In the early hours of December 12, 1877, the Court Opera Soirée defied expectation. The chandeliers burned low, casting golden light over swirling brocade and crisp tailcoats. Though an Imperial decree had banned dancing, the Waltz-addicted Viennese could not resist. With a rustle of silk and a spark of mischief, chairs were pushed aside, and the forbidden rhythm took over.

By dawn, the newspapers would celebrate the evening’s quiet rebellion, praising the steadfast Wiener Blut (Viennese Blood) that refused to be tamed: “After midnight, the first real dance in our Royal Opera’s ballroom took place.”

The scent of warm tobacco curled through the air, mingling with the sweet trace of vanilla from untouched pastries. Gentlemen’s cigars left a smoky whisper against the polished wood, while the orchestra, emboldened by the moment, played on. Orris butter softened the air with its powdery elegance, while deep, resinous amber seemed to hum beneath it all, mirroring the passion of the night.

An homage to the Waltz, the Opernball, and the untamed Viennese spirit ⸺ BALLROOM BOHÈME captures the opulence of that night in a scent. A warm heart of tonka absolute and black vanilla absolute envelops the senses, balanced by the noble depth of Virginian cedarwood and mangrove wood. The rebellious whisper of tobacco and cloves lingers in the air, a fragrant echo of an unforgettable waltz.

Cloves, mangrove wood, orris butter, tonka absolute, black vanilla absolute, Virginian cedarwood, tobacco, amber

MANGROVE WOOD
Mangrove wood, also known as Black Oud, is a fairly recent ingredient in western perfumery. “Gaharu buaya”, as the locals call it, is sustainably harvested in the swamps of Borneo, an island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Only dead tree trunks are used to gain the precious wood, from which the thick, amber-colored fragrant oil is distilled. It's scent profile is leathery, slightly smoky, warm and animalic.

Margaux Le Paih Guérin

French perfumer Margaux Le Paih-Guérin grew up in her family’s perfume business in Brittany, surrounded by fragrance and the wild landscapes of the Breton coast. Fascinated from an early age by the emotional power of scent, she creates perfumes that explore the space between smell and taste, drawing inspiration from cuisine, spirits and cocktails.

Her style is instinctive, sensory and often unexpected, moving away from classic perfume structures towards more abstract and vivid compositions. As part of the FLAIR studio in Paris, she has created fragrances for brands including BORNTOSTANDOUT and Sora Dora. She's also the nose behind the Vanilla trilogy by Sarah Baker. You can discover several of Margaux Le Paih-Guérin’s creations in our collection here.