Reverence by Franklin Simon was launched in 1984. Franklin Simon was a name long associated with luxury, refinement, and forward-looking elegance in American fashion. Founded in New York City in the early 20th century, the Franklin Simon house became renowned for its upscale department stores, particularly its exceptional fur collections. At a time when fashion retail was evolving from simple commerce into an immersive experience, Franklin Simon distinguished itself by presenting clothing and accessories as expressions of taste, culture, and aspiration. Its locations—most famously in Manhattan—were meeting points for an international, sophisticated clientele who valued quality, craftsmanship, and a certain discreet grandeur.
The universe of Franklin Simon was one of vision: an ability to anticipate elegance rather than merely follow trends. Furs were central to this identity—royal in their materials, meticulous in their execution, and symbolic of timeless luxury. These creations were never meant to overwhelm; instead, they conveyed authority through restraint. This same philosophy extended beyond fashion into a broader aesthetic world, where beauty was inseparable from dignity, and luxury was inseparable from meaning.
Respectful of a very specific image of womanhood—truly feminine, elegant, and refined—Franklin Simon sought to celebrate women not as passing muses, but as enduring figures of grace. The woman envisioned by the house was confident without excess, sensual without provocation, and refined without coldness. It was for this woman that Franklin Simon wished to create a perfume: a fragrance conceived not as an accessory, but as an extension of her presence. This idea matured over several years, shaped by reflection rather than impulse.
Born in Guadeloupe, Franklin Simon carried within him the lasting imprint of a warm island steeped in exotic fragrances. The lush vegetation, the heat, and the mingling of floral, woody, and resinous aromas created a deep sensory memory. From this environment came a nostalgia for rare and precious scents—aromas that linger in the mind as much as on the skin. These memories became a quiet but powerful source of inspiration in the creation of Révérence, infusing the perfume with warmth, depth, and emotional resonance.
Why “Révérence”
The name Révérence was chosen with intention. For Franklin Simon, a great perfume should blend seamlessly with the great moments of a life: a masked ball in Venice, a prestigious evening in New York, women dressed in splendor, pausing to make a graceful curtsy. These are images of a world that may be receding, yet continues to live on in dreams and imagination. The perfume needed a name that evoked ceremony, respect, elegance, and memory—qualities encapsulated in the gesture of a reverence itself.
Révérence was conceived as the perfume of women—of the most feminine women. It embodies a balance between classicism and modernity, between tradition and subtle innovation. More than a fragrance, it is a statement of identity: an homage to timeless elegance, to cultivated beauty, and to femininity expressed with confidence and grace.
Scent Profile:
As the fragrance evolves, gentle spices begin to glow. Nutmeg introduces a soft, creamy warmth, never sharp, but slightly sweet and woody, evoking freshly grated spice rather than dry powder. Clove follows with its dark, clove-bud richness, adding depth and a faintly medicinal sensuality. In carefully measured amounts, these spices do not dominate; instead, they frame the heart of the perfume, giving it structure and quiet intrigue. Their warmth bridges the brightness of the opening with the sensuality to come, guiding the wearer inward rather than outward.
At the heart of Révérence, fruit and flowers bloom together in seamless harmony. Peach appears first—velvety, ripe, and softly lactonic, as though its skin were warmed by the sun. Modern peach aroma-chemicals lend this note its smooth, almost creamy fleshiness, enhancing the natural fruit impression while preventing it from becoming sugary or fleeting. This peach nuance melts into an opulent floral bouquet, where Moroccan rose takes center stage. Grown in a climate of strong sun and cool nights, Moroccan rose is distinguished by its depth and richness, offering honeyed, spicy, and slightly green facets that feel both noble and sensual. Orange blossom adds a luminous contrast, its white floral sweetness carrying hints of citrus and honey, evoking Mediterranean courtyards heavy with blossoms in the evening air.
Iris brings refinement and texture, its powdery, buttery elegance lending a cosmetic softness that suggests silk and skin. True iris, derived from aged rhizomes, is prized for its rarity and complexity, and its effect is often enhanced by ionone molecules, which echo violet-like, woody, and powdery nuances while adding diffusion. Jasmine completes the floral heart with its unmistakable sensuality—rich, indolic, and slightly animalic. Whether drawn from traditional absolutes or subtly supported by modern jasmine molecules, it gives the heart its depth and feminine magnetism, making the flowers feel alive rather than ornamental.
Threaded through this floral core is a delicate touch of Russian leather. This note recalls traditional birch-tar leather accords, smoky and slightly animalic, yet refined to a whisper. Rather than evoking raw hide, it suggests the inside of a well-worn glove or the lining of an elegant handbag—soft, dark, and intimate. Synthetic leather aroma-chemicals smooth and polish this effect, ensuring it supports the florals rather than overpowering them, adding character and quiet strength.
