General Napoleon married a woman he was deeply in love with (Josephine), but when she couldn't bare children (she was their first Empress), he had to find another woman to give him a son. Josephine understood her role and that she couldn't do what needed to be done. Of course back then it was always the women's fault when she couldn't have a baby.
Josephine was obsessed with perfume and was generally bathed with it every day. Around 200 years later, the smell of perfume can still be faintly smelled in what is now a French museum. The castle/chateau near Paris, long inhabited by Josephine, still exudes the strong odor of musk with which the empress used to douse her daily. Let's face it, the smells during this period, including humans, weren't pleasant but rich people could separate themselves from it by using perfume. She also had a passion for gardening. She ended up with one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Even though they were divorced, Napoleon would bring her unique flowers from the trips he went on overseas. What's kind of funny is that for a man so tough in his persona, he laid it all on the line when it came to Josephine.
The castle, now a museum, changed hands many times after Napoleon’s ex-wife died in it in 1814. But no effort of the subsequent owners has ever succeeded in eradicating the strong and penetrating scent which clings to the walls, imprinting the empress’s personality on her residence forever. The gentleman in charge of the museum said they're going to quit trying to get rid of the smell because it's more of a novelty at this point and people want to smell the perfumes Josephine wore.
Napoleon was so enamored by the sweet smell of perfumes that Josephine shared with him. that he kept around 54 bottles of cologne with him at all times. When soldiers began going through Napoleon's stuff after they surrendered, they were shocked to find the perfume in his locker. Quite frankly, a big chunk of the country knew little about perfume back then. Not that it hadn't been around (like in the days of Cleopatra), but due to the high cost of the product, a lot of people couldn't afford it. It was a luxury during a time when "Needs," by far out trumped "Wants."
A guess what it all boils down to is that being a warrior and a lover, aren't mutually exclusive.
Josephine was obsessed with perfume and was generally bathed with it every day. Around 200 years later, the smell of perfume can still be faintly smelled in what is now a French museum. The castle/chateau near Paris, long inhabited by Josephine, still exudes the strong odor of musk with which the empress used to douse her daily. Let's face it, the smells during this period, including humans, weren't pleasant but rich people could separate themselves from it by using perfume. She also had a passion for gardening. She ended up with one of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Even though they were divorced, Napoleon would bring her unique flowers from the trips he went on overseas. What's kind of funny is that for a man so tough in his persona, he laid it all on the line when it came to Josephine.
The castle, now a museum, changed hands many times after Napoleon’s ex-wife died in it in 1814. But no effort of the subsequent owners has ever succeeded in eradicating the strong and penetrating scent which clings to the walls, imprinting the empress’s personality on her residence forever. The gentleman in charge of the museum said they're going to quit trying to get rid of the smell because it's more of a novelty at this point and people want to smell the perfumes Josephine wore.
Napoleon was so enamored by the sweet smell of perfumes that Josephine shared with him. that he kept around 54 bottles of cologne with him at all times. When soldiers began going through Napoleon's stuff after they surrendered, they were shocked to find the perfume in his locker. Quite frankly, a big chunk of the country knew little about perfume back then. Not that it hadn't been around (like in the days of Cleopatra), but due to the high cost of the product, a lot of people couldn't afford it. It was a luxury during a time when "Needs," by far out trumped "Wants."
A guess what it all boils down to is that being a warrior and a lover, aren't mutually exclusive.
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