Style Edit: Henry Jacques' Il y Avait un Jardin cologne-inspired fragrances express purity and simplicity, evoking sun-kissed memories and the serene beauty of a secret garden

South China Morning Post

22-05-2025

Henry Jacques – the haute parfumerie maison celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – has unveiled the latest chapter in its olfactory story with the launch of the collection Il y Avait un Jardin. Just over a decade since the debut of the brand's iconic Les Essences concentrated perfume oils – part of
Les Classiques collection – this new venture sees Henry Jacques refocusing on purity and simplicity, presenting a pair of fresh, cologne-inspired fragrances.
Il y Avait un Jardin fragrance evokes memories of life's quiet pleasures. Photo: Handout
Il y Avait un Jardin – 'There was Once a Garden' in French – invites the wearer into a fragrant haven where fresh, natural ingredients evoke memories and life's quiet pleasures. Defying the conventions of haute parfumerie – a complex art and science we have been taught to revere – the collection embraces a pared-back elegance, elevating cologne without seeking to reinvent it.
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The two compositions are named simply I and II. The first opens with sunlit notes of bergamot, lemon and bitter orange, complemented by aromatic rosemary. It unfolds into a delicate heart of orange blossom and lavender, finishing with deep, elegant notes of warm sandalwood, and unexpectedly ambery benzoin and cistus.
The fragrances are presented in 250ml bottles of thick green laboratory glass, eschewing fuss for practicality. Photo: Handout
With its vibrant notes of lemon, bergamot and mandarin, the second fragrance transports the wearer to a radiant fruit grove. Herbal petitgrain bigarade and spicy rosewood mingle with lavender, while nutmeg adds a warm complexity. Base notes of creamy tonka bean, gentle amber and earthy vetiver leave an enchanting impression of sophistication on the skin.
The name Il y Avait un Jardin is French for 'There was Once a Garden'. It invites the wearer into a fragrant haven. Photo: Handout
The name of the collection highlights Henry Jacques' authentic connection to the natural world. The raw materials for Il y Avait un Jardin originate from orchards in Italy, and are sourced through a partnership with a Calabrian family renowned over generations for cultivating the world's finest citrus trees. This collaboration ensures the highest quality of ingredients and a genuine sense of place in every scent.
The raw materials for Il y Avait un Jardin originate from orchards in Italy, and are sourced through a partnership with a Calabrian family famed for its citrus trees. Photo: Handout
The fragrances are presented in 250ml bottles of thick green laboratory glass, underscoring Henry Jacques' commitment to a ritual as natural and unaffected as splashing water on the face. This generous format encourages frequent use, removing any sense of formality or fussiness, and allowing the wearer to transition effortlessly between scents depending on their mood.