Celine's New Fragrances: Capturing Coolness In A Bottle

Celine's new fragrances are an intriguing and polarising collection of nine unique scents, the fashion house's first in 50 years. The perfumes, created by Hedi Slimane, are designed to cater to different personalities and preferences. From the fresh and citrusy Parade to the intoxicating and woody Reptile, the collection offers a range of options for both men and women. The fragrances are presented in weighty glass bottles with magnetic caps, adding to their appeal. With their complex combinations of notes, these perfumes are sure to be a talking point among those who wear them.

Hedi Slimane's creative vision

Hedi Slimane, the creative, artistic, and image director of the brand, is the visionary behind Celine's new fragrances. Slimane's perfumes are an exploration of memory, youth, and sophistication, with each scent in the collection capturing a distinct mood and personality.

Slimane's creative vision for the fragrances is deeply personal and nostalgic. For example, "Dans Paris" is inspired by Slimane's memories of meeting friends on tourist riverboats as a 20-year-old, listening to The Velvet Underground while sailing down the Seine. The perfume "La Peau Nue" evokes the iconic, powdered, diaphanous skin of Catherine Deneuve in "Manon 70", and the wild, androgynous beauty of Jane Birkin and Jo Dallesandro in "Je T'aime Moi Non Plus". "Cologne Francaise" captures the tradition of perfuming baths and linen, a comforting and protective ritual Slimane enjoyed.

Slimane's creative vision also draws on specific places and atmospheres. "Eau de Californie" is a tribute to California, where Slimane lived for over ten years, capturing the aromas of Palo Santo and the smell of leather in his Rolls Royce. "Saint-Germain-Des-Pres" captures the essence of strolling through the streets of Saint-Germain-Des-Pres, observing students pouring out of the Sorbonne and Grandes Ecoles, and captures the elegant, insolent, and fragile youth of the neighbourhood.

Slimane's fragrances also explore the idea of rituals and liturgy. "Parade" is a perfume centred around the notion of liturgy and the immutable ritual of appearances and representation. It is inspired by the lions rolling along the Grands Boulevards in Paris, the glittering ballet of male and female models, and the quest for sophistication and elegant ultra-decadence. "Black Tie" is a nighttime perfume, a ritual with a liturgical feel, inspired by the sharp lines of Slimane's tuxedos and the intense, crisp black of grain de poudre and lacquered satin.

Overall, Hedi Slimane's creative vision for Celine's new fragrances is a highly personal and evocative exploration of memory, youth, sophistication, and atmosphere, with each scent capturing a unique personality and mood.

The unique scent combinations

Celine's new fragrances are an exploration of unique scent combinations, offering something for everyone. The collection includes 12 perfumes, each with its own distinct character and story. Here is a closer look at some of the intriguing combinations that make these fragrances stand out:

Parade: This scent combines bergamot, neroli, vetiver, musk, and oak moss. It is a unique citrus fragrance with a bold, juicy vibe that could appeal to both men and women. The bergamot adds a sparkling freshness, while the vetiver and oak moss give it a complex and mossy depth.

Dans Paris: A light vanilla fragrance with a twist, Dans Paris blends bergamot, coriander seed, laurel blossom accord, musk, and vanilla. The coriander seed and bergamot create a spicy, citrusy opening, while the musk and vanilla provide a creamy, warm base that balances out the stronger notes.

Black Tie: With notes of white orris butter, cedar, tree moss, vanilla, and musk, Black Tie is a captivating fragrance that evolves on the skin. It starts with smoky, masculine notes and dries down to reveal a creamy, milky vanilla with a hint of chocolate and dessert-like sweetness.

La Peau Nue: A modern take on floral, La Peau Nue combines bergamot, rose absolute, white orris butter, rice powder, and vetiver. It is a fresh, soft, and slightly green fragrance with a luxurious hint of rose. The result is a well-balanced, clean, and powdery scent.

Eau de Californie: This fragrance is an interesting mix of bergamot, white orris butter, palo santo accord, tree moss, and patchouli. It pays tribute to California with its smoky notes and sunny, citrusy bergamot, while the patchouli adds a unique twist to create a sophisticated, earthy aroma.

