Jasmin Majorelle Notes
Top: Coriander, Lemon, Sage Middle: Jasmine, Ylang ylang, Neroli Base: Iris, White Musk
The early years of Jasmin Majorelle
1981: Jasmin Majorelle was born in a year where romance ruled the world. Royal wedding fever flourished as Charles and Diana named the date and fashion was floaty and feminine, taking its lead from the future Princess of Wales. Jasmin Majorelle was created by Yuri Gutsatz in 1981 and was simply called Jasmin.
This is the way real French perfume should be, made with loving care and pride.” – Krmarich, Fragrantica user
Appropriately, Yuri and his wife Arlette set up Le Jardin Retrouvé where they lived: in Cour Jasmin in Paris – surely the perfect address for a perfumer!
Le Jardin Retrouvé fragrances had a loyal and somewhat bohemian following among those who prized French Haute Parfumerie, including iconic actress Jane Birkin.
Jasmin Majorelle coming back to life
In 2016, Michel and his wife, the artist and writer Clara Feder, nurtured Le Jardin Retrouvé back to life, including a carefully curated selection of seven of Yuri’s fragrances . The response was so enthusiastic that they came up with an idea that had never been done before. They asked their online community to choose which of Yuri’s fragrances to bring back to life next.
This jasmine is really well balanced and pleasant. It feels lush and natural, like I’m in a beautiful jasmine garden warmed by the sun. Such a gorgeous bright, green floral opening that settles into a more sensual jasmine and eventually morphs into a warm and sunny base.” –
Belinda EK, verified buyer
Michel and Clara had hundreds of Yuri’s meticulously recorded formulas and chose four to send out in a small discovery package of samples, labelled only with a coloured dot. As the votes came in, Jasmin Majorelle, or yellow dot as it was labelled, didn’t win, (that accolade went to Oriental Sans Souci ), however, such was the loyalty and affection stirred by Jasmin Majorelle that Michel and Clara could not resist asking their in -house perfumer, Maxence Moutte to recreate it from Yuri’s notes. A limited edition of 150 50ml bottles was produced, each signed and numbered, taking their place among just ten precious haute perfumery fragrances from Le Jardin Retrouvé.
The jasmine in here gives a more sensual effect rather than animalic and, with a final touch of sweetened sage and even a hint of heliotrope, shows that Yuri was at the top of his game.” – Stephan Matthews, blogger
Clara Feder’s inspired text on Jasmin Majorelle: Yves Saint Laurent
Is it him? you ask yourself, looking at the graceful figure that seems to float on the pool, beyond the fountains, in the blue of the renovated house. Your imagination, enhanced by the heat of the sun at its zenith, seems to perceive the man who once created here inspired worlds. But only a rare scent of jasmine, ylang-ylang, Italian lemon, coriander and iris, answers you and proceeds to disturb your senses. Pure joy illuminates your face.
Inspiration : Jardin Majorelle, Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé, Marrakech, Morocco. Words and pictures by Clara Feder
French in style, retro in feel, this quickly became a favorite jasmine of mine.” – Eaux Sillage, blogger
