Indian Summer by Houbigant, launched in 1972, arrived at a moment of cultural introspection and natural romanticism. The name itself—Indian Summer—is rooted in the English language and refers to a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that occurs in the late autumn, often after the first frost. The phrase evokes a poetic wistfulness, a golden lull between seasons—a last, lingering breath of warmth before the onset of winter. It carries with it a sense of serenity, fleeting beauty, and the quiet richness of late-season sun filtering through amber trees. Emotionally, it suggests nostalgia, sensual calm, and a reverence for nature’s slow exhale.
By choosing this name, Houbigant tapped into more than just meteorological poetry—it was aligning the fragrance with the feminine ideal of grace in transition: a woman in full bloom, luminous with experience, still warm with vitality, and surrounded by the golden light of her prime. The early 1970s, in which this perfume was introduced, was a time of major cultural shift. It was the height of the so-called “Me Decade,” when personal exploration, natural beauty, and individualism were celebrated. The fashion of the era moved toward earth tones, natural fibers, and unstructured silhouettes, signaling a return to nature and authenticity. Hair was worn long and loose, makeup was often minimal. The green movement had begun to take root, and so too did a trend in perfumery that favored lighter, more botanical compositions.
A perfume called Indian Summer would have appealed to the 1970s woman who identified with these ideals. She might have seen herself as modern yet in tune with the earth, introspective yet sensuous. The name itself might have conjured the image of sun-warmed skin, crushed leaves underfoot, the gentle crackle of dry grass, and the scent of air thick with late blooms and turning foliage.