The story of Courrèges
André Courrèges trained under Cristóbal Balenciaga before opening his own house in Paris in 1961. With his wife Coqueline he created a white, geometric style made for the space age. Empreinte arrived in 1971 as the house's first women's fragrance, composed by Robert Gonnon. Its bottle, a sphere set on a cylinder, was designed by the couturier himself. Courrèges in Blue followed in 1983, an aldehydic floral by Edouard Fléchier. The house then faded from view for many years. Jacques Bungert and Frédéric Torlotin bought it in 2011 and relaunched Empreinte in 2012 for the label's fiftieth anniversary. In Blue returned in 2014. Artémis, the Pinault family holding company, took control at the end of 2017. In 2021 Courrèges unveiled a new fragrance collection and a completely rewritten Empreinte that shares only its name with the original.
An olfactory signature
The historic Courrèges perfumes run against its smooth white fashion. Empreinte is a dark chypre. Aldehydes and bergamot quickly give way to rose, then to a base of oakmoss, patchouli and castoreum. Leather shows through, almost animalic. Courrèges in Blue is brighter. Its aldehydes fizz with coriander and basil before a heart of peony, tuberose and peach. The base stays chypre, with moss and sandalwood.
Which Courrèges perfume to choose?
Our database holds two vintage Courrèges fragrances, Empreinte and Courrèges in Blue. Empreinte is for fans of leathery 1970s chypres and works best in winter. In Blue suits people who like aldehydes and powdery florals. Watch the versions: the 2012, 2014 and 2021 relaunches do not share the original formulas. Check the bottle's date before you buy. To place Empreinte, smell Guerlain Mitsouko. In Blue is closer to Lanvin Arpège, another aldehydic floral.