PARISIAN HIGH PERFUMERY
since 1935 Grand Cru Fragrances Lancôme, born from High Perfumery Dubai, UAE, August 4, 2016: Driven by a vision, Armand Petitjean founded the Lancôme House in 1935. His dream was to offer women all over the world the excellence of a luxury cosmetics house “à la française”, excellence made possible by uniting exceptional talents from very different fields. As his first initiative, this genius perfumer created five fragrances that rewrote the rules of olfaction. Tendres Nuits, Kypre, Tropiques, Bocages and Conquête were unveiled at the Brussels World’s Fair, where they all won awards. A fervent ambassador of the art of living - and creating - “à la française”, he was inspired by all forms of pleasure, travelling above all. From his journeys, he brought back visual, olfactory and gustatory souvenirs, which he would transform into subtle synaesthesia in his creations. In this context, he envisioned Tropiques “like honey with a heavy coating of aromatics and spices” and Kypre “like a Burgundy: it needs to age in the bottle, like the wine”.
His inventiveness was regularly kindled by his love of flowers, a passion shared by his wife Nelly, who grew rare specimens at their Vallières estate. This enthusiasm led to the choice of the rose as the iconic brand emblem. Lancôme was born under the sign of flowers and hedonism. 2016…
Lancôme has called on some of the greatest contemporary noses to pay homage to Armand Petitjean, who saw know-how as an art of living and the art of living as the ultimate flavour of life itself. The result is Maison Lancôme, a new line of fragrances that so exquisitely touch on the founder’s dream and, indeed, the very essence of the House itself, that they seem to have always existed. This exceptional offer continuously pushes back the limits of elite perfumery, dedicated to amateurs in the know and enthusiastic aficionados, as well as all men and women who are constantly on the lookout for new experiences and unprecedented sensations. All who love beauty, all who are swayed by the captivating rareness of a trail that they have never smelled before yet is tinged with familiar emotions.
The art of blending: flowers and woods are sumptuously showcased
This new High Perfumery experience takes a creative stance: the very French art of blending, the same art mastered by illustrious chefs and cellar masters. In High Perfumery, it enhances the most fascinating materials of the perfumer’s palette. Each is put together in the same way that one composes a Grand Cru, with a combination of varieties, origins or extractions that are all exceptional and selected according to precise criteria. To finalise and unify this blend, a delicious and mouth-watering note is added as a signature, acting as the finishing touch of a perfect, absolute and singular scent. Jasmines, lavenders and tuberoses, on the one hand, and woods, on the other, take centre stage in a very intimate and personal approach led by the some of the greatest perfumers in modern perfume-making.
Six prestigious perfumers rewrite fragrances
Maison Lancôme gives free rein to six amazingly talented perfumers. So many inspirations, palettes, signatures and worlds, all different and complementary, united by a shared philosophy - the art of blending - rich with multi-facetted expressions to raise olfactory luxury to new heights. They revamp the most beautiful materials of High Perfumery with authenticity, delicious pleasure and originality. Three florals and just as many oriental fragrances make up a collection designed to satisfy the most demanding and passionate fragrance fans. Each of the compositions is hopelessly captivating and endearing thanks to a delicious twist ensuring its singularity and perfect balance. Flowers Jasmins Marzipane
Blend by Dominique Ropion
“The fragrance stands out with its lively yet enveloping femininity, making its trail deliciously irresistible.”
Dominique Ropion blended a duo of the highest quality natural hand-picked jasmines. Sambac Jasmine Absolute, gathered at dawn from the first harvests, conveys explosive, green and radiant luminosity, while Grandiflorum Jasmine Absolute from the last summer harvests brings more opulent and animal tones with leathery and fruity accents. The Almond Wood signature softens the entire creation. Bourbon Vanilla extract, which exalts the smooth, sensual, spicy and leathery facets of the scent, is accentuated by creamy sandalwood, cashmeran wood and musks.
[Woody White Flower Floral] Lavandes Trianon
Blend by Olivier Gillotin & Shyamala Maisondieu
“This fragrance is a fresh gourmand. It suggests refreshing sensuality, like skin in the sun.”
