Le Parfum de Sacha Guitry by Isabey was launched in 1929, a tribute to one of France’s most celebrated men of letters. The name translates from French to “The Perfume of Sacha Guitry” (pronounced: luh par-FAHN duh sah-shah gwee-TREE). At first glance, it reads like a celebrity endorsement—but in this case, it was something more intimate and nuanced. Isabey crafted this fragrance specifically for Sacha Guitry, the renowned actor, playwright, and bon vivant who had become a towering figure in French cultural life. Its creation paralleled the release of Le Parfum d’Yvonne Printemps, dedicated to his muse, partner, and frequent stage co-star, further emphasizing the romantic and artistic interplay between the two figures. Together, the fragrances formed a fragrant dialogue—his and hers—capturing the essence of their public and private personas.
Choosing to name a perfume after Guitry in 1929 was a calculated and inspired move. It lent the fragrance immediate intellectual glamour. Guitry was not only a theater star but a writer of sharp wit and insight, often compared to Oscar Wilde. He was known for his charm, romantic entanglements, and piercing commentary on women, love, and life. His now-famous quote, “Two things make women unforgettable, their tears and their perfume,” perfectly captures the emotional weight fragrance carried in his worldview. In fact, Vanity Fair captured the cultural curiosity around him in 1931 when it slyly asked: “Is Sacha Guitry a perfume or an actor or a playwright or all three?” The answer, of course, was yes. He had become a myth, and the perfume helped cement that myth in olfactory form.
The late 1920s—especially 1929—was a turning point. The Roaring Twenties were coming to a close, and the world was on the cusp of dramatic change with the Wall Street crash that autumn. In France, however, the Années folles (the “crazy years”) were still in full swing. It was an era of Art Deco elegance, cinematic innovation, avant-garde experimentation, and artistic collaborations across fashion, design, and scent. Perfume was deeply intertwined with personal identity and fantasy. A fragrance named after Sacha Guitry would not be aimed at those desiring a light floral or powdery number—it would speak to sophistication, wit, intrigue, and the Parisian stage.
