Though Marie Antoinette may be known for her lavish tastes in couture clothing or the historically attributed (but inaccurate) phrase “let them eat cake,” she also had a reputation for being a fragrance connoisseur, always on the lookout for the next olfactory delight to use in her bath oils or as a perfume. 

The Queen’s royal perfumer, Pierre Francois Lubin, provided her with a variety of fragranced products, from oils and balms to scented wigs and gloves. When Fargeon presented perfumed gloves to Marie Antoinette, she apparently loved them so much that she began to order 18 pairs of perfumed gloves monthly. The gloves, made from kidskin, were treated with a blend of sweet almond oil, white wax, and eau de rose, laid on fresh roses, and accented with nutmeg, serving as both a fashion statement and a “natural restorative beauty treatment” for the Queen’s hands while riding.

After the success of the scented gloves, Marie requested more products, specifically to scent her bath. Fargeon prepared perfumed sachets with ingredients like sweet almonds, pine nuts, linseed, lily bulbs, and marshmallow root. These perfumed baths became one of her favorite little luxuries, scented with lavender and lemon essence with a tub filled with rose petals and grain for her to lay on.