L'Origan, from Coty was released in 1905. The perfumer behind this creation is Francois Coty. It has the top notes of Bergamot, Coriander, Orange, Peach, and Pepper, middle notes of Jasmine, Nutmeg, Orange Blossom, Rose, Spicy Notes, Violet, and Ylang-Ylang, and base notes of Benzoin, Cedarwood, Civet, Coumarin, Incense, Musk, Sandalwood, and Vanilla.
L’Origan is without a doubt one of the most important and influential perfumes ever created, and one of the first great hits from Coty which demonstrated the true extent of his genius. With this scent he was one of the first to exploit the newly discovered category materials - absolutes. Without this creation some of the most famous and incredible scents would not have come into being - Après L’Ondée, L’Heure Bleue and Bal a Versailles. The scent opens with a pronounced hesperidic burst of bergamot underscored by neroli, before rushing into a central theme of a dominant carnation note intertwined with the delicate powdery facets of jasmine, rose, violet and ylang - which is at once sweet, slightly creamy and spicy with a highly distinctive, almost grass-like, note. The warm, almost spicy facets of the carnation are heightened by the inclusion of clove and a very subtle amber base. The ingenuity of this scent is its rich floral harmonies which nod towards spiciness without actually being spicy, an effect which is warm and vibrant with the soft sensuality of coumarin and vanillin rounding off the base. Such a masterpiece of a fragrance forever ensured Coty’s fame and fortune.