CELINE’s New Fragrance Collection: A Breakdown
CELINE, one of the world’s most revered fashion houses, has finally made the announcement that all beauty-lovers were waiting for: the brand will be making their first foray into the perfume world in well over 50 years.
Yep, you’ve heard (er, read) correctly. Titled ‘Haute Parfumerie’, CELINE has released a curated fragrance collection comprising of 11 unique fragrances (two of which are due to launch in 2020), created under the direction of Creative Director, Hedi Slimane.
True to its famous modus operandi — i.e. questioning traditional gender norms through both design and fashion direction — the perfumes are gender-neutral: blending stereotypically ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ notes to create surprising, beautifully refined scents that feel oh so Parisian.
Housed in a luxurious art-deco inspired bottle, designed in line with French glassmaking tradition, CELINE’s new fragrances are very easy on the eye; they’d look phenomenal on any beauty vanity. So, without further ado: a breakdown of each of CELINE’s highly covetable perfumes.
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Notes: BERGAMOT, NEROLI, VETIVER, MUSK, OAK MOSS
Slimane describes this fragrance as a tribute to the greatest ‘dandies’ (read: trendy, appearance-focused young men) ranging from 19th-century literature up to rock and pop figures of the 1960s — think Oscar Wilde, Mick Jagger and David Bowie. Starring musk and oak moss, the scent also leaves a feminine-like trail, thanks to bergamot and neroli.
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Notes: NEROLI, PETIT GRAIN, WHITE ORRIS BUTTER, HELIOTROPE, VANILLA
Named after the chic Saint-Germain-Des-Prés in Paris’ 6th Arrondissement south of the River Seine (Slimane’s favourite part of Paris), this fragrance is as stylish as its namesake. An ode to youth, it features an arrangement of bold petit grain, sweet, decadent vanilla and heliotrope, as well as orris which rounds out the scent with an air of refinement.
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Notes: NEROLI, FIG TREE, WHITE ORRIS BUTTER, TREE MOSS, MUSK
Striking in profile, Cologne Française plays on what are thought to be inharmonious notes, challenging traditional notions of masculine and feminine accords. At the forefront is citrusy and romantic neroli with complex, green fig tree — its powderiness highlighted by opulent orris butter and musk. Distinctive yet refined, this one has to be experienced to be fully appreciated — much like the country itself. Vive la France!
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Notes: BERGAMOT, CORIANDER SEED, LAUREL BLOSSOM, MUSK, VANILLA
Translating to ‘In Paris’, this eau de parfum seeks to capture the alluring spirit and promise that Paris holds in the eyes of a young adult. Vibrant bergamot blended with fresh coriander seed, powdery laurel blossom and vanilla is described as akin to a journey of “a boat trip along the Seine in radiant sunlight; like a tracking shot from a movie on Parisian facades, leaving you floating on air”. If that doesn’t sell you, we don’t know what will.
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Notes: BERGAMOT, ROSE ABSOLUTE, WHITE ORRIS BUTTER, RICE POWDER. VETIVER
A tribute to glamorous leading ladies of the 1970s, La Peau Nue (translating to ‘the naked skin’) is both elegant and alluring. With a smooth accord of rose and orris blended with intoxicating vetiver, it is feminine sensuality in a bottle — reminiscent of iconic French women such as Brigitte Bardot, Betty Catroux and Anna Karina. Can you say ‘je ne sais quoi?’
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Notes: BERGAMOT, WHITE ORRIS BUTTER, PALO SANTO, TREE MOSS, PATCHOULI
A love letter to California (where Slimane called home for more than a decade), Eau de Californie is both earthy and creamy in profile thanks to palo santo, a tree native to the dry, tropical forests of Mexico that are now found in abundance in the Golden State. Warming yet fresh with notes of bergamot, white orris butter and patchouli, this one’s for the California dreamers.
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Notes: CEDAR, PEPPER, TREE MOSS, LEATHER, MUSK
Would it be an Hedi Slimane collection without reference to leather? This perfume is described as the ‘twin’ of the rock star image and design direction that he has carried throughout his career — and we would have to agree. With a hero — you guessed it — leather accord, Reptile embarks on a multifaceted melody of moodiness: think an elegant blend of pepper, tree moss, cedar and musk.
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Notes: WHITE ORRIS BUTTER, CEDAR, TREE MOSS, VANILLA, MUSK
Slimane refers to this perfume as an olfactory replica of his style in a nutshell: classic, tailored lines. Centred around crispy, creamy vanilla, it is complemented with rich, powdery white orris butter and a spicy earthiness courtesy of cedar and tree moss. Sophistication bottled, this one’s best saved for those rare nights of total extravagance.
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Notes: GALBANUM, WHITE ORRIS BUTTER, PATCHOULI, TREE MOSS, VANILLA, MUSK
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out the influence for CELINE’s final ‘night’ perfume, with Slimane alluding to iconic Parisian nightspots Le Palace and Les Bains Douches as inspiration — the latter of which attracted it-crowd clientele such as Yves Saint Laurent, Mick Jagger, Kate Moss and Johnny Depp during its heyday. Nightclubbing stars earthy, yet fresh and spicy galbanum, alongside musk and vanilla — communicating the sense of mystery and adventure that preludes any promising night on the town.
As if these fragrances aren’t enough to get excited about — the house has announced two additional launches planned for next year — Bois Dormant and Rimbaud. Stay tuned!
The Haute Parfumerie collection is available exclusively in-boutique at CELINE Collins Street, Melbourne and CELINE Westfield Sydney.
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