Melle Cleo is a fragrance created by Anaïs Biguine in 2015. This scent is included in the series of perfumes Les Cocottes de Paris, dedicated to Belle Époque and its important part – the courtesans. Today I review Melle Cleo Les Cocottes de Paris and tell you a little about this enthralling and unique epoch.

Belle Époque and Cleo de Merode

Belle Époque is a period of world’s history (mainly in Europe, but also in England, USA and Russian Empire) between the last decades of 19th century and 1914. The beginning of the First World War is considered the end of Belle Époque.

At that time, Paris became the city, where the arts flourished. The painters like Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, Modigliani and others created their masterpieces.

Guy de Maupassant and Émile Zola wrote their books, that we love to this day. Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes conquered the stage and the hearts. And they danced to the music of the great Igor Stravinsky and Maurice Ravel.

That time was full of art in any form, beauty, and freedom. And that time would not be possible without the courtesans of Paris.

Beraud Jean, 1900, Après l’Office à l’Eglise de la Ste-Trinité

The courtesans were the inspiration of artists, their lovers and sometimes the biggest love of their lives. They had everything: glory, money, expensive jewelry, apartments. Their beauty and charm could give them everything.

But, as we know, beauty is short-lived and the end of the life of many courtesans was not so brilliant.

Among these beautiful ladies, Cleopatra or Cleo de Merode was the most gorgeous. Painters adored her beauty and draw her portraits. She became the first professional photo model and her photos and cards were popular in every corner of Europe.

She was style icon, and all women tried to copy her hairstyle.

Cleo de Merode was a ballerina and danced on all famous stages of France, Europe, and even in the USA. At that time, all dancers, ballerinas, cabaret singers and circus artists were considered as courtesans.

Cleo suffered from rumors about her relationships with rich and influential men.

The rumor about her love affair with the Belgian king Leopold II was a shock for her. She tried to protect her good name, but the public didn’t want to believe her.

Photo of Cleo de Merode by Reutlinger, 1901

Cleo loved dancing more than anything else and gave performances even at the age of 50. In 1955 she published her memoirs «Le Ballet de ma vie» (The Dance of My Life). Cleo de Merode passed away in 1966 at the age of 91.

This beautiful woman was the muse and became the inspiration of many masterpieces. Her face was the face of Belle Époque. And even now she continues to inspire different artists. This time it is a French perfumer Anaïs Biguine.

Perfume Review of Melle Cleo Les Cocottes de Paris

Melle Cleo opens with a bright sour-sweet scent of litchi surrounded by the freshness of bergamot. The note of rosewood gives this perfume its gentle floral-woody aroma.

After a while, the beautiful floral heart with rose and night blooming cereus appears. The note of ylang-ylang adds to this floral bouquet its appealing and sweet aroma.

Сotton flower in the base gives this fragrance its tender and light scent with some musky nuances, while the note of lichen brings to Melle Cleo Les Cocottes de Paris its expressive and deep woody-earthy scent with slight damp accents.

Melle Cleo is very beautiful, enveloping and cozy perfume. Sometimes this fragrance reminds me of the scent of Turkish delight. But after a while, it begins to remind me of the scent of old books and their pages.

This soft and a little sweet scent of old books with words, which touch your soul…

Melle Cleo is the perfume with a charming vintage sound, that brings you back to the most wonderful epoch, La Belle Epoque.

Notes: Rosewood, Bergamot, Litchi, Night Blooming Cereus, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Lichen, Cotton Flower.

If it were a place, it would be behind the curtain of an old theater. 

If it were a color, it would be faded beige with pink and gold. 

If it were one word, it would be two: beautiful era. 

 

And to the last…

I think, this fragrance reflects the state of mind and soul of Cleo de Merode. It is not about her eventful bright life, but about her inner experience.

Despite the image of the temptress, she had very soft heart and soul. Her beauty was a gift and at the same time an obstacle. If you look closely, you can see a little sadness in her beautiful eyes. And I also feel this sadness in Melle Cleo perfume, but a bit another sadness.

Constant Puyo, circa 1900

This fragrance is a longing for the marvelous and unforgettable time, that Belle Epoque was. There was no other time, like Belle Epoque and there will not be never again.

 

It was my perfume review of Melle Cleo Les Cocottes de Paris Anais Biguine, and I hope you enjoyed it.

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