As Révérence settles, the base unfolds with slow, enveloping warmth. Tyrolean oakmoss anchors the fragrance, bringing a deep, forest-like earthiness that feels damp, green, and slightly bitter. Oakmoss from this region is prized for its balance and elegance, offering complexity without heaviness. Modern mossy molecules often complement it, extending its longevity and softening its edges while preserving its unmistakable chypre character. Around this foundation, precious woods emerge, led by sandalwood. Creamy, milky, and gently woody, sandalwood wraps the composition in a sensual, lingering softness. Contemporary sandalwood aroma-chemicals enhance its smoothness and radiance, allowing the note to glow on the skin long after the natural materials would fade.
The final impression of Révérence is intimate, warm, and profoundly feminine. It feels like skin adorned rather than masked—an elegant memory rather than a statement. Every ingredient, whether natural or refined through modern chemistry, plays a precise role, enhancing the others and contributing to a seamless whole. Révérence does not shout; it bows gracefully, leaving behind an impression of timeless elegance, ceremony, and quiet sensuality.
Bottles:
The extrait of Révérence was conceived as a jewel rather than a mere vessel for perfume. Offered in three precious sizes—0.25 oz, 0.5 oz, and 1 oz—it spoke to intimacy, discretion, and rarity. Each bottle was defined by lines of remarkable purity, free of excess ornamentation, allowing proportion and balance to convey luxury. The neck and cap were delicately covered with a fine layer of gold, catching the light with quiet brilliance. This subtle gilding was not meant to dazzle, but to suggest ceremony and reverence, echoing the perfume’s name and the graceful gesture it evokes.
The eau de toilette expressed the same elegance in a slightly more accessible form. Available both as a spray and as a classic bottle in 59 ml and 100 ml formats, it was presented in packaging of deep, dark grey tones—restrained, modern, and timeless. A gold band encircled the design, introducing a note of warmth and distinction. The contrast between matte darkness and luminous gold reflected the fragrance itself: discreet yet sensual, composed yet expressive. Every detail of the presentation reinforced the idea of cultivated luxury rather than ostentation.
The distribution of Révérence was deliberately selective, preserving the integrity of its universe. It was entrusted only to a limited circle of highly knowledgeable perfume consultants—true connoisseurs who lived and breathed the language of scent. These professionals did not merely sell fragrance; they interpreted it. Attentive to the individuality of each woman, they understood how to guide her toward the scented world in which she wished to flourish, whether she sought elegance, sensuality, or quiet distinction.
Through this careful approach, Révérence remained more than a perfume—it became a personal encounter. The act of choosing it was intimate and considered, shaped by dialogue, expertise, and respect for individuality. In this way, the fragrance upheld its philosophy from creation to presentation: refined, intentional, and deeply attuned to the woman who would wear it.
Controversy:
Charles of the Ritz already owned and used the trademark REVENESCENCE for fragrance-related products. When Franklin Simon applied to register REVERENCE for a perfume, Charles of the Ritz objected. Their argument was straightforward: the two names looked and sounded too similar, especially when spoken aloud or seen quickly on perfume packaging, and both were intended for the same type of product—fragrance. Because perfumes are often purchased based on name, mood, and impression rather than careful comparison, Charles of the Ritz claimed consumers could easily mistake one for the other.
The U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board agreed that this similarity posed a likelihood of consumer confusion, which is a key standard in U.S. trademark law. In other words, the Board believed shoppers might reasonably assume that Reverence was connected to, inspired by, or produced by the same company as Revenescence.
Although Franklin Simon initially responded to the opposition, he did not continue to actively defend the application and missed required procedural deadlines. As a result, the case ended in a default judgment in favor of Charles of the Ritz. The Board formally upheld the opposition, and Franklin Simon’s application for REVERENCE was marked abandoned after an inter partes decision.
In simple terms, Franklin Simon lost the right to federally register the name REVERENCE because it was considered too close to Charles of the Ritz’s REVENESCENCE, and because the opposition was not fully contested. The decision protected Charles of the Ritz’s existing trademark and prevented two nearly identical perfume names from coexisting in the same marketplace.
Fate of the Fragrance:
Based on the record, Franklin Simon did appear to release a perfume called Révérence, but he ultimately could not secure U.S. federal trademark protection for the name. The trademark opposition did not occur in a vacuum—the existence of packaging descriptions, distribution details, and marketing language strongly suggests that Révérence was already conceived, produced, and at least selectively marketed, likely on a limited or boutique basis, before or during the trademark application process.
However, after Charles of the Ritz successfully opposed the mark—citing conflict with their existing REVENESCENCE trademark—and the application was abandoned following a default decision in 1985, Franklin Simon lost the legal right to federally register REVERENCE in the United States. This meant that while the perfume may have been released or circulated quietly, its long-term commercial expansion under that name in the U.S. would have been legally risky or impractical, contributing to its rarity and short-lived presence rather than confirming that it never existed at all.
.png)
.png)
.png)
