Mon Seul Ami by Isabey c1928

Mon Seul Ami by Isabey, originally launched in 1914, bears a name that resonates with poetic intimacy and emotional vulnerability. Translated from French, Mon Seul Ami means “My Only Friend,” and is pronounced as mon sul ah-MEE. The phrase is tender, confessional—quietly aching. It suggests solitude, devotion, and the kind of trust one places only in something constant and loyal. At a time when the world was on the brink of chaos, the name would have struck a deeply emotional chord, especially with women facing the separation and uncertainty brought by World War I.

The timing of the perfume’s release cannot be overlooked. In 1914, as the First World War broke out, France was thrust into turmoil. Men went off to fight, and women were left to carry on in silence—working, waiting, and surviving. Against this somber backdrop, a perfume called “My Only Friend” could have served as both balm and companion. For many women, fragrance was more than mere adornment; it was emotional armor. It preserved a sense of normalcy, femininity, and connection to memories of love and better days. Perfume lingered on handkerchiefs, on letters, on keepsakes—a lingering trace of someone beloved. In that way, Mon Seul Ami could have been interpreted literally: a symbolic stand-in for the one who was far away, or lost.

As a French perfumery house, Isabey would have been acutely aware of the sensitivities of the wartime consumer. Launching a fragrance with such a name during that year was likely a delicate and deliberate gesture—a respectful nod to the emotional lives of women. It wasn’t a bombastic launch, but rather a perfume that quietly acknowledged the pain and endurance of its time. The perfume’s name alone would have resonated with women missing husbands, lovers, brothers, sons—offering a trace of warmth and reassurance amid grief and upheaval.

Le Collier d'Isabey Perfume Presentation c1925

This rare perfume set is called " Le Collier d'Isabey " and came out in 1925. Isabey won a gold medal in 1925, when it introduced "Le Collier d'Isabey" (the Isabey Necklace) at the Paris Exhibition. It is also known as "Le Collier Parfume" (the perfumed necklace). The presentation consisted of six pearl shaped perfume bottles arranged to simulate a pearl necklace in a demi-lune presentation case. Andre Jolivet used his "laitance de hareng" pearlization technique for the bottles.

Isabey also made usage of these small round bottles for their individual perfumes such as Ambre de Carthage, Chypre Celtique, Bleu de Chine, Violette, Gardenia and Chypre.  

Le Parfum d'Yvonne Printemps by Isabey c1929

Le Parfum d’Yvonne Printemps by Isabey was introduced in 1929, during a rich and creative period in French perfumery. The perfume’s name—“Le Parfum d’Yvonne Printemps”—translates from French as “The Perfume of Yvonne Printemps.” It is pronounced as "luh par-FAHN dee-VOHN prahn-TAHN". The name evokes elegance, theatrical glamour, and spring-like freshness, all wrapped in the delicate mystery of celebrity allure.

The perfume was named after the beloved French actress and singer Yvonne Printemps, one of the most luminous stars of the Parisian stage in the 1920s and 1930s. She was married to the famous playwright and actor Sacha Guitry, a man known for his wit, charm, and fascination with feminine mystique. Isabey had previously created a perfume for Guitry himself, and Le Parfum d’Yvonne Printemps was conceived as a companion fragrance—perhaps an olfactory portrait of the actress herself. However, it's worth noting that Jean Desprez, who would later gain fame for Bal à Versailles, was the perfumer most frequently associated with Guitry, according to the book Femmes de Papier.

Choosing Yvonne Printemps as a muse was more than a marketing gesture—it was a way to capture an ideal of femininity in fragrance form. Yvonne was elegant, spirited, and celebrated for both her talent and her timeless charm. Her name—Printemps meaning “Spring” in French—naturally lends itself to imagery of blossoming flowers, youthful radiance, and renewal. These associations suggest a perfume that may have conveyed floral freshness, delicate powdery notes, or a soft romantic aura. In essence, a perfume that captures not just the actress, but the mood of a season and a cultural moment.