Jean Desprez perfumes was founded by a man of the same name, and it was located in Paris.  Descended from perfumers, he was the grandson of F. Millot and eventually became their head perfumer until his father died in 1936, after apprenticing with Givaudan (the founder of the big perfume-maker).  Jean Desprez was the composer of the amazing Millot Crepe de Chine.  It was after his father's death that he founded his own company.

Jean Desprez Bal a Versailles is the most famous perfume that came out of this perfume shop.  It was launched in 1962, a heady, sinful oriental with notes of jasmine, rose, orange blossom, sandalwood, patchouli, musk, amber, and civet.

From Perfume Posse - "The top notes smell like Martian candy – the odd, cinnamon-menthol whiff of Necco wafers – before the florals waltz in, and then the floor drops out and you’re into a deep, dark musky incense base. Bal a Versailles is the smell of high artifice – the girl dressed for the ball who will, if you ask nicely, join you in the back seat of your car for a sip from your flask and possibly something more."

Jean Desprez created other perfumes for his own line, none rising to the same iconic level as Bal a Versailles, like Sheherezade and Jardanel.

Bal a Versailles continues on today,