VINTAGE - Lucien Lelong Orgueil EDT

Orgueil ("Pride") perfume was released 1946 by Lucien Lelong after the Liberation of France from the German Occupation of World War II. Lelong is credited with having done a great deal to preserve the couture industry in France during the difficult years of the Occupation. Orgueil is a celebration of the victory of perserverance and French pride in their democracy.

An aldehydic fruity floriental chypre fragrance with soft floral and spicy oriental undertones. notes of acacia, aldehydes, genet, plum, peach, sweet pea, reseda, geranium, linden,  lily, violet, pepper, carnation, tuberose, jasmine, iris, Bulgarian rose, cloves, nutmeg, Tonkin musk, patchouli, labdanum, vanilla, oakmoss, sandalwood, ambergris and leather. 

REVIEWS

Basenotes - The opening is clearly fruity, with ripe peaches and plum each vying for pole position, and both liked by a gently restrained lashing of aldehydes, which provide the opening blast with a fresh undertone. The floral heart of this composition is outed min the drydown, with white carnation, a lovely iris core, and a traditional natural jasmine playing the lead roles, although at times a bright Centifolia rose is an accompanying basso continuo in the background. The base is changing direction again, with a delicious ambergris supplying a discreetly bitter main frame, with a somewhat weak oakmoss plating with a very soft and slightly crisp leather note. The ambergris is truly exceptional. I get moderate sillage and excellent projection in this frangrance... as far as the performance is concerned, there is pride to be hand in another quality of this creation: the absolutely sensational longevity, with reaches seventeen hours on me, albeit close to my skin toward the end. Fruity - floral - then fougere: this fruity-floral chypre, composed in ingredients if the highest quality, is a remarkable achievement and masterpiece of the dawn of post-WW2 Europe. Magnificent. 4/5.

Basenotes - A very strong, heady mixture of florals and leather - imagine inhaling the bottom of a woman's handbag of the era, where the scent of lipstick and cologne have mingled with the inner soft leather lining.  It was described by Lelong itself as "fruity with floral and oriental undertones." That about covers all bases without really committing. It may not have stood out above the other of its era, but the scent today is so rare as to make this a remarkable gem.  The name translates as "pride, arrogance," meant to symbolize the French emerging victorious from WWII.  A real stunner of a scent!