Cologne Francaise: With neroli, fig tree, white orris butter, tree moss, and musk as its key notes, Cologne Francaise is a fresh and clean fragrance. The neroli and fig tree create a citrusy, soapy finish, while the fig tree also adds bursts of sweetness, making this scent truly addictive.

These unique scent combinations showcase the creativity and attention to detail that went into crafting each fragrance. The result is a collection of sophisticated and memorable perfumes that offer a range of options to suit different tastes and occasions.

The weighty glass bottles and chic packaging

Celine's new fragrances come in weighty glass bottles with black caps adorned with the maison's emblem. The full-size bottles come in two options: 3.4 fl oz or 6.8 fl oz. The packaging is very simple and streamlined, and the caps are magnetic. The overall aesthetic is appealing, and it is likely that some of Paris' most fashionable apartments have these fragrances on display.

The coffret miniature discovery set, which includes 10 minis of 0.34 fl oz each, is also stunning. However, the discovery set does not include twist-off caps or spritzers, which some may see as a drawback.

The unisex appeal of the fragrances

Celine's new fragrances have a unisex appeal, with some scents leaning more masculine and others more feminine, but all designed to be worn by anyone. The collection includes a range of unique and complex fragrances that defy traditional gender norms in perfumery.

One of the most notable unisex fragrances in the collection is "Reptile". With key notes of cedar, pepper, tree moss, leather accord, and musk, it exudes a lustrous glimmer of jet-black sequins and a musky, reptilian leather scent. It is a scenic and musical fragrance with electric accents, dedicated to the rock stars encountered by the brand's creative director, Hedi Slimane, throughout his career.

Another standout unisex fragrance is "Cologne Francaise", which has key notes of neroli, fig tree, white orris butter, tree moss, and musk. This scent is described as having clean, citrusy, and green undertones, with hints of sweetness from the fig tree, adding an addictive quality.

"Parade" is also worth mentioning for its unisex appeal. With key notes of bergamot, neroli, vetiver, musk, and oak moss, it offers a unique, bold, and juicy citrus scent that is not overly sweet. The bergamot is balanced by the vetiver and oak moss, creating a complex and mossy aroma.

"Dans Paris" is a light vanilla fragrance with a unique twist. Its key notes include bergamot, coriander seed, laurel blossom accord, musk, and vanilla. The coriander seed and bergamot create a spicy, citrusy opening, while the musk and vanilla balance out these punchier notes for a smooth and subtle finish.

"Black Tie" is a captivating scent with a transformative quality. It starts with smoky, masculine notes of white orris butter, cedar, tree moss, vanilla, and musk, and then dries down to reveal creamy, milky vanilla with a bite of chocolatey sweetness.

These fragrances from Celine's new collection showcase an intriguing blend of notes, challenging traditional gender norms and inviting individuals to explore a range of aromas that transcend stereotypical fragrance categories.

The lasting power of the perfumes

The reviewer also mentions that the Dans Paris, Saint-Germain-Des-Pres, and La Peau Nue fragrances have impressive lasting power and that she could smell them on herself for a considerable duration. The reviewer's partner could also smell the perfume on her, indicating that the scent was not just lingering in her own nose, but was noticeable to others as well.

The reviewer from Who What Wear UK mentions that the Nightclubbing fragrance is "not for the faint-hearted," implying that the scent is strong and long-lasting. They also mention that the Black Tie fragrance has "captivating scents that transform on the skin over time," indicating that the perfume has a long-lasting effect and continues to develop and evolve throughout the day.

The reviewer from Into The Gloss provides an in-depth analysis of each of the nine fragrances, noting that the scents are polarizing and can be loved by some and disliked by others. This suggests that the perfumes have a strong presence and are not easily forgotten. While some people may find their signature scent in Celine's collection, others may find the fragrances too overpowering or unpleasant.

Overall, the reviews suggest that Celine's new fragrances have impressive lasting power and that the scents linger on the skin and clothing for an extended period. The perfumes continue to emanate their unique blends of notes, leaving a lasting impression on the wearer and those around them.

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