Style Edit: Henry Jacques’ Il y Avait un Jardin cologne-inspired fragrances express purity and simplicity, evoking sun-kissed memories and the serene beauty of a secret garden

May 22, 2025

The new Il y Avait un Jardin collection by Henry Jacques emphasises purity and simplicity, evoking memories from nature. Photo: Handout

The raw materials for the perfumes are sourced from orchards in Italy, through a partnership with a Calabrian family renowned over generations for cultivating the world’s finest citrus trees

Henry Jacques – the haute parfumerie maison celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – has unveiled the latest chapter in its olfactory story with the launch of the collection Il y Avait un Jardin. Just over a decade since the debut of the brand’s iconic Les Essences concentrated perfume oils – part of Les Classiques collection – this new venture sees Henry Jacques refocusing on purity and simplicity, presenting a pair of fresh, cologne-inspired fragrances.

Il y Avait un Jardin fragrance evokes memories of life’s quiet pleasures. Photo: Handout

Il y Avait un Jardin – “There was Once a Garden” in French – invites the wearer into a fragrant haven where fresh, natural ingredients evoke memories and life’s quiet pleasures. Defying the conventions of haute parfumerie – a complex art and science we have been taught to revere – the collection embraces a pared-back elegance, elevating cologne without seeking to reinvent it.