The Blue Hour on the Moon River
l’Heure Bleue sur la Rivière Lune. Photo: Jordan River
Dusk at the confluence of the Mekong River and the Moon (Mun) River.
This is the most eastern point of Thailand in Issan, near the Laos border. Viet Nam and Cambodia can be glimpsed in the distance.
Le Moon, a restaurant on The Moon River
Let’s have a look at another river at dusk.
River Seine, Paris. Photo: Kadellar
In 1912 Jacques Guerlain created the perfume l’Heure Bleue to invoke dusk on the River Seine in Paris. One evening after strolling riverside he wrote in his notebook
I felt something so intense, I could only express it in a perfume.
River Seine, Paris. Photo: Savani1987
Still in production today this ‘fume also has a more modern entry level interpretation called L’Heure de Nuit. Often described as incomprehensible l’Heure Bleue is really a ‘fume for fragrance aficionados to explore and admire rather than something for daily wear. Of course not everyone will agree with this statement; this is after all Catherine Deneuve’s signature scent.
Photo: via Parfumanechka
l’Heure Bleue – Guerlain
Perfumer: Jacques Guerlain
Released: 1912
Classification: Oriental Floral
Notes
Top aniseed, bergamot
Heart rose, carnation, neroli, tuberose, violet
Dry Down benzoin, iris, tonka bean, vanilla
L’Heure de Nuit – Guerlain
Perfumer: Thierry Wasser
Released: 2012
Classification: Floral Woody Musk
Notes: heliotrope, iris, jasmine, orange blossom, rose, sandalwood, white musk
Further Reading
l’Heure de Bleue at Olfactoria’s Travels
l’Heure de Bleue at The Chemist in The Bottle
l’Heure de Nuit at The Non-Blonde
The Fragrant Man 
Blue hour is really something magical, isn’t it?
Bottled magic from far away and long ago.
One of the most mysterious and poetic perfume names. It is one of those scents though that no matter how pleasant they smell from the bottle, they are hard to imagine on a person (for me at least). I think it would be a great candle or room scent.
loved your blue photo btw but the “le moon” sounds like something Pepe le Pew would say…
@Amer: Lol. Thai-style nomenclature. Great food and a romantic (in the old-fashioned and the modern sense) riverside setting for dinner.
Great idea. Will pass on. L’Heure Bleue is the perfect time of the time too to light a candle
I wish I could love this perfume… Strike “love” – I’d go even for “like”. Nope. We don’t like each other – no matter how I tried. L’Heure de Nuit behaves much better on my skin but it’s not interesting enough for me to want to wear it.
I’ll keep trying once in a while.
I remember when you did your blue series. You posed the question which fragrance was next and gave a clue. I guessed this one but was too shy at the time to comment with the answer.
🙂 Please don’t be the next time.
It was you, my dear Water-Nymph, that encouraged me to overcome that.
That’s great! (laughing) Do you need help with anything else (while I’m on a roll)?
Yes please a few more ‘likes’ on the Facebook iteration of The Fragrant Man would be great.
Your wish is my command! 😉
@Undina – wow what did you do? Nymph Powers? Your secret; Big Thanks.