A kínai császárság szaga - from Paris with love
The Quest for the Smell of Imperial China: “From Paris with Love”

Summary/Abstract: In 1977 the House of Yves Saint-Laurent has put on the market the legendary fragrance called Opium, the runner-up on the list of the most famous perfumes of all time, although a large part of contemporary American consumers have given it a quite hostile reception. This fragrance, an organic part of Saint- Laurent’s haute couture collection from the very same year, was seeking inspiration from imperial Chinese culture. The touch of Opium has been personified since then by Jerry Hall, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Sophie Dahl and Emily Blunt. In this essay I intend to analyze the history of advertising this famous perfume from the standpoint of social history and to reflect upon the peculiarities of Saint-Laurent’s philosophy of creation.

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