Les Parfums de Chantecaille
New Fragrances
Vetyver, Pétales, and Kalimantan

As a leader in fragrance innovation and provocative, uncommon formulations, Chantecaille is introducing three new iconic scents to the namesake brand's expanding roster of fragrance, and just in time for the new Fall 2010 season. Focusing on three highly unique and sophisticated elixirs—Vetyver, Pétales, and Kalimantan—this new trio pushes the boundaries of luxurious, high-quality fragrance and underlines Sylvie Chantecaille's life-long passion and nose for crafting signature scents that transport and yield a rich and heightened experience. As with all Chantecaille perfumes, this new collection draws unusually high concentrations of natural essential oils—uncommon in contemporary fragrance development—including pure, rare extracts sourced from the finest global farmers and purveyors. With the help of expert perfumer, Pierre Negrin, Chantecaille was able to realize the development of these three new modern classics.

VETYVER is fresh, free, ripe, and clean. Vetyver mixes the distinctive masculine energy with a bold and independent femininity. It is the essence of individuality and forward-thinking attitude. The inspiration: Bright, sparkling, and cool, Vetyver reveals a personal love story between Sylvie Chantecaille and the men whom she's loved and admired. "My father always wore it, and my husband wears it now," she says. "For a woman to wear it, it has always been such a bold choice. It's a scent with a long history, one that I wanted to explore in a fresh, more modern way." Hence, in this new chapter of Vetyver, Chantecaille explores the balance between masculine and feminine. "It is essentially the scent of a very cool, chic man that I've interpreted for an utterly modern and confident woman," Chantecaille says. Imagine that relaxed elegance and confidence of Katharine Hepburn in a beautifully tailored suit—Vetyver is infinitely chic and optimistic. The scent: An exotic grass native to Haiti and Indonesia whose roots yield a fragrant, earthy scent, Vetyver is often incorporated as a key ingredient in unisex fragrances. This clean, dry, subtly woody scent is punctuated by the pinelike Juniper. Brighter notes of Citron, Pepper, Nutmeg, and Bergamot lighten Vetyver's bold heart, adding a cozy warmth matched by an invigorating freshness. Spicy, unexpectedly sexy hints of Musk and Sandalwood give Vetyver an alluring quality that is deeply feminine and casually sophisticated. Key ingredients: Citron (zesty, cool, citrus); Nutmeg (exotic, spicy, woody, warmth); Pepper (fresh, invigorating, almost effervescent); Vetyver (dry, earthy, smoky, exotic, and contemporary).

PÉTALES is deliciously fresh, pretty, classic, and romantic. Pétales is a party at the Botanical Gardens on a warm summer's evening, it's an all-night dance on a Yacht off the Riviera—its essence is the white-flower elegance of a thousand gardenias, chic and couture at its heart. The inspiration. The story behind Pétales cannot be told without touching on Sylvie Chantecaille's deep love of Gardenias. A central ingredient in this complex and ambient white-flower fragrance, the tropical classic has long been a favorite of Chantecaille's since she was a little girl. "Gardenias' unmistakable perfume always reminds me of growing up in France and long, relaxed summer evenings," Chantecaille says. In order to create a truly unique and modern interpretation of this timeless scent, Chantecaille blended Gardenia with a fragrant bouquet of other signature white flowers, including Jasmine and Tuberose, yielding a highly unusual, yet beautifully fresh and wearable scent that is the definition of pure glamour. The spirit of Pétales calls to mind warm and breezy summer parties, enchanted gardens, and the pleasures of couture dressing. "It's both completely heady and yet deliciously fresh," Chantecaille says. The scent. Balsam, Jasmine, and Tuberose form the heart and character of Pétales, which is then lifted by the lush, voluptuously feminine Gardenia flower. Beautifully warm, soft, and sensual Cedar, Sandalwood, and the whisper of Musk deepen this velvety, fresh fragrance, giving it a thoroughly sophisticated and refined essence that is ultimately classic and unforgettable. Key ingredients: Gardenia (velvety and dewy), Cedar and Sandalwood (soft, sensual, warmth), Tuberose (classic white floral, textural volume), Musk (tenacity, subtle, quiet sophistication, kind to animals and the environment).
KALIMANTAN is warm, woodsy, sensual, rich, and deeply exotic. Kalimantan is a bold, intense fragrance that evokes passion and exploration, sensuality, charisma, and the great travelers of the Victorian Age. The inspiration: The storied portion of the Indonesian Island of Borneo captivated Sylvie Chantecaille long ago, and this "island in the clouds" has inspired an intoxicating scent that beautifully distills the intensity, passion, and abundance of this wild and sensual place. "Years ago, I read an amazing book on Borneo, which spurred a desire to know more about this incredible Island," says Sylvie. "The jungle, the spice, the waterfalls, the unabashed desire and fearlessness of the turn-of-the-century explorers who were drawn to the Island...all of this is the raw but also incredibly rich essence of Kalimantan." A trip to Kalimantan re-connects you with this magical, faraway place and time, and this new fragrance draws from that wild intensity. The scent: The essence of Kalimantan begins with the sensual warmth of spell-binding Ciste Absolute, mystical Incense, and Indonesian Patchouli (native to Borneo). This rich base is then lifted by the sharp and earthy top notes of Thyme, Rosemary, and natural Bergamot. Kalimantan's scent is then anchored by the darker essence of Agarwood, an extremely rare, luxurious scent that complements the lighter, warmer tones given off by Sandalwood, Cedar, Styrax, and the suppleness of Vanilla. Key ingredients: Incense (tree resin, sensuous and relaxing), Cistus Labdanum (spicy, warm, drawn from wild bushes across the Mediterranean and the Middle East), Thyme (invigorating, unisex in spirit, freshness), Rosemary (aromatic uplifting sensation, means 'sea mist'), Bergamot (Mediterranean citrus fruit both bitter and sweet), Vanilla (sweetness and woodsiness, a touch smooth), Styrax (warm, sweet balsamic profile), Agarwood (luxurious, dark, rare), Cedar (warm, dry, tenacious), Sandalwood (warm, woody)

Available exclusively at Harrods and Neiman Marcus.
Price: £145.00