Seductive scents to fall in love with
Unexpected, intoxicating, refreshing – for fragrances that are as bewitching as they are bold, discover Cartier’s olfactory offerings for the season ahead
As the season changes, so should your fragrance. So while summer is all about brighter and lighter scents, fall is the perfect time to experiment with perfumes that are more exotic, rich and seductive. Cartier, known for timeless and enduring style, has created a new fragrance – Les Epures – to join its existing Les Heures and Les Heures Voyageuses scents. “The collections pay tribute to the creative approach of Louis Cartier,” explains Mathilde Laurent, the nose behind the fragrances.
And there is a sensuality to each collection that wavers enticingly between the masculine and feminine. “I wanted to show that we could have fun and offer very different kinds of fragrances without having to specify ‘men’s’ or ‘women’s’,” says Laurent. “Because it can be fun to wear a perfume that you may have chosen for your partner, or for a couple to share the same perfume.”
Described by Laurent as “daringly elegant”, Les Heures de Parfum is a collection suited to those who seek a scent that is more beguiling than boring. For many, a fragrance isn’t just a scent – it conjurs an emotion. So, inspired by the emotional hours of life – of which there are 13, according to Laurent – each fragrance is housed in an elegant flacon inspired by a Cartier vase created in 1926. What makes this collection so intoxicating? It’s the effect of unexpected notes of petitgrain, leather, gin, peppercorn and musk, and the contrast of these notes, that makes for an impactful finish, from top to dry-down.
For those looking to add some freshness to their fragrance wardrobe, Les Epures de Parfum collection draws its inspiration from nature, with a unique blend of florals such as magnolia and lily of the valley, complemented by refreshing citrus from zesty kumquats.
“There are no rules. It’s about freedom of choice, freedom to change, freedom to mix and to play. Perfume is, above all, the freedom of self
”
Concluding Cartier’s fragrance collection is Les Heures Voyageuses de Cartier, which Laurent says “was inspired by the Cartier brothers, who were dedicated to exploring different countries and cultures” – in particular a journey from Paris to the Middle East, which is why this collection is centerd around the precious ingredient oud. “With its naturally woody, musky notes, it evokes incandescence and sensual sensations,” explains Laurent. “It’s the perfect base with which to create clashes, encounters and shocks, using ingredients that were either complementary, or totally opposed.”
And the best way to wear these standout fragrances? According to Laurent, it’s important to wear a fragrance with total freedom. “There are no rules. It’s about freedom of choice, freedom to change, freedom to mix and to play. Perfume is, above all, the freedom of self.”