The esteemed perfumer-artists of Atelier des Fleurs invite you on an olfactory journey to explore flowers that are utterly singular. In homage to the pioneering spirit of Gaby Aghion, founder of Chloé, they illuminate specimens that epitomise the beauty of imperfect charm, revealing the allure of the untamed.
With this latest opus, Atelier des Fleurs – part of the Fleurs de Nuit collection – unveils the unexpected dimensions of seemingly well-known floral varieties: three enigmatic white blossoms whose fragrances undergo a remarkable transformation at twilight.
By day, the orchid, orange blossom, and tuberose luxuriate in the sun’s warmth, but it is under the cloak of night that they release their sumptuous, intoxicating aromas.
At nightfall, Chloé takes hold of these intriguing scents. The maison has created three enchanting compositions housed in a striking, cobalt-blue version of the iconic wavy Atelier des Fleurs bottle, inspired by the vast, starry cosmos.
ORCHIDÉE DE MINUIT
At the zenith of the night, the white orchid opens for but a moment in its lifetime, exuding a smooth, sweet fragrance that lures pollinators to its bloom, facilitating the growth of vanilla pods. This ephemeral moment has been beautifully captured by Mathieu Nardin and Cécile Matton. “In Orchidée de Minuit, we have explored the animal aspect of vanilla by elevating its hypnotic facet and transforming it almost into a dark blossom,” state the perfumers.
Upon the very first spritz, gentle notes of orchid blossom entwine with warm tones of clove and syrupy aromas of rum. At the heart, jasmine emerges in all its richness and sensuality, then ushers in benzoin and styrax resins to enhance its voluptuousness.
Here, vanilla reveals itself not merely as a flower, but as the pod itself. Elevated by musks and patchouli, the vanilla absolute unfolds a wealth of enveloping, rich, and textured notes, forming the signature essence of this intriguing and addictive elixir.
NUIT D’ORANGER
The quintessential blossom of Gaby Aghion’s native Mediterranean Basin, the orange blossom possesses depths that may not be immediately apparent. While it emanates refreshing and delicate notes throughout the day, the stillness of night beckons forth a rich fragrance that intensifies as dawn approaches.
“I understood the true potency of orange blossom when attending a harvest, right before dawn,” explains perfumer Alex Lee. “Just after opening, the flowers exhale this force, this ambery sensuality, this unexpected animality…” In an olfactory snapshot of the Mediterranean night, Nuit d’Oranger captures all of these voluptuous facets.
The fragrance opens with an invigorating blend of bitter orange petitgrain, pink peppercorn, and bergamot, evoking the exhilarating breeze of an evening. Orange blossom appears in two forms here, as airy neroli gradually yields to an opulent, honeyed orange blossom absolute.
A woody, herbaceous accord composed of yerba mate and patchouli evokes the natural surroundings of the orange trees in bloom, bringing an ultimate touch of elegance to this nectar full of assertive character.
TUBÉREUSE LAZULI
As daylight breaks, the tuberose shares its verdant, fresh notes. Yet, as the hours unfold, its aroma deepens and intensifies… Perhaps not coincidentally, its Hindi nomenclature, rajanigandha, translates to ‘fragrant one of the night.’
“For Tubéreuse Lazuli, my intention was to capture the tuberose at twilight, when it blooms in the darkness after being warmed by the sun during the daytime,” explains perfumer Jean-Christophe Hérault. “With the moonbeams bouncing off its petals, it exudes its most bewitching notes.”
Guided by volatile bergamot and pink pepper, the Indian tuberose intertwines with osmanthus and jasmine, resulting in a sensuous, intoxicating bouquet. Its most profound nuances emerge through a unique wood, expressed in subtle, pure white oud.
Finally, delicate, smoky patchouli and creamy sandalwood provide a resonant backdrop, evoking the infinite, lapis lazuli sky that envelops the tuberose as it unveils its latent character.
Through these novel fragrances, Chloé uncovers the hidden complexities of three deceptively familiar flowers. Extraordinary in their duality, these blossoms possess the remarkable ability to transform with the passage of time. They stand as iconic figures in the realm of perfumery, yet each remains an uncharted olfactory landscape, known and unknown in equal measures.
Chloé brings them forth in a new light, allowing them to blossom as never before: powerful, heady, and astonishingly sensuous.
Images courtesy of Chloé
