fragrance has already taken a door for itself in our Advent calendar 2024 and now Rue de la Paix by Isabey is also finding its way into the fragrance diary. You may have already seen it, I published an unboxing on our Instagram account (take a look here) and I have to say that the eau de parfum looks really good. The bottle is designed in the characteristic style of the traditional French fragrance house, which can now look back on a 100-year history.
As with so many old brands, this was not always easy and was characterized by many ups and downs. The brand was founded in 1924 by Maurice Loewe, who opened a store called Isabey on Rue de la Paix in the heart of Paris in the same year. The inspiration for the name was the French artist Eugène Isabey, who shaped the Romantic era in the 19th century and created some remarkable works of art. For two decades, the Isabey fragrance house was very successful until the Second World War heralded its demise. It took over sixty years for the Panouge company to take on the brand and revive it.
Rue de la Paix – A soft floral dream
With Rue de la Paix, Isabey pays homage to the beginnings of the house and celebrates its 100th anniversary in a particularly beautiful way. I’ll get to the fragrance itself in a moment, but first I’d like to take a look at the bottle and the outer packaging. I have an original bottle here – many thanks to the distributor Isis Parfums – and can therefore give you more detailed information on the feel and look of the product.
The packaging consists of a sturdy, high-quality box that is richly detailed yet subtly decorated. The surface is bright white all over and printed with a print reminiscent of snakeskin, which feels exciting in itself. On the front, the box reminds me of a framed picture showing a nostalgic drawing of a ballerina and the name of the brand and eau de parfum. The predominant colors are purple and white. There is a purple satin loop on the side of the box, which can be used to open a drawer containing the typical diamond-shaped glass flacon. This is in silvery gold, but is slightly transparent and has a delicate purple shimmer. The sturdy and well-fitting magnetic lid is adorned with a purple satin ribbon. It looks very classy, elegant and classic, nostalgic but not old-fashioned. I really like the packaging and the bottle itself.
To celebrate this prestigious centenary, an exceptional fragrance was essential. Rue de la Paix was created by the talented perfumer Patrice Revillard and fits seamlessly into Isabey’s eau de parfum collection. The name Rue de la Paix recalls the street where the very first Isabey boutique opened in Paris in 1924, marking the beginning of a great story.
This fragrance not only celebrates a century of excellence, but also builds a bridge between the historical and modern aspects of the House, embodying its journey through an intense and sophisticated scent that simultaneously carries an air of mystery and magic.
The press release already gives it away: the eau de parfum Rue de la Paix was created by French perfumer Patrice Revillard, who recently wowed me with his chili cracker Scoville, which he created for the Obvious Parfums brand. Revillard has also developed compositions for Isabey’s parent company Panouge, such as Absinthe Gaïac and Datura Amaretti. For the anniversary fragrance Rue de la Paix, the perfumer combined the ingredients peach, bergamot, ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose, narcissus, lily, Peru balsam, musk, sandalwood, vanilla, papyrus and benzoin resin.
Rue de la Paix is wonderfully creamy, floral and radiant right from the start. Velvety and soft, the notes of sweet peach and milky ylang-ylang flow into one another. Tuberose and narcissus add a few greenish-tart floral sparkles, while lily and jasmine in turn emphasize the milky-creamy nuances of the composition. Crystalline, white musk provides powdery, airy facets, for cozy cloud dabs that are accompanied by the lovely, vanilla-like and incredibly smooth notes of Peru balsam and velvety sandalwood warmth.
All of this takes place on a very light, lucid and transparent level, allowing Rue de la Paix to translate the classic elegance of a lush floral bouquet into a modern language. Even if the eau de parfum shines with many a floral high-carat in white-flower form, the fragrance is consistently airy, finely balanced and always well-dosed. Vintage vibes definitely resonate in the creation. It is reminiscent of the classic floral fragrances of the early 20th century, yet Rue de la Paix is fresh, creamy and milky with a fruity undertone, always light and characterized by modern elegance. A composition that is more than worthy of an anniversary fragrance. A feminine, spring-summer fragrance that I would wear on any occasion and that is perfect for anyone who prefers floral, soft and clean eaux de parfum. Gorgeous! 💜
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