Fashion is a sensory experience, and for many, the final touch of an outfit is perfume. When artist and model Sharon Alexie joined the Louis Vuitton roster with an appearance in its Volt campaign, she made Nicolas Ghesquière’s futuristic looks seem effortless. To further immerse herself in the brand’s world, Alexie heard to Grasse, France this weekend for Les Fontaines Parfumees, a fragrance workshop exploring the craft’s artistry. For Alexie, the trip was an opportunity to learn more about a subject she’d always been fascinated by. “I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about perfumery, but I was always very attached to the importance of smelling good,” she shared via email. “It changed the relationship that I had with smells as I was able to learn the different types of processes in producing perfume.”
A conversation with the Vuitton’s maitre perfumer, Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, opened her eyes to how a fragrance moves from an idea to an aroma. As a fifth-generation “nose,” Cavallier-Belletrud has been behind every Vuitton scent since they launched fragrance in 2016. A winner of the Prix International du Parfum—the industry’s highest award—he was the perfect person to guide Alexie and her fellow attendees through the workshop. “It was fascinating to be able to see perfume as an artistic and artisanal process and purpose, not only as a simple product that we consume,” she says. “It makes us travel, reminds us of [our] memories, participates in the memory of others, [and] it marks our personality. M. Cavallier said it very well “perfume is the last thing left when you undress; it’s on your skin.”
Decked out in her Vuitton favorites during her stay in Grasse, Alexie got to experience the best of its latest collections. A fan of relaxed clothing with what she describes as an “I don’t care” vibe, she was drawn to Ghesquière’s statement accessories and oversize separates. Just as she dresses to match her feelings rather than any specific trends, Alexie matches her outfit with her fragrances. “Like the clothes, I think the perfume is more representative of my state of mind, of a stage of my life, of a country in which I am, of a mood,” she says. “I loved wearing the black vest with notes of colors during dinner at Fred; it is beautiful and comfortable. It was a truly exceptional evening because it brought us together, and we were able to talk together, learn from each other around a good meal, and a good game of petanque.”
While at the masterclass, Alexie received a preview of the line’s latest fragrance and modern classics like Apogée and Rose des Vents. Already a fan of notes connected with her memories, the heady new release, Météore was right up her alley. “I usually like very sweet and fresh smells, but also strong and imposing smells. And sometimes I mix the two,” she explains while namechecking her favorite note. “Vanilla is a smell [that] does not leave me. I look for it in all perfumes; it reminded me of my carelessness and my quest towards myself when I was younger.” After days spent enjoying all the French Riviera offers, Alexie headed home with a new signature scent and a fresh understanding. “[Perfume] is an art, but it’s also chemistry, and I think it’s important when you want to invest in quality perfume,” she says. “Now, I’m going to be more in search of a perfume that goes well with my skin and not only a perfume that smells good isolated from me.”