Louis Vuitton roles out their range of elegant new fragrances in South Africa!
A blend of dark wood and white flowers ventures into a world of mystery
Exploring the universe is the ultimate travel fantasy and most thrilling adventure. Matière Noire plumbs intangible depths with a journey through the darkest, most precious woods, namely patchouli and Laos agarwood. The agarwood’s animal notes are intensified by blackcurrant and contrasted with the whiteness of narcissus and jasmine, a floral vibration that cuts the darkness like a comet. Plumes of sacred notes unfurl on the skin. The disruption is total, almost mystical.
When it comes to Louis Vuitton we all know their iconic bags, recognisable monograms and their presence as one of the most sought after designer items in the world. So it’s no surprise that Louis Vuitton decided to shock their loyal fans and fragrance fanatics by releasing their first range of fragrances in over 70 years!
We joined Louis Vuitton in Sandton City last week to discuss the new range of LV Parfums with some of the biggest fashion media and celebs in South Africa. If you’re all about LV than be sure to keep reading for all the info!
Master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, a native of Grasse, the birthplace of both perfume and leather craftsmanship, spent months travelling the world in search of inspiration. Breathing the fragrance of exotic places and rare materials, he created Les Parfums Louis Vuitton: a journey of emotions. His job was to ensure he could bring the master senses of these fragrances and the iconic legacy of Louis Vuitton together so that you could enjoy them together in one sensory experience!
The seven fragrances have each a unique story to tell, and Belletrud has travelled the world ensuring that when the creation touches your bare skin, that the story just begins:
“Of course, there already exist a number of notes for simulating the presence of leather in a perfume formula but visiting Louis Vuitton’s various workshops inspired Jacques Cavallier Belletrud to invent a made-to-measure infusion. Of all the leather aromas he explored, the one that drew him in was the gentle scent of natural leather, the light beige material used to cover the handles and straps of the Maison’s trunks and handbags. Fascinated by the subtlety of its fragrance, which is more floral than musky, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud asked the perfume workshop for an extraction of this leather. Steeped in alcohol, leather becomes resinoid, a dark substance that was clarified again and again until a limpid note was achieved. On the skin, it’s a perfume unto itself. This exclusive note possesses neither the aggressiveness of cade (juniper) nor the smokiness of birch. It is soft and sensual, like discovering leather for the first time.”
Click on the fragrances below to read their full story:
An incandescent fusion of raspberry and leather creates an ode to light
A golden ray, a starlit sky, the aurora borealis: light contributes to the magic of travel. To capture its incandescence, Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud sought a color to weave into this theme. On a visit to one of Louis Vuitton’s leather ateliers, he saw a craftsman transforming raspberry-colored leather into a luxurious handbag. The skin as bright as ripe fruit gave him an idea: to associate the scent of leather with that of the berry. He shaped the composition with osmanthus, a white flower with an animal and apricot scent, iris and saffron. Mille Feux is like an emotional bombshell. Fireworks.
A blend of dark wood and white flowers ventures into a world of mystery
Exploring the universe is the ultimate travel fantasy and most thrilling adventure. Matière Noire plumbs intangible depths with a journey through the darkest, most precious woods, namely patchouli and Laos agarwood. The agarwood’s animal notes are intensified by blackcurrant and contrasted with the whiteness of narcissus and jasmine, a floral vibration that cuts the darkness like a comet. Plumes of sacred notes unfurl on the skin. The disruption is total, almost mystical.
An unexpected vanilla in a fusional embrace
Contre Moi evokes the fusion of two travelers. A sensual outpouring that lets emotions rush to the surface. Ever fascinated by vanilla, Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud transports it to uncharted territory by giving it unprecedented freshness. Madagascar and Tahitensis vanilla blend in a delicate tulle of orange flower, rose and magnolia petals. A subtle touch of bitter cocoa reaffirms the perfume’s rebellious temperament.
The lily-of-the-valley ascends to blissful heights
Some getaways let us reconnect with ourselves by placing us before the immensity of nature. The chance to commune with the planet feels like a renaissance. Apogée illustrates this sensation with a poetic elixir of innocence. A radiant lily-of-the-valley enlaces with petals of jasmine, magnolia and rose. A base of subtly smoky guaiac wood and sandalwood essence support the bouquet like slender stems reaching skyward.
An infusion of leather, an invitation to explore the senses
Traveling often has the power to embolden desire. Dans La Peau imprints on the skin like indelible ink. An exclusive infusion of natural leather from Louis Vuitton’s workshops intertwined with accents of almost-candied apricot, jasmine from Grasse and sambac jasmine from China. Then absolute of narcissus appears, followed by a chorus of musk. Dans la Peau does not feign desire. It lays it bare.
An extreme tuberose to stir the heart
Discovering faraway lands can sometimes feel like soaring among the clouds. Inspired by a feeling akin to love at first sight, the perfume Turbulences pays tribute to the most narcotic of flowers: the tuberose. Here, it fuses with the most precious petals of jasmine. A light touch of leather, and you swoon. Intensely. Deliciously.
A whisper of petals opens up new horizons
A navigator’s indispensable tool, the rose des vents – or compass – is the traveler’s faithful companion. An olfactory guide, Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud transports us to the middle of a field of roses in Grasse. Buffeted by the wind, this singular flower seems to breathe. Sleek and stately thanks to iris and cedar, this perfume takes on glazed accents as it comes into contact with pepper. Gradually, the composition becomes as delicate as the skin of a velvety fruit. As golden as the first light of day.
May we just add in that Louis Vuitton really ensured that their fragrances would be a game changer in the market. Designer luxury bottles and magnetic caps are just the beginning of the detail that they put into the creation of their perfume bottles. There’s nothing excessive but everything essential. It’s the Louis Vuitton you’ve come to love and now you can wear it even more, we definitely give these fragrances a 5 star rating, but then again how could we not? It’s Louis Vuitton!
Les Parfums Louis Vuitton: available from September 2016 in Louis Vuitton Stores, South Africa. You can visit either Louis Vuitton Sandton city in Johannesburg, or V&A Waterfront in Cape Town to grab yourself a bottle or two today!
