La Route d’Émeraude, launched by Isabey in 1924, was a perfume born at the height of the Orientalist movement—a time when Western fascination with the East permeated the arts, fashion, and fragrance. The name, in French, translates to “The Emerald Route” (pronounced: lah root deh eh-meh-rohd), conjuring images of jeweled caravans, exotic landscapes, and ancient trade routes stretching from the opulent courts of southern Asia to the bazaars of the Near East. It was a name designed to evoke mystery, richness, and escape—perfectly suited to a fragrance that promised sensuality and luxury in equal measure.
The perfume’s title wasn’t chosen at random; it draws from the literary and theatrical world. La Route d’Émeraude was the title of a novel by Belgian author Eugène Demolder, which inspired a stage adaptation by French playwright Jean Richepin. The play enjoyed success at the Vaudeville Theatre in Paris and added a cultural layer to the name, suggesting both romance and adventure. The “Emerald Route” refers to a legendary pathway along which rare gemstones and treasures traveled from Asia into Persia and the Mediterranean world. For a perfume house like Isabey—known for luxury and refinement—this association offered an ideal narrative: a scent that transported the wearer along a mythical road paved in silk and precious stones.
