Sandra‘s Closet

Taken all-together, the Louis Vuitton Cologne Perfumes form an odyssey of scent inspired by the dramatic landscape, light, and extravagant beauty of America’s Pacific Coast. They reveal impressions of Los Angeles, a phantasmagorical city whose complexities, moods and atmospheres provide constant inspiration for Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, the great composer of fragrance who, with this collection, has built a truly Californian adventure. Characterized by an ethereal, fruity mist and floral depth — each Louis Vuitton Cologne Perfume tells a story about light: from the gentle glow of daytime sun to the sparkling lights of a city at dusk. The newest addition to this collection, Pacific Chill, captures a sense of well-being, vitality and the pleasures that come from the light of a new day warming the skin.

A fragrance with a cool, purifying vibe, inspired by California’s renowned health and wellness culture, Pacific Chill was crafted to rally the senses, uplift the spirit, and to introduce a detox-like effect. It channels the regenerative vigor of the infinite ocean, an energizing force central to both body and spirit in search of a sense of balance and well-being.

«One morning in Los Angeles, while I was chatting with Alex Israel, we both ordered one of those detoxifying smoothies that Californians love. I was inspired by the vitamin-packed juice and said to Alex, ‘I’m going to create a detox Cologne!’ I tried to transcribe, through emotion, the well-being effects of that fruity blend. Blackcurrant has a truly interesting temperament. It’s vibrant, fruity, almost like a raspberry but lighter, and it’s also a concentrate of leaves held aloft by notes of cedrat and lemon. Blackcurrant’s character is fickle, which I amplified with a blend of coriander and ambrette seeds, basil, peppermint and orange essence. Hence the lightning start, like the sensation of foliage brushing against the skin. From the carrot seed I extracted an essence developed in Grasse. That essence of carrot tempers the impact of the blackcurrant’s green tones, which are as frontal as a painting by Gauguin. The carrot has an iridescence, with creamy, velvety accents of apricot, date and fig. It brings a lot of depth; it lends structure. A hint of May Rose offers floral sweetness and seals the alliance.» – Jacques Cavallier Belletrud

California’s West Coast is an unfettered, passionate, wildly creative territory. Its textural, atmospheric fragrances lend themselves perfectly to the Parfums de Cologne form: to combining the spontaneity of Cologne with the sophistication of perfume. As if capturing a moment when the first hours of sunshine chase the exuberance of night into the purity of the morning, Pacific Chill reaches for the horizon. Like a deep breath before a tranquil ocean, it stimulates all five senses and attunes them to the reawakening of life as the city slowly stirs under a crystalline sky.

blackcurrant + carrot seed + aromatic herbs
The newest addition to this collection, Pacific Chill, captures a sense of well-being, vitality and the pleasures that come from the light of a new day warming the skin.

Pacific Chill Parfum de Cologne is accompanied by a Fragrance Trunk and a Travel Case that reprise Israel’s painting on Monogram canvas, – a testament to the Maison’s savoir-faire. Available as of 18th May 2023.

Parfum/Cologne 100ml, CHF 305.-
In-store refill 100ml, CHF 190.-
Parfum/Cologne 200ml, CHF 465.-
In-store refill 200ml, CHF 435.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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Having explored the olfactory culture of the Middle East since 2018, Les Parfums Louis Vuitton now make a new stopover. Following Ombre Nomade, Les Sables Roses, Nuit de Feu and Pur Oud, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud composes a tribute to three native Middle Eastern flowers that over the centuries have become emblematic of perfumery all over the world: jasmine, a symbol of beauty from the Far East to the Mediterranean; orange blossom, which has been used in the region since Antiquity; and rose, one of the most famous varieties of which originated in Damascus. For the fifth opus in this collection, Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer wanted to capture these natural wonders in their original setting: gathered in a «nectar of flowers,» they blossom at the heart of a rich and resolutely sophisticated oriental composition. More than a perfume: a signature.

