Joséphine
by Rance 1795
The sensual and timeless allure of Joséphine, the woman most loved by Napoleon, is the soul of these warm, mysterious and passionate notes, dedicated to her by François Rancé. Today Joséphine is reborn in a floriental, intimate and mysterious fragrance. In the opening, the enveloping sweetness of Bulgarian rose mingles with violet in a sophisticated bouquet of fresh flowers, with accents of red currant. In the heart Vanilla flower, warm and enveloping, is mixed with opoponax and pink pepper, in a spicy and slightly earthy melange. The background of mosses, modulated like a velvet, is warmed by the woody and resinous tones of Oman incense. Joséphine: the charm of a brilliant, lively, surprising woman.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
This is a fragrance for close, attentive company rather than a room-filling entrance: the kind of scent that feels personal, warm and lightly romantic. Its fruity brightness and peppery lift suit a wearer who wants softness with a little pulse underneath.
How to wear
Best in mild to warm weather, where the grapefruit, rose and passion fruit can stay luminous and the spicy woods do not become heavy. Apply lightly to pulse points for a more intimate trail, or add one extra spray for a clearer floral-fruity diffusion.
Who it’s for
For someone drawn to fruity-floral compositions with a refined spicy backbone, and who likes their sweetness tempered by woods, musk and a slightly savory smokiness. It will appeal to wearers who enjoy romantic scents with a historical, polished character.
Release year
2019
The nose
Maurizio Cerizza is a contemporary perfumer known for elegant, characterful compositions that balance clarity with texture. In Désirée, he shapes Rancé’s historical muse into a modern fruity-floral portrait, keeping the scent lively, polished and emotionally direct.
Collaborators
Maurizio Cerizza collaborated on the formula and translated Rancé’s historical brief into scent, while the house itself shaped the concept around Désirée Clary and Napoleon’s youthful love story. The brand’s creative direction clearly guided the narrative and the emotional tone of the composition.
Rance 1795’s story
Rancé 1795 is a heritage French-Italian house rooted in Grasse and in the tradition of artistic perfumery. Its identity blends family recipes, natural materials and historical storytelling, often turning figures from history and literature into fragrances with a classical but contemporary feel.
Joséphine’s concept
Désirée is built around Désirée Clary, the young woman who first captured Napoleon’s heart. The fragrance frames that memory as a portrait of first love: bright fruit, a blooming rose heart and a soft, harmonious base that suggests youth, restlessness and lingering affection.
Extra info
The fragrance is named after Désirée Clary, Napoleon’s early love and later Queen of Sweden and Norway. Rancé presents it as part of its historically themed collection, and the official story explicitly links the scent to youth, memory and first love.
Out of stock
£110.00, 50 ml EdP
Out of stock
£6.00, 1 ml EdP
Sample discount program
Out of stock5 tokens, 10 ml EdP
What's this? Learn more
The sensual and timeless allure of Joséphine, the woman most loved by Napoleon, is the soul of these warm, mysterious and passionate notes, dedicated to her by François Rancé. Today Joséphine is reborn in a floriental, intimate and mysterious fragrance. In the opening, the enveloping sweetness of Bulgarian rose mingles with violet in a sophisticated bouquet of fresh flowers, with accents of red currant. In the heart Vanilla flower, warm and enveloping, is mixed with opoponax and pink pepper, in a spicy and slightly earthy melange. The background of mosses, modulated like a velvet, is warmed by the woody and resinous tones of Oman incense. Joséphine: the charm of a brilliant, lively, surprising woman.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
This is a fragrance for close, attentive company rather than a room-filling entrance: the kind of scent that feels personal, warm and lightly romantic. Its fruity brightness and peppery lift suit a wearer who wants softness with a little pulse underneath.
How to wear
Best in mild to warm weather, where the grapefruit, rose and passion fruit can stay luminous and the spicy woods do not become heavy. Apply lightly to pulse points for a more intimate trail, or add one extra spray for a clearer floral-fruity diffusion.
Who it’s for
For someone drawn to fruity-floral compositions with a refined spicy backbone, and who likes their sweetness tempered by woods, musk and a slightly savory smokiness. It will appeal to wearers who enjoy romantic scents with a historical, polished character.
Release year
2019
The nose
Maurizio Cerizza is a contemporary perfumer known for elegant, characterful compositions that balance clarity with texture. In Désirée, he shapes Rancé’s historical muse into a modern fruity-floral portrait, keeping the scent lively, polished and emotionally direct.
Collaborators
Maurizio Cerizza collaborated on the formula and translated Rancé’s historical brief into scent, while the house itself shaped the concept around Désirée Clary and Napoleon’s youthful love story. The brand’s creative direction clearly guided the narrative and the emotional tone of the composition.
Rance 1795’s story
Rancé 1795 is a heritage French-Italian house rooted in Grasse and in the tradition of artistic perfumery. Its identity blends family recipes, natural materials and historical storytelling, often turning figures from history and literature into fragrances with a classical but contemporary feel.
Joséphine’s concept
Désirée is built around Désirée Clary, the young woman who first captured Napoleon’s heart. The fragrance frames that memory as a portrait of first love: bright fruit, a blooming rose heart and a soft, harmonious base that suggests youth, restlessness and lingering affection.
Extra info
The fragrance is named after Désirée Clary, Napoleon’s early love and later Queen of Sweden and Norway. Rancé presents it as part of its historically themed collection, and the official story explicitly links the scent to youth, memory and first love.