Givenchy launched L’Interdit in 1957.
Hubert de Givenchy originally commissioned the fragrance for Audrey Hepburn, his friend and longtime fashion muse. The perfume was initially intended for her personal use, and the story of its later commercial release helped make L’Interdit one of Givenchy’s historically important fragrances.
The name means “the forbidden” in French. The original composition was created by perfumer Francis Fabron and is associated with aldehydic, floral and woody elements. Modern versions and flankers have different formulas and should not be treated as identical to the original.
L’Interdit is sometimes confused with L’Interdit Rouge, a later Givenchy flanker. The original fragrance dates to 1957, while Rouge belongs to the brand’s much newer extension of the name.