All Natural Re-creation: Marie Antoinette Perfume

BellaSugar.com writes that Marie Antoinette Sillage de la Reine perfume was created by French perfume maker Francis Kurkdjian, who recreated Marie Antoinette's signature fragrance. It retails for $900 for 25 ml or $450.0o at the Versailles gift shop for a smaller amount; profits go to the restoration of Versailles. Or if you want the perfume decanted into Baccarat crystal, the cost is a mere $11,000! Reportedly, this perfume was made using only natural scents and 18th century perfumery techniques.

Kurkdjian based his work on A Scented Palace: The Secret History of Marie Antoinette's Perfumer by Elizabeth Feydeau. "The book explores the notes of the queen's Versailles perfumer, and from this information Kurkdjian was able to recreate her beloved scent."

According to a Washington Post article , Elisabeth de Feydeau, a historian and professor at the Versailles School of Perfumes, "made possible the revival effort with her discovery of the recipes for Marie Antoinette's favorite fragrances among musty boxes of centuries-old documents warehoused by the French government. "

I also like to make my own scents(cologne) using natural essential oils(no synthetics), and I've been wanting to try something a little more complex. BellaSugar mentions that Marie Antoinette Sillage de la Reine perfume "contains rose, iris, cut jasmine, tuberose and orange blossom. Woody touches of cedar and sandalwood are also present, with the sandalwood more fragrant to my nose than the cedar. Additionally, it has notes of Tonkin musk (that's, um, the content of Himalayan goats' glands) and grey amber." This article mentions that the perfume also has "feature notes of orris, lavender, violet, bergamot, ambergris, and oily galbanum."

I will research essential oil substitutes for expensive or hard to find scents, but I should be able to make a version of this perfume. I have no clue what the fragrance smells like, nor do I have a recipe, but it will be fun trying to recreate history in my own little way. I'll just use my imagination when putting together this regal scent.

A few other royal fragrances(ingredients loosely interpreted) for brain storming cologne recipes:

Eau de Fleurs d’Oranger du Roi, Louis XV - citrus with a touch of ambergris, bitter orange, lemon, neroli, orange, ambergris, and petitgrain.

Eau de Cologne/Aqua Admirabilis: lemon, neroli, petitgrain, lavender, and rosemary.

Eau de Coquette(Madame du Barry): angelica, nutmeg, rose, orris, carnation, ambergris(base), orange, and jasmine.

Eau de la Favourite: orange and lemon, orris, Iris(wild carrot), and mace.

Cyprian(originally a wig powder scent): bergamot, clary sage, orris, violet, oakmoss, and Rose.

Eau de Trianon: orange, lemon, rose, jasmine, orris, violet, cedarwood, benzoin, and vanilla.

Mille-Fleurs Bouquet: cassie, lavender and citrus notes, rose geranium, rose, jasmine, orange, violet, and vanilla.

Pompadour: coriander, mint, lavender, rosemary, allspice, rose geranium, lemon balm, marjoram, rose, jonquil, and orris.

Reinette: similar to Mille-Fleurs Bouquet, but with hyacinth, carnation and tuberose.

Le Roi Soleil: bergamot, lemon, lime, rosemary, orange, carnation, clove, jasmine, ambergris, oakmoss, frankincense, and birch.

Making your own cologne is quite easy, just use a base of alcohol(grain alcohol or vodka) and add essential oils. Drops of glycerin can be used as a fixative, and is especially nice on dry skin, or for winter. I decant mine for frugal convenience into plastic travel spray bottles from the dollar store. Pretty cut glass or crystal perfume bottles with a spray attachments or atomizer are easy to find online, and some are very inexpensive.

Here is a thorough explanation of how to mix essential oils for perfume.

I use a similar recipe for homemade spray deodorant. Some sample recipes here. You can also add some sea salt for a little extra antibacterial protection. A few common essential oils with antibacterial properties: cinnamon, tea tree oil, rosemary, citronella(excellent extra strength odor blocker), sage, pine, neem oil, and clove. Neem oil smells awful on it's own. I pair it with citronella which completely covers the smell. I use my homemade insect repellent as a deodorant on really hot days.

I usually get my organic essential oils and supplies from Mountain Rose Herbs and Vitacost.com(least expensive).

I just happened to find this Indie perfumer who makes her scents naturally. She happens to have a royal collection. Pricey, but interesting.