Calandre
Eau de Parfum
Rabanne
Favourite
AI
Michel Hy
Sources consistently link Michel Hy to classic mid-20th-century French floral-aldehydic and chypre structures. Rive Gauche and Calandre showcase his use of crisp aldehydes over rose, jasmine and green notes, while Fille d’Eve, Farouche, Vivara and Ivoire de Balmain highlight mossy, green chypre bases typical of that era’s Parisian couture perfumery.
About
Michel Hy was a French perfumer active mainly in the 1950s-1970s and closely associated with Paris couture houses. He co-composed Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche (launched 1970/71) with Jacques Polge, a floral aldehydic fragrance that became one of the brand’s signatures. Hy authored several creations for Nina Ricci, including Fille d’Eve (1951) and Farouche (1973). He also worked with Emilio Pucci on Vivara (1965) and created Paco Rabanne’s first fragrance, Calandre (1969). For Balmain he composed the chypre Ivoire de Balmain (1979).
Notable Creations
- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche
- Paco Rabanne Calandre
- Nina Ricci Fille d’Eve
- Nina Ricci Farouche
- Emilio Pucci Vivara
- Ivoire de Balmain
Training
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