I know that it's said that you should pick a fragrance that's personal to you and stick with it. I'm speaking of picking a signature scent. I don't know about that because I have worn many "signature" scents for years, but I believe that the type of scents you're attracted to are more or less your signature. If you're into floral and woody scents, any brand can formulate a scent or two that you are drawn to because of those two notes. I mention this because for years, I've been on the hunt for a fragrance that I can turn to and never get tired of. Not quite a signature scent, because I have a few that are my favorites for a season. But something I can always reach for and will be completely different from anything you'd smell on anyone else. This brings me to the relatively new Louis Vuitton Fragrance collection.
Upon visiting one of the local LV boutiques, I saw a gleaming and glorious display of gorgeous bottles lined up ever so neatly that I had to ask about it. The associate that waited on me that day gave me a complete doctorate on the LV fragrances and how they came to be. She let me sample each scent as she explained the notes of each in such detail that you thought she formulated the fragrances herself. After such an impressive presentation, the associate gave me a sample of all seven original scents all packaged in a precious mini LV shopping bag.
Of course, I was over the moon to receive them and even more so to test each one of the out. After a week or two, I can honestly say with assurance that I will gladly plunk down the $250 for a bottle of the LV fragrances. Out of the samples I received of the original seven, five are my absolute favorites and they remind me of nothing I've ever worn before.
My favorite LV fragrances are Contre Moi, Mille Feux, Attrape-Rêves (shown above), Turbulences, & Matière Noire. I love them all for different reasons. I will say that the most that I've ever paid for a fragrance is a little over $100. The issue with that is that I rarely finish a bottle and I get bored with it and I'm ready to move on to something different. Went I tested each of the LV fragrances, I knew that a lot of time and energy and quality went into each fragrance and to me, it's worth the money. Not only are they long lasting on the skin, the scents linger softly for days. At first use, some may think they are very strong fragrances, but they are so personal. They are lovely.
With the exception of a few, I can see myself tossing all of the others in my fragrance wardrobe. In my opinion, these are pretty much my forever scents! They didn't mention it, but if you know what you're doing, you can mix the fragrances to make something completely new and that is all yours alone. I know some people will think it's ludicrous to spend $250-$360 on a fragrance, but when you find something so special, money isn't an object. Also, you can refill each fragrance for $150 and not have to worry about disposing of a beautiful, Instagram-worthy fragrance bottle. Below is a beautifully descriptive introduction of each of my LV favorites.
LOUIS VUITTON FRAGRANCES
Contre Moi
"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."
Turbulences
"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."
Mille Feux
"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."
Attrape-Rêves
"Cocoa as airy-light as a wondrous journey somewhere between dream and reality. Like the Northern Lights appearing out of nowhere, Attrape-Rêves is the fragrant embodiment of supernatural phenomena forever embedded in the memory of some far-flung exploration. Inspired by such waking dreams, the Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud imagines a trail like a shower of shooting stars, where raw cocoa powder mingles with a bouquet of peonies. Then comes the patchouli heart, enlivened by litchi’s fresh and sparkling notes."
Matière Noire
"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 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."