Francois Coty: Fragrance, Power, Money

Product Description "If anyone wants to understand the fate of France in the 20th century, this is the book to read." --Arthur Herman, historian and bestselling author of How the Scots Invented the Modern World. In 1906, Fran'ois Coty became a multimillionaire within two years of creating his first perfume, the legendary La Rose Jacqueminot. In the 30 years he ruled his perfume and cosmetics kingdom, Coty became France's first billionaire, acquiring unimaginable wealth during the most devastating war in the history of Europe, World War I. Born in Corsica next door to the home where his idol and distant relative Napoleon Bonaparte was born, Coty, with his unshakable charisma, ingenuity, and of course, his incredibly sensitive "nose," revolutionized the world's fragrance and cosmetics industry. Now, for the first time, comes this stunning biography of France's fragrance king, the incredible story of the ambitions, loves, losses, and triumphs of one of the 20th century's most famed yet enigmatic entrepreneurial geniuses. From the Inside Flap "Perfume is a love affair with one's self."--Fran�ois CotyCaptured in an exquisitely crafted translucent Baccarat bottle adorned with a gently shimmering gold-leaf label, the liquid gold of a classic Coty fragrance represents the epitome of luxury, style, and sophistication. At the dawn of the twentieth century, a time when perfumes were sold by pharmacists in dark, inelegant medicinal flasks marked with unsightly labels, Fran�ois Coty was developing the first fragrance in what would become the most coveted and glamorous line of cosmetics in the world. He engineered a revolution in the fragrance industry, and in doing so, he became a member of Europe's cultural elite, France's first billionaire, and the Emperor of Perfume.A talented, passionate, and obsessive man whose Corsican pedigree linked him to Napoleon Bonaparte, Fran�ois Coty became a figure of tremendous consequence during his lifetime. This spellbinding chronicle of the life and legacy of the fragrance king traces the rise of the man who would single-handedly transform the way cosmetics were produced, packaged, and marketed around the world. In addition to being one of history's greatest parfumeurs, Coty was a politician, artist, industrialist, news magnate, and amorous adventurer. Embroiled in the glamor, culture, and romance of turn-of-the-century Paris, and later in the tensions and politics of Europe on the eve of World War II, Coty attracted no small amount of scandal, speculation, and awe. The allure continues to this day. This dynamic biography provides an intimate glimpse into the life and loves of Fran�ois Coty, whose exceptional and volatile story is marked by the bittersweet smell of tremendous success. From the Back Cover "It's not often that one gets the inside story about France's most powerful and secretive billionaire, and even rarer to get the story told with such verve. The authors have an eye for telling detail, and their research is admirable. Fran�ois Coty's unparalleled business savvy (he was one of the world's five richest men in 1926) belied his major missteps in his political and private life. If anyone wants to understand the fate of France in the twentieth century, this is the book to read."--Arthur Herman, historian and bestselling author of How the Scots Invented the Modern World and Gandhi and Churchill"'Perfume ruled the world' could be the subtitle of this fascinating study of Fran�ois Coty. Coty not only created fragrances and became one of the world's richest individuals and lived the high life, he also entered the political arena owning one of France's most popular newspapers from which he editorialized his causes. Well written and researched, this book demonstrates how power can corrupt and yet create great beauty."--Richard Guy Wilson, commonwealth professor, architectural history, University of VirginiaFran�ois Coty transformed the international fragrance