The Splendors of the Desert

In the desert, everything is magnified. This theater of extremes has fascinated and inspired stories since the dawn of time. Its immensity invites us to dream even further. Despite its hostile environment, the desert conceals spectacular wonders. Unforgettable emotions…

Amid the expanse of sand, a touch of color catches the travelers’ eye and makes them stop in their tracks. A corolla of petals. The unexpected presence of a plant in a vast, mineral ocean. At once fragile and strong, this flower has braved the omnipotence of the elements to express a beauty that is all the more sumptuous. It is life that springs forth against all odds, foiling the impossible. A miracle, poised at the boundary of reality and magic.

A Nectar of Flowers

From his many visits to the Middle East, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud carries in his memory striking contrasts. Arid dunes skirting the sea. Scorching days succeeded by freezing nights. A sumptuous palace rising from the heart of the desert, an architectural treasure breaking the monotony of sand like a mirage. To compose Fleur du Désert, he immersed himself in the «absolute beauty» of an oasis with lush vegetation, encountered during a morning walk in the Saudi Arabian desert not far from Jeddah. Moved by the power of such life defying the aridity of the landscape – an «eminently optimistic symbol» – Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer captured the image in a colorful signature brimming with contrasts. The delicacy of a bouquet of fresh flowers, exalted by the depth of an oriental trail.

Jasmine, orange blossom, rose: originally from the Middle East, these three flowers became emblems for Western perfumery. «They were brought to Europe by caravan from different regions in the Orient,» explains Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. «My idea was simply to stage these natural wonders in their original setting.» Directly inspired by the history and origins of perfumery, Fleur du Désert celebrates the essential contribution of the Middle East, the birthplace of this millennia-old art.

The House’s Master Perfumer selected the finest qualities of these flowers that he knows by heart as they are redolent of his native region: Grasse. Two essences obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction faithfully reproduce the scents of the fresh flowers at the center of his composition: Grandiflorum jasmine, tinged with the honeyed accents of orange blossom absolute, emanates its delicately radiant scent, while the Centifolia rose reveals the sublime softness of its petals. This precious bouquet is an ode to the art of perfume, enveloped in an oriental accord with original tonalities of spices and honey.
«I didn’t want an oriental accord in the Western sense of the term, but rather one that truly speaks of the culture and beauty that are unique to that region,» the perfumer explains. Oud Assam, also known as «black gold» — a treasure of Middle Eastern perfumery — expresses its unprecedented olfactory richness through an exceptional essence, distilled for two centuries by a family of producers in Bangladesh who have become the exclusive supplier to Louis Vuitton. Woody, animalic, spicy, amber… its deep scent is rounded by a honeyed note that responds to the suavest facets in the floral bouquet. Touched by a whisper of cinnamon, warm as the desert wind, this opulent trail embraces the skin with the sensuality of Ambrox, then melts into the naturally musky softness of ambrette seed. Enveloped in precious ingredients, this «nectar of flowers» reveals its absolute sophistication as the hours pass…

Louis Vuitton and the Middle East: A Legacy of Signatures

Introduced with Ombre Nomade in 2018, Les Parfums Louis Vuitton‘s tribute to Middle Eastern olfactory culture is not limited to its ingredients, nor to its territories of inspiration. Fragrance after fragrance, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud reaffirms the connection between his personal creative process and Middle Eastern perfumery, which share a singular love for textured, sophisticated fragrances. The son and grandson of perfumers, he observes that «Truly great perfumes have olfactory imprints that are distinctive and instantly memorable.» In a word: they are signatures. Guided by this conviction from his earliest creations, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud has naturally developed a strong affinity with lovers of Middle Eastern perfumery. Through this collection, he reveres the culture and curiosity that drives them to explore all olfactory families, well beyond the clichés to which Western perfumery sometimes confines them. «What defines a »Middle Eastern» perfume is not a question of notes, in my opinion,» he «It is rather a matter of textures and complexity. Undeniable elegance and presence.»

The Colors of the Desert

With the perfumes in this Middle Eastern-inspired collection, Louis Vuitton offers a palette of vibrant blacks that capture the colors of the desert and the multiple nuances of its mysteries. Crafted in precious glass that appears black at first glance, the House’s iconic perfume bottle reveals a deep, intense cast when touched by light. Fleur du Désert reveals pinkish reflections evoking the sumptuous hue of a freshly bloomed flower. Like the desert surrendering its most beautiful secrets to those who know how to look…

Eau de Parfum Fleur du Désert 100ml, 320€
In-store refill 100ml, 190€

Eau de Parfum Fleur du Désert 200ml, 495€
In-store refill 200ml, 380€

Available at select Louis Vuitton stores and from louisvuitton.com.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton #LVParfums #louisvuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Imprinted in the Maison Louis Vuitton’s heart since its beginnings, travel consistently informs the house’s olfactory creations.

