Godet

Maison Godet is a French perfume house founded by perfumer Julien-Joseph Godet in 1901, initially based in Paris and closely connected with the artistic circles of Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse. Godet first opened a boutique in Paris in the early 1900s, and over the following decades the house became known for creations such as Fleurs de Reine in 1908 and Folie Bleue, which received a gold medal at a Paris art exhibition in 1925. After ceasing activity in the mid 20th century, the brand was revived in 2016 by Sonia Godet, the founder’s great-granddaughter, who took over as the fourth generation perfumer and relaunched the house from Saint-Paul de Vence in southern France.

Historically and today, Godet works closely with growers around Grasse and uses natural raw materials such as rose centifolia, jasmine and tuberose in its compositions, maintaining traditional maceration and distillation methods. Production remains centered in France: fragrances are made locally, bottles are blown and shaped by French glassmakers, and each bottle is filled by hand, reflecting a craft-based approach rather than industrial manufacture. Godet’s catalogue combines reissues of archival scents linked to artists with contemporary creations signed by Sonia Godet, often structured around rich florals, aromatic nuances and gourmand or liquor-like facets that echo the family’s historical expertise in cognac.

The house today operates an exclusive boutique in Saint-Paul de Vence and presents a relatively tight but evolving range of collections that emphasize small-scale production, natural ingredients and an artisanal aesthetic. This positioning, together with its focus on heritage formulas and handcraft, places Godet firmly among French artisan and niche perfumers rather than mass-market or celebrity-driven brands.