1940 is our love letter to 1740 Marquis de Sade by Histoires de Parfums—a fragrance we’ve always admired for how it turns elegance into temptation, and restraint into a slow-burn dare. If 1740 is the scandalous Parisian legend—Donatien-Alphonse-François, the Marquis de Sade—captured in spice, leather, and shadow… 1940 is our cinematic reimagining: the same seductive architecture, dressed in a slightly smoother tuxedo, lit by warmer candlelight.

It opens with a polished flash of bergamot, bright as a freshly cut ribbon, then instantly sharpens with artemisia—green, herbal, and a touch bitter, like the first provocative line in a well-written letter. That opening nods directly to the inspiration: clean at first impression, but quickly revealing an undercurrent of thrill.

As the fragrance settles, the heart blooms into the signature tension we fell for in 1740: patchouli unfurling like dark velvet, wrapped in the warm, aromatic crackle of cardamom and coriander. It’s intimate and commanding—spiced woods and skin, as if conversation itself has become a kind of foreplay. This is the moment where 1940 feels like an invitation—subtle enough to wear anywhere, but undeniably suggestive up close.

Then comes the slow descent into the base—the part that makes the scent feel like midnight. Leather arrives smooth and refined, evoking gloves, bookbinding, and the quiet confidence of a gentleman who knows exactly what he’s doing. French labdanum pours over it in amber warmth—balsamic, resinous, and softly smoky—while elemi adds an incense-like shimmer that feels almost sacred… until you realize it’s anything but innocent. Birch leaves a faint trail of smoke, and immortelle brings a honeyed glow that turns the darkness golden. A trace of vanilla rounds the edges—not sweet, but sensual—before Virginia cedar anchors everything with a dry, elegant finish that lingers like a memory you don’t want to confess.

1940 keeps the soul of 1740 Marquis de Sade—that leather-herbal-spiced woody seduction—while giving it our signature touch: smoother transitions, warmer glow, and an extra dose of charm.

A fragrance that feels like Paris at night: polished on the surface, dangerous underneath—an invitation to pleasure, written in smoke and wood.