Jacques Seven by Parfums Jacques Seven was launched in 1976 in association with France-Diffusion - Parfums S.A., marking a distinctive entry into the world of refined masculine fragrances. The brand was founded by Mr. Roger-Jean Thirion, whose Paris-based company, Roger Jean Thirion et Cie, had been producing perfumes since as early as 1925. Although much of the early documentation has been lost, the surviving records and fragrances suggest a sophisticated approach to perfumery, reflecting the elegance and refinement typical of interwar French design. The brand’s creations often emphasized luxurious, evocative materials such as incense and jasmine, highlighting a commitment to using high-quality essences with precision and restraint.
Following the Second World War, Roger Thirion expanded his pursuits into the realm of cosmetics with the founding of the brand Stendhal in 1946. The name was a deliberate homage to the French Romantic writer Stendhal (the pen name of Marie-Henri Beyle), perhaps intended to evoke both French literary refinement and emotional depth. Under the label Stendhal Beauté, Thirion launched a line of high-end skincare products that mirrored the poetic elegance of his perfumes.
Among the cosmetic offerings were Fabrice, Cream of Parma, and Florence Cream—names that conjured images of Italian luxury, art, and timeless beauty. These creams were not merely skin treatments, but beauty rituals meant to embody the glamour of postwar Paris and the romance of Renaissance Italy.
Thirion, described in contemporary references as a "distinguished cosmetologist," approached skincare with the same attention to quality and sensory experience as he had perfumery. The products likely combined nourishing ingredients with refined fragrances, creating a full olfactory and tactile experience, emblematic of a time when beauty products were crafted to appeal to all the senses. The Stendhal line, while perhaps lesser known today, was very much a product of its time—luxurious, intellectual, and imbued with a European cultural sensibility that bridged literature, travel, and the art of scent.
Jacques Seven:
Jacques Seven was notable for addressing aspects of masculine grooming that were largely overlooked at the time. With very few exceptions, perfumes had not previously considered the needs of men’s skin, shaving routines, or the desire for a fragrance that could subtly enhance personal sophistication. In response, Jacques Seven developed a full range of products designed to meet these criteria, including eau de toilette, shaving foam, aftershave suitable for normal and sensitive skin, gentle liquid soap for hair care, and complementary soaps and deodorants. For men who traveled, the brand created the “Set-Seven,” a curated collection of essential grooming items designed to maintain elegance and refinement on the go.
The Jacques Seven fragrance itself exemplifies the brand’s philosophy of understated sophistication. The dominant notes are chypre, woody, and agrestic, evoking a green, outdoorsy freshness combined with warm, luxurious woods. The composition includes bergamot from Messina, Italian lemon, Bourbon vetiver, Singapore patchouli, oakmoss, and Indian sandalwood. The resulting eau de toilette is both captivating and delicate, unfolding gracefully over a sumptuous base that reveals the exotic richness of precious woods, providing a fragrance that is simultaneously elegant, modern, and unmistakably masculine.
In 1977/1978, Jacques Seven was available in the following:
- For grooming: Eau de Toilette splash bottles (60ml, 120ml, 240ml, 480ml); Eau de Toilette Vapo-Spray (45ml, 120ml)
- For shaving: After Shave in splash bottles (60ml, 120ml); After Shave Vapo-Spray (45ml, 120ml); Shaving foam aerosols (100g and 160g)
- Related products: Deodorant (45ml and 120ml); Soaps (80g); Body Shampoo (60g and 120g); Gift Set (eau de toilette, atomizer, body shampoo, shaving foam, soap, pill boxes, razor, toothbrush, comb)
Fate of the Fragrance:
The perfumes of Roger Thirion et Cie:
- 1925 Origan
- 1925 Reve de Thirion
- 1925 Ambrodor
- 1925 Chypre Royal
- 1925 Mon Reve
- 1925 Splendor
- 1925 Tres Bien
- 1925 Tango
- 1925 Heliotrope
- 1925 Jasmin
- 1925 Nardo
- 1930 Caprice
- 1930s Madreselva