Heidi Norton
The Alexander McQueen fashion label was founded by Lee Alexander McQueen in 1992. The brand entered the world of fragrance in 2003 with its Kingdom perfume, a sensual floral elixir. Since then, the brand has released 18 more perfumes, including My Queen and McQueen EDP. The fragrances are created in collaboration with renowned perfumers such as Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, Christophe Raynaud, and Sonia Constant. With their unique bottles and captivating scents, Alexander McQueen fragrances have become highly sought-after, reflecting the brand's elegance, innovation, and dedication to excellence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of perfumes | 19 |
| First perfume launched | 2003 |
| Latest perfume launched | 2018 |
| Perfumers | Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, Christophe Raynaud, Sonia Constant, Pierre Aulas, Domitille Michalon Bertier, Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion |
| Types of fragrances | Oriental, Spicy, Oriental Floral, Chypre |
| Fragrance notes | Celery seeds, Rhubarb, Ginger, Amber, Neroli, Carnation, Musk, Oakmoss, Pink Pepper, Clove, Black Pepper, Tuberose, Jasmine Sambac, Ylang-Ylang, Vetiver |
| Fragrance names | Kingdom, McQueen Eau de Parfum, Celtic Rose, Blazing Lily, Luminous Orchid, Amber Garden |
| Collaborators | P&G Prestige Beauty, Coty Inc. |
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What You'll Learn
- Alexander McQueen Parfums launched a collection of eight flora-infused scents in 2018
- Kingdom was the first fragrance, launched in 2003
- The brand has launched 19 perfumes, the latest in 2018
- The perfumes were made in collaboration with perfumers like Jacques Cavallier Belletrud and Christophe Raynaud
- The fragrances are meant to reflect the facets of the McQueen woman
Alexander McQueen Parfums launched a collection of eight flora-infused scents in 2018
In 2018, Alexander McQueen Parfums launched a collection of eight flora-infused scents, inspired by the artistry of haute perfumery, innovation, and contemporary design. The collection, named Figure Eight, was meant to reflect the many facets of the McQueen woman and included orientals, florals, and a chypre. The fragrances were built around the original McQueen Parfum, a high-end scent made from night-blooming flowers that was launched in 2016.
The eight fragrances were Celtic Rose, a mix of fresh and delicate petals with added black pepper; Blazing Lily, a spicy floral scent with peppery red pimento and gunpowder; Luminous Orchid; Sacred Osmanthus; Amber Garden, a warm, soft, and comforting scent with cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon; and three others. The collection played to a popular industry trend for high-end collections, with slightly more accessible price points than the original McQueen Parfum, which was priced at 350 euros for a 50-ml spray.
The outer packaging of the Figure Eight collection recalled the design of the McQueen Parfum, with black embossed feathers on the boxes, edged in antiqued gold. The digital-only campaign for the collection was inspired by armour and heraldic symbols and was created by the agency M/M, which had recently recast the Alexander McQueen communication platform.
The Alexander McQueen fragrances were made in collaboration with perfumers including Pierre Aulas, who said that his brief from Sarah Burton, McQueen's creative director, was to "stay very close to the DNA of the brand and to capture its duality." Aulas said that Burton asked him to play on the tension between the traditional and modern, and between fragility and strength.
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Kingdom was the first fragrance, launched in 2003
Kingdom, the first fragrance by Alexander McQueen, was launched in 2003. The perfume was created for women and has been described as having a warm, spicy, and minty scent. Its top notes include neroli, bergamot, orange, mint, lemon, and mandarin orange, while its base notes are musk, amber, and oakmoss. The fragrance was designed to reflect the trend of Alexander McQueen in the early 2000s, catering to the young, rebellious, and powerful woman.
The perfume was created in collaboration with perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, who is known for his unique and innovative creations. The scent has been described as "brilliantly complex and different" and has a strong presence that makes it memorable. The packaging of the fragrance was also notable, with its unique design that resembled a segment of an orange or an apple cut into four pieces.
The name 'Kingdom' played on the "queen" present in the designer's surname and alluded to his success and the fantasy and prestige he offered his customers. However, despite its regal title, the fragrance was not created to showcase women as queens or live dolls. Instead, it represented the woman who had emerged from the feminist era, theoretically having acquired all her rights and freedoms and now simply living them.
Unfortunately, Kingdom was discontinued a few years after its launch due to low sales. It was considered too challenging a fragrance for a mainstream audience. However, its impact on the world of perfumery and as a part of Alexander McQueen's legacy remains. The fragrance's discontinuation was followed by the release of other fragrances by the brand, which also eventually stopped production.
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The brand has launched 19 perfumes, the latest in 2018
The Alexander McQueen fashion house has ventured into fragrances, launching 19 perfumes in total. The brand's earliest fragrance edition was created in 2003, and the latest in 2018.
