Corday Perfumes

Born in Montreuil-sur-Mer in 1892, Blanche Antoinette Rose Reneaux became Blanche Arvoy upon marrying her British husband Bertie Arvoy. In 1923, she founded Jovoy perfumes, a name synonymous with opulence, elegance, and artistic influence during the 1920s. The brand derived its name from her beloved nickname Joe and the latter part of her last name Arvoy. A year later, Blanche Arvoy established the Corday perfume house, inspired by the historical figure Charlotte Corday (1768-1793). Corday, a noblewoman, gained notoriety for assassinating the radical journalist and politician Jean Paul Marat during the French Revolution, leading to her subsequent execution. The iconic debut fragrance under Corday was "Toujours Moi" in 1924. This scent served as the muse for the British composer Harry Revel, who composed "Perfume Set to Music: The 'Sound' of Scents" in 1948, a synesthetic-musical suite that paid homage to six Corday perfumes. Throughout its illustrious history, noteworthy fragrances from Corday included "Fame de Corday" (1937), "Tzigane / Zigane" (1947), and "Rusé" (1966).