Royal Houbigant by Houbigant was launched in 1893, during a time when Europe—and particularly France—was steeped in the aesthetics of grandeur, heritage, and elegance. The name Royal Houbigant is richly evocative. In plain English, it means “Regal Houbigant,” combining the French house’s own name with the English word “Royal” (pronounced: ROH-yal OO-bee-GAHN, with emphasis on the first syllable in each word). The term conjures up images of courtly refinement, silken gowns, gilded salons, and the perfume trays of queens and aristocrats. By appending “Royal” to their house name, Houbigant wasn’t merely branding a fragrance—it was asserting a legacy.
The name would have resonated deeply in the 1890s. This was the Belle Époque, a glittering age of peace, prosperity, and artistic flourishing in France. Royal families and noble houses still held strong influence, and Parisian fashion was ascending to unmatched heights. Corseted silhouettes, elaborate hats, and sumptuous fabrics like velvet, lace, and silk dominated the fashion scene. Perfume, too, was evolving—from singular floral waters to more complex compositions made possible by advancements in distillation and synthetic chemistry. To call a perfume “Royal” in this era was to suggest not just opulence, but also exclusivity, distinction, and a lineage of luxury.
Women of the time would likely have approached Royal Houbigant with a sense of aspiration. Perfume was more than adornment—it was a marker of status and a means of expressing one's femininity, refinement, and sophistication. A name like Royal Houbigant would evoke associations with courtly glamour and high fashion, a nod to Houbigant's own historic ties to royalty—including Marie Antoinette and Empress Eugénie. The perfume would have been chosen by women who identified with its bold elegance and wanted to make an impression that was lasting, perhaps a little mysterious.