One of the brand's earliest perfumes, Kingdom, was launched in 2003 and was designed as an androgynous perfume according to McQueen himself. The fragrance is described as an oriental spicy blend with top notes of neroli, bergamot, orange, mint, lemon, and mandarin orange. The middle notes include celery seeds, rhubarb, ginger, carnation, rose, and jasmine, while the base notes are musk, amber, and oakmoss. The perfume was created in collaboration with perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud.
Alexander McQueen Eau Blanche, another one of the brand's fragrances, is a 2.5 oz Eau De Parfum Spray for women. The brand has also released several limited-edition perfumes, including Kingdom Limited Edition in 2004 and 2005, and Kingdom Summer.
The Alexander McQueen fragrances were created in collaboration with perfumers Christophe Raynaud, Sonia Constant, Pierre Aulas, Domitille Michalon Bertier, Anne Flipo, and Dominique Ropion, in addition to Belletrud. The brand's perfumes have received recognition, with one reviewer describing Kingdom as a "classic in its own right" and encouraging all "serious parfumistas" to try it.
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The perfumes were made in collaboration with perfumers like Jacques Cavallier Belletrud and Christophe Raynaud
The Alexander McQueen brand has released 19 perfumes, the earliest in 2003 and the newest in 2018. The perfumes were made in collaboration with several perfumers, including Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, Christophe Raynaud, Sonia Constant, Pierre Aulas, Domitille Michalon Bertier, Anne Flipo, and Dominique Ropion.
Christophe Raynaud, a renowned perfumer, has worked with multiple prestigious fragrance companies and collaborated with top brands. Raynaud's creations, including Paco Rabanne 1 Million, Lancôme La Nuit Trésor, and Mugler Aura Mugler, are loved by millions worldwide. Raynaud describes himself as a "craftsman with the sensitivity of an artist" and is passionate about fragrances. He has wanted to be a perfumer since he was a teenager, initially dreaming of creating a brand with his childhood friend that would design both clothes and perfumes. Raynaud's fragrances stand out for their presence and radiance, reflecting his unique perspective on the art of perfumery. He composed the fragrance for Alexander McQueen's Mcqueen Eau De Parfum, which the olfactory director of Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton, described as emerging from "night flowers." The fragrance features a floral smell of Tuberose, Jasmine, and Ylang-Ylang flowers, with an initial spicy note, making it suitable for all seasons.
Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, a French perfumer, is currently working for Louis Vuitton of the LVMH Luxury Group. He was born in Grasse, France, a town known for its perfume manufacturing heritage. Cavallier Belletrud comes from a family of perfumers; his father and grandfather were also in the same profession. He has created or collaborated on creating over 80 fragrances for fashion house brands such as Parfums Christian Dior, Parfums Givenchy, Issey Miyake, Yves Saint Laurent, Fenty Beauty, and Lancôme. Cavallier Belletrud is credited with incorporating the synthetic molecule methylbenzodioxepinone (known as Calone 1951) into several of his most successful perfumes, providing them with a prominent "marine" scent and a light, airy, sea-breeze feel. In 2012, he joined LVMH Luxury Group as its in-house perfumer and formulated the first fragrance for Louis Vuitton, released in 2016.
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The fragrances are meant to reflect the facets of the McQueen woman
The Alexander McQueen fashion house launched its first fragrance, Kingdom, in 2003. The brand has since released 18 other perfumes, including an eight-scent collection in 2018. This collection, Figure Eight, is meant to reflect the many facets of the McQueen woman.
McQueen's creative director, Sarah Burton, described the idea of fragrance as "gentle armour, protective, empowering and connected to the natural world". She added that each fragrance is "forward-looking" and tells its own story. The eight scents include orientals, florals, and a chypre, with names like Celtic Rose, Blazing Lily, and Luminous Orchid. They were built around McQueen Parfum, a high-end scent made from night-blooming flowers that was launched in 2016.
The bottles are heavy yet delicate and are meant to resemble polished gems. The caps are round, and the bottles come in a variety of jewel tones, depending on their contents. The collection was inspired by haute parfumerie and ancient materials, but with an eye on innovation and experimentation.
The Kingdom fragrance, for example, is described as "Oriental Spicy" and has top notes of neroli, bergamot, orange, mint, lemon, and mandarin orange. The middle notes are celery seeds, rhubarb, ginger, carnation, rose, and jasmine, while the base notes are musk, amber, and oakmoss. It is a controversial fragrance that people either love or hate, with some describing it as "bold, weird, [and] sexy".
McQueen himself described Kingdom as an "androgynous perfume", saying that it does not have a gender, which makes it special. This fragrance has been interpreted as "human female" on a primal level, transcending sexual boundaries, preferences, and genders.
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Frequently asked questions
The Alexander McQueen fragrance brand is owned by Coty Inc.
Alexander McQueen has 19 perfumes in the fragrance base.
The earliest edition of Alexander McQueen fragrances was created in 2003.
The latest Alexander McQueen fragrance is the Figure Eight collection, launched in 2018.
Some popular Alexander McQueen fragrances include Kingdom, McQueen Eau de Parfum, and Blazing Lily.