It’s a state of mind that’s ever poised to venture out and conquer the world, with an insatiable curiosity, and a lightness of being, that embraces discovery — and it serves as a continuous inspiration for Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. After creating a first collection of women’s fragrances in 2016, which was followed by a range of men’s fragrances in 2018, the perfumer has mastered a new journey: four scented candles that transforms the home into another ambiance.

As a source of inspiration, movement is the Maison’s common thread from their very first trunks, through to their ready-to-wear and fragrances. With this in mind, Marc Newson aspired to contribute to Louis Vuitton’s first scented candles. Cast in handmade ceramic, these containers have a unique form. Created with portable convenience in mind, these candles are made with a natural leather handle. The hand-sewn handle is secured to the ceramic with metal rivets.

To embark on an olfactory journey, one can remove the gold-finished metal lid and place it underneath the candle, as a base. Discovering the fragrant wax poured in Grasse, France, with a colorful detail: a wick coated in a subtle touch of vibrant pigment, also hand painted in Grasse.

Scented candle L’Air du Jardin 220g 175 €
Scented candle Île Blanche 220g 175 €
Scented candle Feuilles d’Or 220g 175 €
Scented candle Dehors Il Neige 220g 175 €
Available as of 5th November at select Louis Vuitton stores and at louisvuitton.com

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Setting out to discover distant horizons can lead to experiences that are as unexpected as they are magical. An aurora borealis rising across a lava desert.
A cloud of fireflies taking flight in a tropical forest.
A shower of shooting stars raining down over the open sea.
Such rare and fantastic phenomena become engraved in the memory forever.

LOUIS VUITTON Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, fascinated by the trace of such fleeting moments that you wish you could keep forever, dreamed up an enchanting composition: a jubilant perfume that stirs all the senses and celebrates our capacity to experience awe. To grasp what is impossible to capture. To photograph the natural mirages we envision constantly. In his quest to embody waking dreams from far-flung explorations, he found the olfactory direction for Attrape-Rêves.

Such a composition would never settle for a conventional beauty. It needed an explosive fragrance trail; one that was vibrant and surprising in equal measure. Inspired by the euphoria one feels when gazing at a burst of shooting stars, he let himself be guided by an African cacao flower of absolute purity. A raw material, treated in Grasse, that distills regressive, animalistic inflections.
To airy cacao, he added a bouquet of peony, delicate flower with thousand petals, fresh and luminous. He reinforced the power of the duo by pairing it with the slightest touch of essence of patchoulol, the noble, modernized heart of patchouli. Even then, settling for a gustatory fragrance was out of the question. Like an olfactory about-face, lychee and Turkish rose absolute created an unexpected and purebred elegance. He also used ginger and bergamot like flavor enhancers, to amplify this extraordinary perfume’s contrasts and freshness.

Eau de Parfum Attrape-Rêves 100ml 210€
In-store refill 100ml 125€
Eau de Parfum Attrape-Rêves 200ml 320€
In-store refill 200ml 250€
Travel Spray 4×7.5ml 210€
Travel Spray Refills 4×7.5ml 115€
Miniature Set 7x10ml 260€

Available as of 13th September at select Louis Vuitton stores and at louisvuitton.com.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
#LVParfums – #louisvuitton

In 2016, Louis Vuitton ventured into new creative territory: perfume (for the previous post, click here please). Seven singular fragrance trails came into being. Seven compositions conceived like so many invitations on a journey. Seven concentrates brimming with emotion, composed in Grasse at Les Fontaines Parfumées, the creative atelier of Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, Louis Vuitton Master Perfumer.

