The history of perfume goes back thousands of years and they have traditionally been in liquid form — precious nectars presented in glass bottles that are themselves design-driven creations worthy of celebration. It was only in 1925 that modern perfumes in solid form were created, providing style connoisseurs of the time an alternative to lugging around a perfume bottle, which would have been cumbersome no matter how beautiful it was.
For some reason, the trend never took off — although, it never quite died out either. It is only in very recent history that solid perfumes have come back in vogue, their popularity driven by multiple reasons, including far better suited to the habits of frequent travellers who want to travel light and comply with limiting airline restrictions pertaining to liquids.
As with trends that once fell out of favour, solid fragrances are now back to being the in thing, their latest purveyor luxury perfumer Henry Jacques. In its journey to continually push boundaries of French haute parfumerie through innovation, its team of designers and craftsmen have tapped into the expertise gained through the decades by breathing new life into the ancient art of solid perfume. The result is Clic-Clac, a sophisticated and contemporary accessory to house the new collection of solid perfumes. Available in precious avant-garde materials such as titanium, carbon and gold, Clic-Clac houses all 50 Les Classiques scents in the form of interchangeable solid perfume capsules and gets its name from the satisfying sounds made by the casing when it opens and shuts.
The introduction of Henry Jacques’ solid perfume composition, which is similar to a solid balm, completes its unprecedented Henry Jacques trilogy, alongside its Essences and Mists. When reviving the gesture of applying solid perfume, the maison was met with two challenges: to maintain the integrity of the original fragrances from its 50 Les Classiques, and to create an accessory that is both a fascinating everyday object and the perfect lucky charm.
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“I wanted to create a modern concept, a new way of living with an olfactive wardrobe, a new gesture, a new allure,” shares Anne-Lise Cremona, CEO of Henry Jacques. “We have extremely vast and beautiful perfume collections, including of course our 50 Classiques and we like this idea of art of living. The question was, how could we travel, live with these perfume collections from which we cannot be separated and which are part of our identity? That was the beginning of the Clic-Clac story. We had in the archives of our labs incredible balms that we would produce upon special orders. Years later, they retained their full force and delicacy. I believed that there was a true modernity in this form of perfume: No alcohol, ecological, natural, so convenient.
“We still needed to find an innovative object, rare and fascinating. I wanted an object of style, highly recognisable, very chic and even slightly ‘snobbish’, I admit. Something comparable to these splendid and fascinating objects that have disappeared from our modern life but used to define a person. Christophe Tollemer, our artistic director, quickly had a very precise idea of what this object could be. We move forward in tandem and with him, there is absolutely no compromise. This was how, after four years of development, Clic-Clac was born,” she adds.
Clic-Clac is also a brilliant example of fitting immense technical know-how into the smallest and most precious of solid perfume accessories. To ensure it withstands the wear of daily handling, Henry Jacques sought the expertise of Swiss watchmaking — the only discipline capable of offering an opening mechanism of foolproof precision for life. Cremona turned to her uncle for advice — the audacious and adventurous watchmaker Richard Mille, who has never been one to shy away from unconventional collaborations in terms of materials, partnerships or longterm projects. In fact, it is quite easy to imagine the bearded, charming Mille agreeing to provide counsel to Cremona on applying principles of micro-mechanics to such an unusual object. It took four years of development for Clic-Clac to reach the height of its patented engineering perfection, ready to be unveiled to the world.
“Clic-Clac is truly the encounter of two worlds. This is something unprecedented! The world of high perfumery, with its ancestral know-hows, and the world of high watchmaking. We have indeed multiplied incredible skills on this project.This adventure will remain a turning point of our inspiring history because it is so innovative. Both of these two expertise have a passion for beauty, authenticity and excellence. This naturally brought us to specific choices and decisions. We knew we needed to create a stunning and irreproachable object … the sky was the limit,” says Cremona.
Clic-Clac does not replace the need for traditional liquid perfumes in the same way quartz watches could never really usurp the premium appeal of mechanical watches. They are all part of the same pie, which, when enlarged, simply offers a larger slice each time. It gives discerning individuals more options, perhaps even an entryway into a universe they may not have previously considered entering. With the purpose of reintroducing a mark of allure into daily lives, Clic-Clac serves as a companion item that gives its owner an elegant air of poise and nonchalance.
“I am a genuine fan of Clic-Clac for multiple reasons,” Cremona shares. “I personally love the allure it offers, a feeling of security and power at the same time. It tells much about the person who owns it. I am also very sensitive to the gestures and attitudes of people. I would be fascinated by someone using such kinds of objects. I also find it mysterious and full of paradoxes, soft and strong, sensual, and intriguing. I also simply love to finally be able to bring all my perfume collection with me,” says Cremona.
The launch of Clic-Clac is also an important move for Henry Jacques to indicate its willingness to move forward and embrace change. “When I took over this marvellous maison, I wanted to respect the past and the existing. This has now been done. Today, the past and future are meeting up — this is the most exciting part of the development of a beautiful brand. This is what sets the difference. ClicClac is the perfect representation of the independent nature of Henry Jacques; it confirms our status as a very creative house.
“The challenges of the past few years confirm that we live at a turning point in history which has affected and will continue to affect our life habits. Great perfumery is obviously concerned by this. I personally have been accustomed to this idea of the future for many years. More than ever, I am certain that great perfumery holds a bright future. Our mindsets change and customers are more well-informed than ever. The young generation needs to know what they are buying and to perfectly understand the constraints linked with strategic choices,” says Cremona.
A small item it may be, easily sliding into one’s pocket, but it teems with meaning. Behind this sublime “monolith” of stylish elegance and mystery, looms a cult object which, over time, will take on the aura of its owner. A companion object adorned with the incomparable patina of time, Clic-Clac is set to become the ultimate talisman, holding collections of intimate memories, stories and emotions that one is eager and proud to pass down.
