Vanilla is the most overused note in perfumery, which is presumably why Jacques Cavallier Belletrud wanted another go at it. Fantasmagory is vanilla taken apart and reassembled: ginger cutting across the top so it never cloys, almond smoothing the middle, and the vanilla itself kept luminous rather than syrupy. The bottle is sculpted by Frank Gehry.
Why you will love this vanilla extrait
This is an extrait rather than an eau de parfum, which means a higher concentration of perfume oil and a noticeably different experience: less projection at the start, far more depth and far longer wear. What you get is a vanilla with actual structure in it, and the ginger at the top is the detail that makes the whole thing work.
- Extrait concentration, so it lasts substantially longer than an eau de parfum
- Ginger across the top stops the vanilla becoming sickly
- Almond gives it a soft, marzipan-adjacent smoothness without sugar
- Twelve hours and more on skin, and days on fabric
- Presented in a sculptural bottle designed by Frank Gehry
- Part of Les Extraits, the most concentrated Louis Vuitton collection
The scent
Ginger opens it, dry and slightly fizzy, which is not where you expect a vanilla to start. Almond follows within minutes, soft and milky. The vanilla itself builds slowly underneath and keeps building for an hour or more, warm and resinous rather than sweet. It finishes rich, smooth and very close to the skin.
Who it is for
People who love vanilla but have grown tired of how sweet most vanilla fragrances are. It suits evenings, winter, and anyone who appreciates the difference an extrait makes. Fully unisex. This is a collector piece as much as a daily fragrance, and it is priced accordingly.
How to use it
One spray, possibly two. Extraits are concentrated and are meant to be applied sparingly, directly onto the skin rather than clothing. Apply to the pulse points and let it develop for half an hour before deciding whether you want more.
Key details
- Fragrance family: gourmand, sweet, vanilla
- Key notes: vanilla, ginger, almond
- Concentration: extrait de parfum
- Perfumer: Jacques Cavallier Belletrud
- Bottle: sculpted by Frank Gehry
- Suitable for men and women
- Sourced and sold by Jmaloo as an independent retailer. Jmaloo is not an authorised Louis Vuitton stockist.
Size
100 ml
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