Bugatti is a renowned French automobile brand that was established by Ettore Bugatti (1881 – 1947), a talented Italian-born automotive designer and engineer who found solace and success in France. Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti began his journey in the automotive industry as an apprentice at Prinetti & Stucchi, a bicycle and tricycle manufacturing plant, at the age of seventeen. It was there that he constructed his first engine-driven tricycle, followed by his initial automobile in 1900, with financial backing from the Gulinelli brothers. This vehicle achieved recognition and accolades at a prestigious industry fair in Milan. From 1900 to 1904, Bugatti served as the technical director of De Dietrich’s automobile manufacturing plant, contributing to the development of new car models. Following this, he took up a position at Emi Mathias where he designed a cutting-edge automobile and installed a 4-cylinder engine. He stayed with the company for two years.

Ettore Bugatti’s true passion lay in the creation of racing cars. In 1906, he designed an automobile equipped with a powerful 50 hp engine, which he sold to the Deutz Company. Subsequently, he assumed the role of production department leader in Cologne.

In 1909, Ettore Bugatti established his own automobile company in Molsheim, a small town in Alsace, which was part of Germany at that time. The fledgling company produced five cars in 1910, all of which were promptly sold. Ernest Fredrich, Bugatti’s trusted assistant, competed in races driving Bugatti cars, solidifying the brand’s reputation for high-quality race cars. In fact, the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 was won by William Grover-Williams, driving a Bugatti.

During the First World War, Bugatti primarily focused on designing and manufacturing aircraft engines for both the American and French governments. In 1921, Bugatti’s race car team made history by securing first, second, third, and fourth place in Brescia at the Voiturettes Grand Prix, solidifying the legacy of the Bugatti Model 13. Bugatti’s lifelong ambition to create the most luxurious car ever built came to fruition in 1926 with the introduction of the legendary Royale model. Despite its magnificence, only three Royales were sold due to the economic challenges of the Great Depression.

Despite encountering financial difficulties during the Great Depression, Bugatti managed to secure a contract to construct a high-speed train for the French government. The Model 57 was the only car model that remained in production during this critical period in the early 1930s. While Ettore Bugatti was at the helm of the company, approximately 7,900 automobiles were manufactured, many of which have withstood the test of time and remain preserved to this day. Ettore Bugatti passed away in 1945, and afterward, the company struggled financially, releasing only one more car in the 1950s. The brand was revived in 1991 by the Italian company Romano Artioli, who commemorated Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birthday by launching the EB110. Unfortunately, only around 150 cars were produced, and the company once again closed its doors in 1995.

The Bugatti name experienced a second renaissance when it was acquired by the German company Volkswagen, who reopened the Molsheim factory. In 2005, Bugatti unveiled the extraordinary Bugatti Veyron 16.4, a luxurious, exquisitely designed, and exceptionally fast automobile. As a testament to the brand’s versatility, Bugatti also collaborates with the Jacques Bogart Group to create fragrances. The brand’s fragrance line currently features three distinct perfumes, with the earliest fragrance released in 1999 and the latest in 2006.