Impromptu by Lucien Lelong (1936)

Impromptu by Lucien Lelong debuted in 1936—a year of social and artistic contrasts, poised on the edge of dramatic change. The name Impromptu, a French word, translates to “spontaneous” or “unrehearsed,” and is pronounced [ahm-PRAHMP-too]. Its origin lies in Latin via French, and it carries with it an air of unpredictability and elegance—like an unplanned gesture of charm or a sudden inspiration. The word evokes imagery of a fleeting romantic encounter, a sudden dance, a night that unfolds unexpectedly yet beautifully. It suggests freedom from routine, a willingness to be swept away in the moment.

For Lucien Lelong, couturier and tastemaker, choosing the name Impromptu aligned perfectly with the spirit of his fashion house and clientele. The late 1930s were a time of transitional glamour—nestled between the Deco opulence of the 1920s and the austerity soon to be imposed by World War II. 1936, in particular, was still basking in the shimmer of modern elegance. It was the height of the Art Deco era, with clean architectural lines, a fascination with streamlined design, and a cultivated air of luxury. In Paris, the International Exposition of Art and Technology in Modern Life had just taken place the year prior, reinforcing the city’s status as a hub of style and sophistication.

Women's fashion in this period had begun to soften from the bold, angular lines of early Deco. Skirts lengthened, shoulders grew broader, and silhouettes became more fluid and romantic. Eveningwear featured bias-cut gowns, luxurious fabrics like silk and satin, and an emphasis on movement. Women wore perfumes to complete the image of the ideal modern woman—poised, mysterious, and emotionally expressive.

Opening Night by Lucien Lelong (1934)

Launched in 1934, Lucien Lelong’s La Première entered the fragrance world during a moment of cultural elegance and cinematic escape. Originally introduced under this French name—La Première (pronounced lah preh-MYER), meaning "The First" or “The Premiere”—the fragrance was poised to celebrate both the glamour of a grand debut and the sophisticated poise of a woman stepping into the spotlight. However, a complication arose when it was prepared for release in the American market: another perfume company, De Hériot, had already secured the name La Première for a different fragrance in the U.S. As a result, Lelong's perfume was rebranded as Opening Night for American audiences, and Orage (oh-RAHZH, meaning "storm" in French) for distribution in Canada and the U.K.

Each name—La Première, Opening Night, and Orage—carries a distinct emotional and visual character, yet all are deeply theatrical in tone. La Première suggests elegance, precedence, and a moment of poised arrival. It conjures the image of a woman entering a theater or ballroom just as the curtain is about to rise. Opening Night retains that same sense of anticipation and spectacle, echoing the hushed excitement of an audience waiting in the velvet-lined dark. In contrast, Orage, meaning “storm,” shifts the mood. It evokes a sudden intensity—a romantic, emotional tempest—suggesting drama, passion, and power beneath the polished surface.

The year 1934 placed this perfume firmly within the interwar period, a time of both fragility and flowering in the arts, fashion, and perfumery. The world was still recovering from the shock of the Great Depression, and in France especially, luxury had become a form of escapism and expression. Hollywood glamour dominated the visual imagination, and French couture and perfumery responded in kind with elegant silhouettes, luxurious materials, and rich, complex compositions. It was the Golden Age of Perfume, an era when scent was expected to be both statement and signature.