Pierre Balmain, a renowned French fashion designer, is widely recognized for his sophisticated and luxurious creations. Born into a family deeply involved in the fashion and design industry, with his father operating a drapery business and his mother and sister running a fashion boutique, Pierre decided to pursue a career in fashion instead of continuing his studies in architecture. He gained valuable experience working for Molyneux in the 1930s, and later joined the prestigious fashion house Lucien Lelong in the 1940s. Following the end of World War II, Balmain ventured out to establish his own fashion house.

Balmain’s designs effortlessly catered to both refined suits and lavish evening gowns, catering to the new post-war woman with his bell skirts and nipped waists. His garments garnered popularity among celebrities and affluent clientele of the time, leading Balmain to expand his collection and introduce Ready-to-Wear garments in American boutiques. Additionally, he made a notable mark through his costume designs for stage and screen, earning a Tony award nomination and winning the Drama Desk award. Balmain’s perfumes have been a prominent aspect of the brand since the 1940s, starting with the introduction of Elysées 64-83, named after his phone number, in 1945. The legendary scent Vent Vert, introduced in 1947 and still in production today, became a best-seller during the 1940s and 1950s. Jolie Madame, another iconic fragrance by Balmain, symbolized the essence of the new post-war 1950s woman. In 1960, Revlon acquired the Balmain fragrance license, and the production of Balmain fragrances continues in collaboration with Empire of Scents. However, in 2012, the license for fragrances was transferred to Inter Parfums Inc.

Pierre Balmain’s legacy came to an end in 1982 when he passed away. Erik Mortensen, a longstanding Balmain designer, led the fashion house until 1993 when Oscar de la Renta assumed the role of Creative Director. Olivier Rousteing was appointed as Creative Director in 2011 and has continued to carry the brand’s vision forward. Even today, Balmain fashions, including vintage pieces and new designs, remain a popular choice among celebrities.

With a vast assortment of fragrances, Pierre Balmain boasts 30 perfumes in our fragrance base. As an esteemed perfume house, its earliest edition dates back to 1946, with the most recent release in 2022. Collaborating with talented perfumers such as Guillaume Flavigny, Olivier Pescheux, Antoine Maisondieu, Alexandra Jouet, Jean Jacques, Marie-Aude Couture, Daniel Hoffmann, Germaine Cellier, Michel Almairac, Jacques Flori, Michel Hy, Francis Camail, Calice Becker, Nathalie Feisthauer, Emilie Bevierre-Coppermann, and Sonia Constant have resulted in exquisite fragrances bearing the Pierre Balmain name.