Sarah Bernhardt was a legendary stage and film actress. Her scents of choice included Jicky by Guerlain, which has been manufactured since 1889, longer than any other fragrance, and Quelques Fleurs L'Original by Houbigant, which uses over 15,000 flowers to make just one ounce.
Lillie Langtry was a renowned beauty, born on the island of Jersey, who was often referred to by her nickname "Jersey Lily." One of Lillie's first commercial appearances was an advertisement for Pear's Soap, which holds the title of the world's first transparent soap and the world's oldest continuously existing brand. Pear's Soap has a distinctive mild, spicy, herbal fragrance. Lillie favored the brand throughout her life.
Ellen Terry was among the most famous leading ladies of the Victorian era. She was said to love camellias, which are a large showy flower with a pure, clean scent that is extremely subtle. She was at one time the face of Rimmel cosmetics founded by Eugene Rimmel, a French perfumer.
Flowers during this age of exaggerated femininity were an important part of everyday life in Victorian times. Popular flower scents included African lily, begonia, blue sage, clematis, columbine, daffodil, forget-me-not, foxglove, hawthorn, hollyhock, honeysuckle, hyacinth, hydrangea, lily of the valley, morning glory, rose, wisteria and yellow jasmine. These flowers were used most often in home-made scents and in perfumeries.
France was the hub of innovations in the art of perfume at this time. Several perfumeries were based in and around Paris, and became respected institutions during this era. The most popular perfumeries that are still in existence today include Houbigant, Lubin, Roger & Gallet, Guerlain and Clive Christian. During this time, luxury and abundance was de rigueur for actresses. It can be assumed that they favored the exclusively expensive and luxurious scents proffered by these early perfumeries.