“L’Art & La Matière is a collection of olfactory masterpieces for true lovers of all things beautiful, crafted by the hands of the House of Guerlain Perfumers”
Guerlain began with perfume and continues dominating in that field to this day; to rebrand their Haute Parfumerie Collection for 2021, the House drew inspiration from within their own archives and in the process created a beautiful union between fragrance & art … while adding two new scents to the range, since they were at it. I recently had the pleasure of attending a private preview of this new collection and I can sum it up in one word: exquisite.
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The event was held at luxury retailer Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in downtown Montréal, in the building’s historic Tudor Hall that was originally built in 1928 (a venue I’m very familiar with, as my daughter’s school held their Christmas concerts + fund drives there every year). The space still maintains its original oak panelling and intricate detailing, now painted a crisp white — but still jaw-droppingly beautiful.
*Until October 11th, you can visit Tudor Hall to view the entire L’Art & La Matière Collection, as well as take in art works presented by Galerie Le Royer, Admission is free
This was a private one-on-one event led by Maxime Poulin, International Makeup Artist and Director of Education & Events for Guerlain North America, where he walked me through the makings of this collection, as well as touching on some of the brand’s history that served as the inspiration behind it all. Apart from the stunning visual display & olfactive nirvana, I also got a chance to sniff the other fragrances in the range (and now I want every single one), all while nibbling on the tastiest bites (which I actually wolfed down because I was starving, lol — so classy) and sipped on chilled champagne. Maxime is a dear friend and as it’s been quite a while since we last saw each other in person, I was so happy to have a bit of extra time with him to catch up — but it’s never enough, is it? Upon leaving, I was gifted one of the new fragrances that I fell hard for, Santal Pao Rosa, although it was a tough call as Rose Chérie also appealed. I guess I’ll have to drop some Christmas hints to my husband …
I actually couldn’t imagine a space more suited to these stunning fragrant works of art
The newest additions to the range: Santal Pao Rosa and Rose Chérie
Listening to Maxime, while admiring the gorgeous array of cap plates available to personalize one’s bottle with (the mother-of-pearl is positively ethereal)
A closer look at the cap plate options available
How lovely is this hand-painted personalized fan I was given? It’s all in the details …
Maxime & I go back quite a few years and as it’s been so long since we’ve been able to see each other in person, we didn’t want to let go. Plus how cute are we?!
Santal Pao Rosa Eau de Parfum (CAN $431.00/100 ml, 3.3 fl.oz) | The House turned to their historic glassmaker, Pochet du Courval — makers of the original 1870 Flacon Carré that served as the inspiration behind the new bottle, to create this version; echoes of the original can be seen in the overall shape, faceted edging, as well as the cap. Created with a new glass technique that simulates crystal, the bottle is also made with a sizeable amount of recycled material as well as being completely refillable (*this option is available at select locations), thereby helping to minimize its environmental impact. Another fabulous feature is that you can even personalize each bottle through the selection of cap plates (shown above), the ‘baudruchage‘ or the cord around the neck, as well as the engraving option (you can write a name, initials, or even a small message), all of which definitely make for a truly unique gifting experience, one that will be treasured for ever.
Created by Guerlain perfumer Delphine Jelk, this is a unisex warm & aromatic woody fragrance that’s hugged by rose. The name is borrowed from Guerlain’s heritage with ‘Pao Rosa’ being the name of a fragrance created in 1877 by Aimé Guerlain — a scent that evoked ‘an encounter between wood and rose’. Sandalwood plays a starring role here, and while this precious wood originally hailed from India, years ago Guerlain’s Master Perfumer Thierry Wasser (my friend!) has sourced crops grown more sustainably in Australia, where the brand works with local producers to support their harvesting in a manner that will not threaten this material — or impact the environment. Distilled on site, sandalwood brings a woody, creamy note to fragrance and it takes 15 years to reach the maturity required to yield its precious essence. In Santal Pao Rosa, the Sandalwood is underpinned by Fig and Hazelnut for a creamy smooth nuttiness, with Cardamom adding a hint of spice. Agarwood (Oud) provides earthiness, while Myrrh (which I absolutely love) lends its exotic touch. Of course, I can’t forget to mention the delicate weaving of Damask Rose, which rounds out and softens the entire composition. Sillage (staying power) is quite long, and the final dry down is a warm skin scent that lingers like a caress.
The original bottle from 1870 that inspired the new shape
As every fragrance in this collection is ‘born of an artistic emotion’, it’s safe to say that if Santal Pao Rosa were art, it would be best represented by a wooden sculpture done by renown Italian artist Giuseppe Penone. This fragrance is like “sandalwood essence bottled in excess; this creative endeavour evokes the art of Giuseppe Penone, who led the Arte Povera movement. His work takes the form of installations and sculptures comprising scented and organic woods”. I think this concept is absolutely beautiful and it’s details like this along with all the thought & care that goes into each fragrance creation, that distinguishes this brand from the rest.
As can be seen here, no detail is overlooked — from the brand logo engraved on the cap plate, the black cordage & seal around the neck, to the iconic ‘bee motif’ in raised form found on the bottle’s back.
Lately I’ve been breaking out of my comfort zone and trying different fragrance groups, but my heart will always belong to this family: smoky, mysterious, incense-like, and absolutely sultry. Santal Pao Rosa is all that … and more. Captivating from the very first spritz, I’m in awe of the intricate interplay of rose with sandalwood, something that carries through the first session of wearing, then giving way to a creamy-smoky vibe that somehow manages to be both very sophisticated and utterly wearable. All I can say is that I am not only in love with this entire composition, but the bottle now sits proudly front & centre on my vanity. Totally display & wear-worthy, to be sure.
Available exclusively at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy
Kindly provided by Guerlain for my unbiased consideration
