Jacqueline Kennedy’s favorite fragrance, Lovely Patchouli 55 by Krigler, returns — $3,800 per bottle

Krigler, the independent perfumery famed for crafting scents beloved by the world’s elite, is reviving another iconic fragrance: Lovely Patchouli 55, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Legendary figures from Ernest Hemingway to John F. Kennedy have worn Krigler’s creations — from the oceanic America One to Marlene Dietrich’s leather-sandal Lieber Gustav 14. Even Coco Chanel occasionally favored the floral Pleasure Gardenia 79.

According to legend, Aristotle Onassis presented Jacqueline with a bottle of Lovely Patchouli 55 on the day he proposed. Now, the perfume is back as Lovely Patchouli 55 Classic Extrait, a limited-edition release priced at $3,800. The new version preserves the original charm while elevating it with a richer concentration. (The original fragrance remains available starting at $495.)

A Scent With a Storied Past

Krigler opened its first boutique in Paris in 1909, quickly gaining a devoted clientele of affluent Americans in the 1930s and 1940s, thanks in part to its locations inside the world’s most prestigious hotels — including the Plaza in New York and the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C. From late 2025, Krigler also operates a boutique in The Peninsula, Paris.

“France has always been extremely important to us,” says Ben Krigler, fifth-generation perfumer and current head of the brand.

The original Lovely Patchouli 55 debuted in New York in 1955 and quickly became a celebrity favorite. “In the 1960s, Jackie Kennedy lived at the Plaza — that’s where she discovered and fell in love with this fragrance,” Krigler recalls.

The Last Masterpiece of Albert Krigler

The perfume, crafted with Philippine patchouli, was also the final formula personally overseen by Albert Krigler at age 92. He ensured the highest quality by traveling to the Philippines to select the raw materials himself and even purchased the land where the patchouli was grown, passing it on to local farmers. Today, the fourth generation of these farmers continues the work, embodying 70 years of expertise in every bottle.

What’s New in the Extrait Edition

While the formula remains faithful to the original, the concentration has been increased to Extrait, enhancing longevity and depth. The scent opens with notes of patchouli, red fruits, and black pepper, layered over leather, vanilla, and amber — a warm, elegant fragrance with an earthy, grounded base and a subtly sweet initial impression.

Haute Couture Bottle

For this limited edition — 200 bottles of 45 ml each — Krigler has created a new hand-engraved crystal bottle, crafted by master artisans in Bohemia. Each comes with a luxurious leather travel case, designed not only for protection but to accompany the owner for life.

“We’ve always been travelers,” says Ben Krigler. “We wanted to create something you can travel with beautifully.”