This week I attended the very discreet and luxurious launch for Les Parfums Louis Vuitton. This is the Maison’s first perfume launch in about 70 years.
The philosophy and soul of Louis Vuitton has always been deeply rooted in travel and creating ways in which the Maison can accompany travellers on their voyages. The Maison has said, “Metaphorically, travel is not a destination: it is a feeling that constantly nourishes body and soul, a new experience that can make your heart skip, leaving an everlasting memory.”
A native of Grasse, the birthplace of both leather goods and fragrance; the master perfumer for the collection is Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. He spent months searching for inspiration and raw materials all over the world. The result was Les Parfums Louis Vuitton: a journey of emotions.
The luxury fragrance collection contains 7 perfumes housed in beautifully understated, clear round glass bottles. The stoppers are very neat; black with a gold LV logo on the top. The name of each fragrance appears in small but bold text on the front with Louis Vuitton embedded in the glass. The effect is very modest and charming but still feels very luxurious.
Each fragrance in Les Parfums Louis Vuitton takes you on a journey. From a garden of roses in Grasse to Turkey, Bulgaria in Rose de Vents, valleys and mountains in Apogée; where Lily of the Valley is the star, fields and fields of Tahitian vanilla in Contre Moi and right back to the Louis Vuitton leather workshop in Dans La Peau. Turbulences is a synthesis of thrilling Tuberose and delicate jasmine on a slight hint of leather while Mille Feux also uses leather, but combines the note with bright, ripe raspberries and hints of apricot, iris and saffron in an attempt to magically capture golden rays of light in a fragrance. In contrast, Matière Noire directly translates to “Dark Matter” and blends shadowy patchouli and Laos agarwood with light white narcissus and jasmine in a mystical infusion.
The collection is absolutely exquisite and goes way beyond what I hoped and expected from Louis Vuitton. My favourite one is Contre Moi which along with Tahitian vanilla also contains Madagascan vanilla blended with delicate orange flower, a hint of rose and magnolia petals. The mixture sits in a very slight of bitter cocoa which gives the otherwise soft and sweet scent a rebellious edge. It almost makes me emotional!
Visit Louis Vuitton in the Diamond Walk at Sandton City to experience Les Parfums Louis Vuitton. The fragrances start at ZAR3500 for 100mL.
Until next time
Love and sparkles
Zaakira xox
*Images from Zebra Square