Bocages by Lancôme, launched in 1935, was one of five debut fragrances introduced by the newly founded house at the Universal Exhibition in Brussels—a glamorous international showcase that emphasized innovation, culture, and art. The other perfumes in this remarkable launch were Tropiques, Kypre, Tendres Nuits, and Conquête, but Bocages stood apart for its airy, youthful freshness and its deep ties to nature and renewal.
The name Bocages (pronounced boh-KAHZH in French, rhyming loosely with "collage") is rich in poetic imagery. In French, bocage refers to a type of wooded countryside, a landscape of leafy groves, hedgerows, meadows, and dappled light, most often found in the northwestern regions of France, such as Normandy and Brittany. It's a term imbued with romance and rustic charm, suggesting a serene, untamed beauty rather than manicured formality. The plural form—Bocages—evokes not just one idyllic scene, but a rolling stretch of verdant, blooming springtime landscapes. The word brings to mind the scent of damp earth, young green leaves, and tender blossoms awakening under a cool sun.
Armand Petitjean, the visionary founder of Lancôme, imagined Bocages as a fragrant ode to spring—to youth, vitality, and subtle femininity. He described it as “a fragrant array of spring... the smell of a tender bud, the sap rising, shrubs just beginning to bring the light and color of the mist.” This description reveals his intent: Bocages was designed not for opulence or drama, but for freshness, purity, and a light-hearted kind of elegance—qualities that Petitjean believed would appeal especially to women from northern climates like Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Germany, and the northern provinces of France.
