Scented Palace: The Secret History of Marie Antoinette's Perfumer

Jean-Louis Fargeon was a perfumer to the French nobility and became the personal and exclusive perfumer to Marie Antoinette until the Revolution. He remained loyal to her even during her imprisonment and trial.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 18 December 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Jean-Louis Fargeon was born into a family of perfumers in Montpellier, France, in 1748. Despite his humble beginnings, he harbored a dream of becoming the perfumer to the young queen, Marie Antoinette, of Versailles. Fargeon's ambition led him to Paris, where he opened a boutique that quickly became one of the most elegant and well-patronized in France. He created sumptuous perfumes and pomades for the French nobility, but his true passion lay in creating bespoke scents that perfectly reflected the moods and personality of Marie Antoinette. For fourteen years, Fargeon served as her personal and exclusive perfumer, until the Revolution of 1789 swept across France and brought an end to the extravagance of the monarchy. Fargeon, a lifelong supporter of the Republican cause, was in a dangerous position as a purveyor to the court. However, he remained fiercely loyal to Marie Antoinette, even during her desperate flight to Varennes, her execution, and even through his own imprisonment and trial. Despite the challenges and hardships he faced, Fargeon's dedication to Marie Antoinette and his talent as a perfumer remained unwavering. His legacy as the perfumer to the queen of France continues to inspire and captivate people to this day.

Weight: 194g
Dimension: 216 x 137 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788311083