To the consumer, perfumery has always been a bit of behind-closed-doors magic.
We delight in the results of a perfumer’s work but know little of the path it took from a field of flowers to a glossy bottle on a department-store shelf.
A new documentary sets out to change that, following the making of a new fragrance for the house of Dior.
Over the course of a year, documentary film maker Matthieu Menu – whose previous release focused on the high jewellery creations of Bulgari – followed Francis Kurkdjian on a new quest. The French perfumer, already known for heading his own prolific fragrance brand, had just been named Perfume Creation Director for Dior, taking on the huge undertaking of extending the brand’s considerable scent history.
His first task? Reinventing and modernising the iconic “J’adore” perfume for a contemporary customer.
From Paris to Los Angeles, via the Château de La Colle Noire, the flower fields of Grasse and India, the documentary shows stars and creatives, decision-makers and expert hands all coming together to work towards the new version of J’adore.
Even actress Charlize Theron, the longtime face of the original perfume, is consulted for her opinion. The viewer also meets French flower producers who partner with Dior perfumes and other Dior creatives, such as Maria Grazia Chiuri, the head of the Couture and Ready-to-Wear lines, as well as Calice Becker who created J’adore in 1999, and additional decisive figures such as Véronique Courtois, President and CEO of Christian Dior Parfums.
The resulting perfume, known as l’Or de J’adore is a golden ray of sun that captures absolute orange blossom, Jasminum grandiflorum, and centifolia rose at its heart. It landed on counters in September.
- Inside The Dream is available to stream from December 1st on Prime Video.
