FRAGRANT GLOBE-TROTTING: Louis Vuitton master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud sat signing books Wednesday evening at the luxury brand’s Saint-Germain-des-Prés boutique in Paris. No matter how many times he put pen to paper, the line of journalists before him kept growing longer, as they chatted together and sipped Champagne.
The 380-page tome, entitled “A Perfume Atlas,” describes perfume plants, such as key lime, vetiver and oud, which Cavallier-Belletrud deems to give a poetic vision and help shaped the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned house’s creations.
His inspiration at the project’s start? “The love for raw materials, to celebrate nature,” Cavallier-Belletrud said. “And to thank nature for delivering — forever — fantastic materials.”
Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud
It took almost three years to create the beautifully illustrated book spanning three continents, which he said “is bringing me on a journey. I know that I’m in a brand of journeys, and my life is a journey.”
The atlas has three different covers and is organized according to where the various perfume plants grow. Africa, for instance, has cocoa from the Ivory Coast, incense from Somaliland, neroli from Tunisia and rosemary from Morocco. From the Americas is Peru balsam from El Salvador, guaiac wood from Paraguay and cardamom from Guatemala.
“A Perfume Atlas” was created with author Lionel Paillès, illustrator Aurore de la Morinerie and photographer Sébastien Zanella.
The limited-edition book is due out in France in some of Vuitton’s stores on Feb. 2. At 160 euros, the atlas is being published by Thames & Hudson. It will be sold abroad starting April 2.
That same day, the Perfume Atlas Exclusive Set, including the book and 45 vials of raw material extractions, will also launch in select Vuitton stores with a price tag of 5,000 euros.