Heritage
A house, in its own words
The house emerged from Anaïs Biguine's established work in literary perfumery through her Jardins d'Écrivains collection, which pairs fragrances with literary works and historical characters. Biguine, who composes all scents herself, expanded her biographical approach with Les Cocottes de Paris, focusing specifically on the legendary courtesans who commanded Parisian society during the late 19th century. These women, known as cocottes or grandes horizontales, wielded extraordinary influence over fashion, art, and politics despite existing outside conventional social structures. The cocottes were not merely mistresses but cultural arbiters who inspired artists, dictated trends, and accumulated fortunes. Les Cocottes de Paris pays homage to this vanished world through scent, translating each woman's distinct character and story into olfactory form. The house released its initial collection in 2015, with three fragrances dedicated to figures including La Belle Otero and Melle Cléo. In 2024, the house expanded with two additional scents honoring La Dame Aux Camelias and Cora Pearl, continuing its mission to resurrect these forgotten personalities through contemporary perfumery. Les Cocottes de Paris operates from a conviction that perfume can serve as biography. Rather than abstract accords or generic aesthetic statements, each fragrance in the collection corresponds to a specific historical figure whose life provides the creative framework. The courtesans, as Biguine understands them, embodied self-creation and radical independence at a time when women had few legitimate paths to power and influence. They constructed identities through style, wit, and strategic allure, becoming whatever they needed to be. This philosophy of transformation and self-determination shapes every Les Cocottes de Paris scent. The collection invites wearers into the world of these remarkable women, offering an intimate encounter with personalities who scandalized and enchanted Parisian society. Biguine's approach treats fragrance as a form of storytelling, where each note contributes to a larger narrative about ambition, beauty, and the performance of identity. The house resists the impersonal quality of much modern perfumery by insisting that scent carry personal and historical meaning.