In 1807, when the Napoleonic Empire was in its prime, François Rancé designed "Eau de France" as a fragrant hymn to the French fatherland. Created for all French people, both men and women, this was an early unisex fragrance that enters with fresh, citrusy aromas, followed by floral notes and hints of oriental woods. Top notes include neroli (a distillate extracted from the blossom of the bitter orange), lavender and bergamot, while heart notes include delicate scents of violet, ylang-ylang and gardenia. The base is formed by vetiver, white musk, patchouli and sandalwood.

Founded in Grasse, the Maison de Parfumeurs, Rancé, is one of the oldest family businesses in the perfume industry. The glove maker Louis Rancé established the tradition of the house in the first half of the 17th century when, following the fashion of the time, he produced perfumed gloves. In 1795, his grandson François decided to devote himself exclusively to perfumery and quickly gained prominence, finally becoming Napoleon’s favourite perfumer. Over 100 years ago, the company moved to Milan, where Rancé is still based today. At Rancé, they composes new fragrances, just as well as they strive to preserve the creations of their ancestors from oblivion. The company’s extensive archive contains the compositions of all the fragrances that belong to the Rancé legacy. They draws on this source at Rancé, carefully adapting the recipes of the 18th and 19th centuries to current requirements. However, they don’t lose track of the chracter of the original composition. For the most part, Rancé has always used natural ingredients from flower petals and leaves, some of which are grown and cultivated in Grasse.