Olivier Gillotin and Shyamala Maisondieu composed the blend of two Lavender varieties from the Provençal Drôme region in France. Fine Lavender Essence, grown at a high altitude, exalts fresh and explosive notes, while Lavender Absolute from the Provence valleys reveals warmer, smoother and more sugary balsamic facets. The Crystallised Vanilla signature adds femininity to the Lavender blend. Madagascar Vanilla, so sweet and subtly childlike, is mellowed by “hot milk” and “cooked sugar” accords that deliciously recreate the aromas of a crème brûlée.
[Gourmand Aromatic Floral] Tubéreuses Castane
Blend by Shyamala Maisondieu
“It’s all about balance. I had to find the right harmony between pleasure and refinement, addiction and elegance.”
Shyamala Maisondieu brilliantly created the blend of Tuberoses in two complementary extractions. Tuberose Absolute, harvested at nightfall when the scent of the flower is strongest, proves to be rich, smooth and intense, while Tuberose Distillate diffuses the delicate, fresh and evanescent whiff of a bud. The Roasted Chestnut signature, a grilled chestnut accord cosily enwrapped in Venezuelan tonka bean, makes it deliciously addictive without being sugary. Almost smoked and then roasted, it is infinitely warming.
[Gourmand White Flower Floral] Woods Ôud Ambroisie
Blend by Ilias Ermenidis
“Oud Ambroisie is a delicious nectar of roses.”
Ilias Ermenidis orchestrated a wood triptych blend. Sweet, enveloping and sublimely animal, Oud Essence extracted from 20-year-old wood is exalted by leathery Virginia Cedar Wood Essence and a patchouli with rarely matched smoothness.
The Honey Rose signature, woven with Damascena Rose Infusion and Essence, is enveloped with Provence Honey. It invites you to savour this fragrance like a divine nectar.
[Gourmand Woody Floriental] Ôud Bouquet
Blend by Fabrice Pellegrin
“Ôud Bouquet is a narcotic and sensual rose. It draws its mysterious depth from the heart of oriental wood and its strength from warm, captivating spices.”
Fabrice Pellegrin, renowned for his subtle creations, blended a trio of bold woods composed of 20-year-old Oud Wood and smoky Guaiac Wood softened by the enveloping sweetness of Copahu Wood.
The Praline Rose signature, crafted from Centifolia Rose Absolute, Vanilla and a Praline accord, gives it enigmatic and infinitely seductive power.
[Woody Oriental] L’Autre Ôud
Blend by Christophe Raynaud
“L’Autre Ôud swings between oud wood and rose, light and shadow, strength and sweetness, masculinity and femininity.”
Christophe Raynaud created a blend of 17 hand-picked raw materials that recomposes an Oud Wood with incomparable and singular depth. Dark and leathery, it wavers between the spicy nuances of Cypriol and the shadowy depth of Myrrh. The Frankincense Rose signature transports a splendid Damascena Rose, set off with Saffron, into swirls of Frankincense.
[Woody Floriental]
An artist collective for an exceptional bottle
At the very origin of Lancôme lies the partnership between Armand Petitjean, perfumer and art patron, and artists of all kinds. Notably, painter Georges Delhomme, Lancôme’s Artistic Director, used his talent and inventiveness to bring glass to life. His designs gave form to bottles that are now highly sought after by collectors and that embody the story behind each fragrance. Knotted ropes and a nod to his travels in Argentina for Tropiques, engraved Mélisande figure for Tendres Nuits and even diamond for Trésor… Lancôme revisits this tradition of uniting art and craftsmanship by entrusting Alex & Marine, the duo of artists known for their ultra-graphic and incredibly detailed murals, with the bottle designed by Catherine Krunas, a “canvas” that pairs the weight of majestic glass with delicate faceting work. In this way, Alex & Marine tell the story of the Grand Cru Fragrances. They interpret each fragrance blend with an illustration that is then reproduced on a golden plate on the back of the bottle, like the fingerprint of each raw material. The plate becomes the transparent window of the glass, emotionally and gracefully expressing the reinvention of the Flower. Another plate in the same precious metal is set on the side of the bottle to reveal the blending secrets of the fragrance.
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