Today, this collection of exquisite perfumes welcomes a new unprecedented creation. Composed by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, this fragrance radiates luminous optimism. The name of this new olfactory celebration: Le Jour Se Lève, which means literally «the day begins itself». So this what a brand new day smells like… The notes for the fruity floral include mandarin, blackcurrant, jasmine, magnolia, osmanthus and musks.Louis Vuitton Le Jour Se Lève will be available from March 2018 in 100 and 200 ml Eau de Parfum, and in a set of travel sprays (four x 7.5 ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Rumours were out for a long time, now it is official! In 2016, the Maison Louis Vuitton is preparing to explore new territory after 70 years: perfume.

The new 7-piece fragrance collection. Even the bottles designed by Marc Newson are on point.

While unprecedented and firmly anchored in the House’s history, this olfactory path is not unchartered territory. Quite the contrary: it is informed by the trunk-maker’s legendary fondness for the vanity cases, travel asks and fragrances stamped Louis Vuitton that were created throughout the 20th century.

Toilets accessories from a Cora case in leather, 1927

By way of an olfactory prelude, the Maison Louis Vuitton unveils its creative atelier in the heart of Grasse, in the Provence region of France; the unique background of House Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, and the palette of exclusive raw materials he has assembled since his arrival. It is an invitation to travel, a prologue to an imminent departure…

ITINERARY OF A GRASSE NATIVE

Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, Louis Vuitton Master perfumer, 2016

Named Maître Parfumeur of Louis Vuitton in 2012, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud traveled the world for four years to perfect the first collection of Louis Vuitton perfumes.

Facade of the Bastide, Les Fontaines Parfumées, Grasse

As a schoolboy in Grasse, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud would walk by an imposing portal. He had no idea what sat behind the wrought iron gates that so intrigued him. Little could he have imagined that, in 2016, this very place would become his creative workshop.

At that time, fragrance still fanned through every street and alleyway in Grasse. One only had to breathe in to know what the perfume factories were distilling that day. Orange blossom, citronella, lavender, Jacques already knew those ingredients, by heart.

Burst of May roses from Grasse

At the age of eight, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud went to his father, a perfumer, and told him he wanted to follow in his footsteps. He learned perfume notes the way other children practiced piano scales. Every evening, his father gave him perfume blotters, dipped in essence and he would have to wait until daybreak to write a detailed description in the notebooks he kept with care. When he got good grades in school, his father allowed him to weigh out formulas. The day after receiving his high school diploma, he began working in a perfume factory in Grasse, where he learned to distill flowers. At 18, he created his first formula — but his father reminded him that becoming a perfumer takes much more than mixing a few scents together…

Years later, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud proved his parent right. With the development of the Vuitton-exclusive fragrance palette, he has gone one step beyond using the latest fragrance extraction technology, of course.

Emblematic Louis Vuitton natural leather

For example, while there are existing molecules simulating the smell of leather in perfumery today, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud insisted that the Vuitton perfume workshop makes their own. Using the light beige leather that covers the handles and straps of Maison’s trunks and handbags, the exquisite scent of the Vuitton leather is extracted following complex steps of steeping in alcohol and clarification until a clear and crystalline liquid is obtained. Free of any hints of sharpness or smokiness, the end result is soft, refined and utterly Vuitton.

Extraction process of the Louis Vuitton leather infusion.

And that’s not all. Jacques Cavallier Belletrud also uses the supercritical CO2 extraction method on precious fresh flowers like the Centifolia rose and jasmine. Exclusive to Maison Louis Vuitton, this method doesn’t use any heat so as to ensure that all of the delicate flowers’ scent facets are protected and retained.

Centifolia rose from Grasse, immersed in the fountain water, Les Fontaines Parfumées, Grasse.

THE FACE

Léa Seydoux

By way of this visual prelude, the Maison Louis Vuitton unveils a first hint of the upcoming campaign: “Beyond Perfume”. French actress Léa Seydoux is the face of the new Louis Vuitton fragrances.

A COLLECTION OF SEVEN OLFACTORY EMOTIONS From the airiness of Rose des Vents to the intoxicating Turbulences, the ecstasy of a first night with Dans la Peau to the mindful immersion in nature with Apogée; from the self-revealing Contre Moi to an exploration of a darker side with Matière Noire and the explosion of the senses with Mille Feux… Les parfums Louis Vuitton describe a journey of emotions.

Les Parfums Louis Vuitton will be available from September 1st, 2016.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton