Fragrance Belles-Lettres Magazine

    Count Gabriel Alfred Guillaume d'Orsay (b.1801- d. 1852) was one of the most celebrated Dandies of his day. Dandy is a word that became popular around 1830 and it was fit for a gentleman who had a witty spirit among aristocratic people through amusing them and wearing outlandish clothing. It was the name of Beau Brummel  at that time twho became a household name who had a style of all his own and only associated with the bourgeois of society.
   The Count was known as the 'Chevalier d'Orsay. He was one of the most famous Dandies of that era because he was talented as a writer, painter and sculptor. However, his passion to create perfumes was his most memorable occupation until his death.
   Count d'Orsay was known for creating fine fragrances but the 'real' inspiration into the ART OF PERFUMERY was to do his dearest love, Countess Marguerite Blessington of Ireland and married to an Earl. Count d'Orsay and Countess Blessington had a secret love affair and she was used to an extravagant lifestyle. During one of her extravagant shopping tours, she was upset at the poor selection of fine fragrances and cosmetics for her delicate skin.  Count d'Orsay having a passion for creating fine fragrances began blending scents to the liking of what Countess Blessington's wanted and she was so happy that she peeked his interest in starting a perfumery.
   It was said that Count d'Orsay created fragrances for each of his rooms in the house and he had more and more request for them fragrances to be created in the homes of his fellow aristocratic friends.
   Count d'Orsay died at the height of his fame in 1852 when he was only 51 years of age. He was indeed a Dandy, the 'Le Chevalier' and Perfumer in French history.