Every night, Napoleon!

I so vividly remember the time I met Patrick Pace, the dashing and workaholic international development manager of Rancé. Today, he still looks as debonair as he  was during our first meeting in Milan two years ago. Today, his brunette hair is combed to one side, and his sand-colored suit is paired with a smart blue button-down shirt coordinated with a mauve-colored striped tie. As I come closer, I take a whiff. The redolence of his genteel aura takes me back to Via Lombardini, site of the Rancé headquarters and perfume museum. 

On that hot day in September 2009, I met  perfume heiress Jeanne Sandra Rancé, her husband Felice D’Elia and their son Giovanni D’Elia Rancé, the 11th and 12th generations to the Rancé heritage of perfume-making that was originally founded in Grasse, France in 1795. Rancé is now located in Italy, but it still pays homage to its French history. All Rancé shelves are decorated with busts and images of Napoleon Bonaparte, its most famous patron. 

Many of Rance’s best-selling scents are named after members of the Napoleonic dynasty, who were also admirers and wearers of the perfume. Le Vainqueur, or “The Victor” was created in honor of the man himself. Its bright and fruity top notes of citrus melon and watermelon has made it an all-time favorite among men. Joséphine, a floral and sweet mix of white peach, jasmine and sandalwood and Eugénie, a subtle bouquet of passion fruit, magnolia and orange blossom, are tributes to the beloved wives of Napoleon and Napoleon III, and are classic choices of women.

When Jacqueline Susann wrote Every Night, Josephine, was her title inspired by Josephine trying to seduce Napoleon Bonaparte every night with her Rancé perfume?

 Because of its historic roots, the brand stays true to its precious integrity. “We want to maintain a heritage that makes the brand timeless,” Patrick says. In fact, some of its perfumes are exact reproductions of the original recipes and bottle designs since each inception from centuries ago, using recipes that have been kept in the family archives. 

For four centuries, the Rancé dynasty which began with Francois Rance has developed consistently legendary perfumes.

This year, two scents were launched: Superbe for men and Noblesse for women. I notice a dainty ribbon is now tied around the neck of each bottle. This detail goes with the small touches that are packaged by hand with care. Patrick picks up a bottle with a lavender bow and spritzes it onto a swatch. There is something about its blend of grapefruit rose and musk that I find soft, yet intriguing.  I love the exquisite aroma of this scent on a man. Patrick tells me that Superbe is his new favorite, a combination of mint, mandarin orange, along with some woodsy notes. “I have about six opened perfume bottles at home. And each day, I decide which one I want to wear depending on my mood.”

And while my amateur nose still has yet to become more keen to the intricacies of perfumes, my sensory faculties nevertheless serve me well. Spending an afternoon chatting with an old friend at the Rustan’s board room in Makati, and taking in the familiar scents of Rancé, bring back memories of warm dinners with the Rancé family in Italy, eating pasta pomodoro in sidewalk cafes and vegan chocolate gelato while strolling down the streets of Milan. 

Over 400 years, the House of Rancé has created more than 700 exquisite aristocratic perfumes using the latest technology and the finest natural ingredients.

How wonderful to be able capture precious memories in a single bottle.  

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Rancé is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Alabang Town Center, and Rustan’s Shangri-la Plaza Mall. For details,contact 813-3739, 850-5532, or 633-4639, respectively.

Rance at Rustan’s: Sevrine Miailhe, Rustans marketing communication manager; Pat Hernandez, merchandising manager for Rance; Rhoda Campos-Aldanese, Rustans vice president for merchandising; and Patrick Pace.