Eight & Bob

Albert Fouquet, the son of a Parisian aristocrat, was part of elite French society in the early twentieth century and a perfume connoisseur. In a room on the upper floor of the family chateau, Fouquet created and perfected various essences for his own personal use – aided by Philippe, the family butler.

The story goes...

One fated night during his summer vacation in 1937 on the French Riviera (Cote D'Azur), Albert met and got on very well with a young American student who was touring France in a convertible: John F. Kennedy. Within minutes of being introduced, the vain  J.F.K. was captivated by the essence that Albert wore. John's charm and congeniality persuaded Albert to leave him a sample of his cologne with a note at the hotel the following morning: "In this bottle, you will find the dash of French glamour that your American personality lacks."

John soon wrote Albert upon his return to the States asking for more bottles, requesting that Albert send him eight samples, “and if your production allows, another one for Bob”. 

The requests came flooding in from Hollywood thereafter. Unfortunately, the success of his cologne would not spread much further due to a tragic automobile accident in 1939. Philippe, the only person who could handle the orders, would only continue with the work for a few months, since the start of World War II forced him to leave his job with the Fouquet family. In the final shipments, Philippe hid the bottles inside books that he carefully cut by hand to prevent the Nazis from seizing the cologne.

Decades later, thanks to the family of Philippe the butler, the formula for “EIGHT & BOB” has been completely recovered, along with its carefully crafted production process. Once again, it has become one of the most exclusive colognes, preferred by the world’s most elegant men.