History

A Timeline of Elegance: The House of Worth and the Legacy of Parfums Worth

The history of Parfums Worth is inseparable from the rich legacy of the House of Worth, the first true haute couture house in Paris. Founded in 1858 by Charles Frederick Worth, an Englishman with a flair for showmanship and impeccable tailoring, the House of Worth would not only define fashion for nearly a century but later leave an indelible mark on the world of fragrance.

Charles Frederick Worth established his maison at 7 Rue de la Paix in Paris alongside partner Otto Bobergh. With prior experience in London’s retail scene and a flourishing reputation as head designer at Maison Gagelin, Worth was already a name to watch. His big break came when his creations, shown at the Universal Expositions, caught the eye of Empress Eugénie. She appointed him as her court dressmaker—a royal endorsement that would catapult him to fame. He went on to design for legendary performers such as Sarah Bernhardt and Nellie Melba, and catered to the fashion needs of the elite, offering luxurious, custom-made wardrobes with four changes of dress for every day. He pioneered seasonal collections, shown on live models, and brought a theatrical elegance to the world of couture.

After dissolving his partnership with Bobergh in 1871, Worth’s empire grew under his sole direction. Following his death in 1895, his sons Gaston-Lucien and Jean-Philippe carried on the legacy, and by the 1920s, Charles’s grandson Jacques Worth had taken the reins. It was under Jacques’s vision that the House of Worth ventured into perfumery—marking the birth of Parfums Worth.

In 1924, Les Parfums Worth debuted with Dans la Nuit, a hauntingly beautiful aldehydic floral created by perfumer Maurice Blanchet. Its bottle, designed by the legendary René Lalique, reflected the opulence and artistry the House of Worth was known for in fashion. This was followed the same year by Vers le Jour, and in 1929 by Sans Adieu, both also housed in exquisite Lalique flacons. Each scent told a part of a larger story—a romantic arc that unfolded over time. These perfumes were more than just olfactory experiences; they were emotional vignettes that mirrored the house’s fashion philosophy: each design, each scent, was meant to stir the imagination.

The most famous of these, Je Reviens, was launched in 1932. Translated as "I Will Return," this fragrance became a wartime symbol of hope and devotion. Soldiers would send bottles to their sweethearts as a promise of return. It was followed in 1934 by Vers Toi (“Towards You”), continuing the narrative of longing and reunion. Other fragrances in this romantic saga included Projets, Imprudence, Requête, and the rare Femme (1946), each name evoking a different facet of the timeless dance of love. These scents were often accompanied by luxurious packaging and labels designed by Fernand Baumann, with a level of detail and finish worthy of a couture house.

The perfume line proved to be a commercial and artistic triumph, eventually growing into its own separate entity—Les Parfums Worth. From 1924 to 1947, over twenty fragrances were launched, establishing Worth as one of the few couture houses with a truly distinguished perfume arm. At a time when perfumery was still dominated by standalone fragrance houses, Parfums Worth was ahead of its time—blending fashion and fragrance in a seamless artistic expression.

As the fashion world evolved, so too did the House of Worth. In 1950, it was acquired by the House of Paquin. The couture house officially closed its doors in 1956, marking the end of an era. However, Parfums Worth continued independently. After a series of ownership changes—including a sale to Société Maurice Blanchet, then David Reimer's International Classic Brands in 1992—the fragrances passed into the hands of Lenthéric and, eventually, Shaneel Enterprises Ltd.

The House of Worth saw a renaissance in 1999, when it was revived by Dilesh and Hitesh Mehta. They consolidated the scattered intellectual property of the original house, bringing both fashion and fragrance under one vision again. Giovanni Bedin, an alumnus of Karl Lagerfeld and Thierry Mugler, was appointed creative director. The house returned to the runway in 2010 with modern interpretations of Edwardian corsets and crinolines, now transformed into ethereal ballerina skirts and lace-laden silhouettes. In 2011, they launched a ready-to-wear line under the name Courtworth.

The fragrance revival soon followed. In 2000, a reformulated Dans la Nuit was reissued, and in 2005, Je Reviens returned, albeit in a modernized form. New creations such as Je Reviens Couture (2004), W Superbe, Joyeuse Retour, and Courtesan were also introduced, keeping the brand’s romantic tradition alive for a new generation.

From its beginnings in the golden age of couture to its transformation into a fragrance legacy, the story of Parfums Worth is one of beauty, emotion, and enduring creativity. Each perfume is a fragment of history—a scented snapshot of elegance, love, and innovation. Through decades of change, what has remained constant is the house's commitment to artistry and the power of perfume to capture a moment in time.