Heritage
A house, in its own words
The Bourjois story starts in 1860 when Joseph‑Albert Ponsin opened a small toiletry shop on rue d'Hauteville in Paris. In 1886 Alexandre‑Napoleon Bourjois purchased the business from Ponsin and rebranded it under his own name, establishing a dedicated perfume and cosmetics house at 28 Place Vendôme. The new owner expanded the product range beyond basic toiletries, adding colour cosmetics that appealed to the theatrical crowd of Montmartre. By the 1920s the company introduced its first fragrance, Mon Parfum, in 1924, marking a shift toward scent as a core pillar of the brand. The 1930s saw Bourjois devote most of its research and development budget to creating new perfumes, a strategy that produced the enduring Mais Oui in 1938. The post‑war era brought a series of masculine scents, beginning with Masculin in 1972 and followed by variations such as Masculin Aguirre (1991) and Masculin Barbare (2005). In 1991 the brand launched L'Insaisissable, a floral‑spicy composition that remains a reference point for its modern line‑up. Ownership passed to the Wertheimer family—who also controlled Chanel—around the turn of the 20th century, and they retained Bourjois for nearly a century, guiding its expansion across Europe. Today the brand operates under the umbrella of Coty, which lists Bourjois among its portfolio of heritage cosmetics houses. Throughout its evolution, Bourjois has maintained a reputation for vibrant packaging, theatrical marketing, and a commitment to making French fragrance culture accessible to a broad public. Bourjois approaches perfumery as a form of everyday theatre, inviting wearers to play with scent as they would with colour on a canvas. The brand values creativity that is inclusive, favouring compositions that can be layered or worn in multiple contexts rather than rigid, single‑note statements. It draws on the French tradition of balanced accords while encouraging modern twists that reflect current lifestyles. Sustainability has become a growing concern; recent statements from the company note a shift toward responsibly sourced raw materials and recyclable packaging, aligning the brand’s historic emphasis on accessibility with contemporary environmental awareness. Bourjois also prioritises collaboration with perfumers who understand the brand’s playful heritage, ensuring each launch feels both fresh and recognisable within the house’s broader olfactory language.