J. Giraud Fils Perfume Labels: Beauty for Eyes and the Nose
J. Giraud Fils Perfume Labels: Beauty for Eyes and the Nose
Jean Giraud Fils, J. Giraud Fils, Perfume, Grasse, Paris, Typography, Vintage Labels, Carolyn Porter, Marcel Heuzé, Marcel Heuze, Marcel's Letters
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J. Giraud Fils Perfume Labels: Beauty for Eyes and the Nose

As a lover of all things related to old typography, I have to ask: How could I not have known about Jean Giraud Fils before now?!

I am smitten with the typographic and illustrative details in these vintage bottle labels: the JGF cyphers, the shadowed and swashed type, the ribbons, the ornamented filigree. It’s easy to understand why a gift from J. Giraud Fils would have been something special.

Of course, I had to dig for more information. I learned the perfume and soap company was established in 1853, and had stores in Grasse and Paris. According to Wikipedia, Grasse is a commune along the French Riveria that has had a prospering perfume industry since the end of the 18th century. Grasse is still the center of the French perfume industry, and it produces two-thirds of France’s aromas for perfume and food flavorings. Beyond France, Grasse is known as the world’s perfume capital; many ‘noses’ are trained in Grasse. Professional noses can distinguish between 2,000 scents.

It does not appear that the J. Giraud Fils company is still in business, but Grasse is home to four perfumeries (the oldest one is from 1747) that offer tours. Visitors can even create their own custom perfume.

Fun fact: Grasse was featured in the film based on the novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.