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Quick Details
• Brand: Jean Desprez
• Fragrance: Bal à Versailles
• Concentration: Pure Parfum
• Size: 1 oz / 29.5ml
• Era: 1960s/70s original formulation
• Origin: Made in France
• Gender: Women’s fragrance
• Presentation: Complete with original box, gold brocade case and documentation
• Condition: Contents as presented in photographs
Heritage & Significance
Bal à Versailles was created in 1962 by Jean Desprez. It began as “Débutante de Versailles,” a limited edition made exclusively for New York’s Daggett & Ramsdell to honour American and French debutantes. On public release it became the most expensive perfume in the world at $39.90 for 1.25 ounces, surpassing even Jean Patou’s Joy.
The Desprez family’s connection to Versailles is literal: Félix Desprez served as official perfumer to Louis XV. That lineage inspired Jean Desprez to compose a fragrance capturing Versailles at its height, and its complexity — over 350 natural ingredients — made it extraordinary in both composition and cost.
Production matched the ambition. The glass was hand-blown with individually fitted stoppers, and roughly 10% of bottles were rejected for minimal imperfections. Everything from mixing the oils to tying the ribbons was done by hand at 13 rue Ernest Deloison in Neuilly, by a staff of eighteen working under Desprez’s direct supervision. Distribution was deliberately scarce — in 1972 only 65 stores in the entire United States were authorised to sell it. Its wearers included Elizabeth Taylor, who reportedly bought it by the case.
This pure parfum concentration is Bal à Versailles in its most precious form, with natural materials at levels that would be impossible today.
Fragrance Composition
Over 350 natural ingredients, including:
Top: Aldehydes, Israeli basil, Calabrian bergamot, South African blackcurrant bud absolute and leaves, Chinese cinnamon, Russian coriander, Lebanese farnesiana cassie, Grasse rose absolute, Sicilian mandarin, West Indian lime, Tunisian neroli, Guinea orange, ravensara, verbena, Paraguayan petitgrain
Heart: Bulgarian rose absolute, Grasse jasmine absolute, Egyptian jasmine, May rose absolute, Grasse orange blossom absolute, Indian tuberose, Florentine iris, Comoros palmarosa, Indian carnation, Moroccan geranium, Provençal lavender, Dutch juniper
Base: Abyssinian civet, Tibetan musk, Omani frankincense, Tyrolean oakmoss, Mysore sandalwood, Madagascar vanilla absolute, Anatolian rose absolute, Java vetiver, Nossi-Bé ylang-ylang absolute, Venezuelan tonka bean, Siamese benzoin, Maltese labdanum
Condition Details
• Original stopper included; sits slightly askew, as is common with these hand-fitted stoppers
• Excellent bottle clarity
• Original outer box in excellent condition
• Gold brocade presentation case intact with original satin lining
• Original documentation included, with the Fragonard artwork information
• All labels and text clear and legible
• Rich amber colour
• Patina consistent with age
• Contents as presented in the photographs; please review all images, which form part of the description
Authentication Details
Hand-blown glass bottle with an individually fitted stopper, each matched to its own bottle, hand-polished to the clarity characteristic of this production. Original white box with gold medallion graphic, original gold brocade presentation case, and “La Coupe des Sens” documentation. The label carries the reproduction from the Sèvres Museum used on Desprez production of this period, with period-correct typography and graphics throughout, and colour and viscosity consistent with the age of the parfum.
Collector’s Notes
Complete presentations of the pure parfum from this era are considerably harder to find than the bottle alone. The box, brocade case and documentation together make this an unusually intact survival. During this period every stage of production was carried out by hand in Neuilly under Desprez’s supervision, using natural materials from sources that no longer supply perfumery at these levels.
SHIPPING & HANDLING:
• Ground shipping only (required by law for alcohol-based fragrances)
• Carefully and professionally packed to protect items condition
• USPS Ground with tracking (FedEx/UPS Ground available by request)
• Signature required for purchases over $500
• Handling time: 1-3 business days
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BUYERS:
Please carefully examine all the photos provided, as they are an integral part of the description. If you have any doubts or questions, ask before making an offer or purchasing. Due to the age of vintage fragrances, the scent may have altered over time and might not match the original fragrance exactly. The item in the listing photos is the one you will receive. I cannot be responsible for any leakage or evaporation during shipping. In case of damage upon arrival, please take clear photos immediately upon opening before removing the item from its packaging.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE:
This fragrance represents a true historical formula. This is a collector’s piece from the unregulated era of perfumery and is sold for collection purposes only. Due to the possibility of containing ingredients now regulated, careful testing is essential if choosing to apply despite these warnings:
Mandatory Testing Protocol:
• ALWAYS perform a patch test before any use:
• Apply tiny amount to inside of elbow
• Cover with bandage
• Wait full 24 hours
• Check for any redness, irritation, or reaction
• If any reaction occurs, discontinue immediately
• Never apply to broken or irritated skin
• Always test on skin before clothing
• Keep away from eyes and mucous membranes
• Discontinue use immediately if any irritation occurs
• Those with sensitive skin should avoid completely
• Consider display purposes only
• Seller assumes no responsibility for any personal use
This historical perfume:
• Contains completely unrestricted original formulas
• Pure historical composition
• True collector’s/display piece
• Personal use not advised and entirely at buyer’s risk
• Historical artifact of perfume history
• Represents completely unreformed formula
Returns Policy:
Due to the personal nature of fragrances, all sales are final and non-returnable. Returns are not accepted for any reason including but not limited to: not liking the scent, skin reactions, or change of mind. The only exception is if the item arrives damaged, which must be proven with clear photographic evidence taken immediately upon opening and before removing the item from its original shipping packaging. Buyer is responsible for return shipping costs in such cases. Any signs of tampering or discrepancies will void any possibility of refund.
Final Sale Policy:
Please be sure of your purchase before committing to buy or making an offer. I do not cancel transactions once an offer has been accepted or payment has been made. Photos are part of the description. To avoid complications, be certain before proceeding with your purchase and feel free to ask any questions.
