With this groundbreaking launch, Balenciaga has officially entered the fragrance arena, bridging decades of heritage with contemporary luxury. The new Balenciaga perfume collection will be unveiled in September, marking the brand’s first major foray into fragrance since bringing operations in-house under Kering Beauté in 2023.
This significant move represents more than just product expansion. It pays homage to Cristóbal Balenciaga’s original vision when he launched the Le Dix fragrance in 1947, nearly 30 years after establishing his couture empire.
A Heritage Reborn Through Modern Innovation
Since the beginning, Balenciaga has been more than a couture house; it has also been a fragrance house. Together with Kering Beauté, we wanted to revive and honor this essential part of our patrimony,” explained Gianfranco Gianangeli, Balenciaga’s chief executive officer, in an interview with WWD.
The centerpiece of this Balenciaga perfume collection is the reconstructed Le Dix fragrance. Brand archivists spent 15 years tracking down an original 1947 bottle to ensure the scent’s authentic recreation.
We analyzed and recreated Le Dix’s original formula, like the bottle and packaging,” said Raffaella Cornaggia, CEO of Kering Beauté. “This process brought an authentic and emotionally engaging dimension to the project.“
The new Le Dix maintains its vintage character while adapting to modern standards. Animal-based ingredients, common in 1940s perfumery, have been replaced with iris aldehyde molecules that capture the essence of the original fragrance. Violet leaves remain to honor the original formula while meeting contemporary ethical standards.
Ten Fragrances, Ten Stories
The complete Balenciaga perfume collection features ten distinct scents ranging from clear liquids to smoky tints and opaque formulations. Beyond Le Dix, the lineup includes intriguing fragrances with names like No Comment, Getaria, Twenty Four Seven, and Cristóbal.
No Comment reflects the designer’s philosophy that creations should speak for themselves. Getaria honors Balenciaga’s birthplace on the Spanish coast, and Cristóbal embodies the founder’s complex personality and design philosophy.
“Each fragrance was developed with a specific vision, translating Balenciaga’s design codes into scent: bold and charged with emotion and beauty,” noted Cornaggia.
The collection showcases remarkable olfactory diversity. Cristóbal contains oud Assafi essence combined with patchouli and oak moss notes, creating an enigmatic masculine profile. Muscara features ambrette seed absolute paired with iris accords. Incense Perfumum presents an opaque black juice that celebrates Balenciaga’s signature use of dark tones.
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Historic Location Houses New Fragrance Boutique
The Balenciaga perfume collection launches from the same address where Le Dix debuted 75 years ago. The brand opened its fragrance boutique at 10 Avenue George V, directly adjacent to their couture salon and atelier.
“We opened the Balenciaga fragrance store at 10 Avenue George V, the same historic address where, in 2021, we revived our couture heritage by reestablishing our couture salons and ateliers, and where our couture collections are presented,” Gianangeli confirmed.
The boutique reflects Balenciaga’s architectural philosophy by combining raw materials, such as concrete and metal, with luxurious elements of velvet and leather. Gray, the brand’s signature color, dominates the interior design. Raw steel fixtures hold upholstered cabinets, and aluminum and leather chairs provide seating.
Customers can enjoy on-site personalized engraving services, plus exclusive accessories, including chrome travel cases and miniature flacon-shaped charms inspired by Le Dix‘s original design.
Sustainable Luxury Meets Vintage Appeal
The development process of the Balenciaga perfume collection was shaped by environmental consciousness. The bottles are infinitely refillable and are housed in recyclable, responsibly sourced cardboard packaging. Single-use plastics have been completely eliminated from the production process.
The alcohol base is derived from organic wheat, showcasing the brand’s dedication to sustainable luxury practices while maintaining quality and authenticity.
Pricing reflects the collection’s premium positioning. The 100-ml eau de parfum retails for €260, and a Le Dix miniature set costs €320. A discovery box containing 2-ml bottles of all ten fragrances is available for €70, enabling customers to explore the full range.
Strategic Beauty Industry Expansion
This launch positions Balenciaga strategically within the rapidly expanding luxury fragrance market. The beauty industry’s growth trajectory offers significant opportunities for fashion houses seeking diversification.
Gianangeli observed, “The beauty industry is vast and one of the fastest-growing industries. “Expanding into perfume opens new channels for business.”
The timing coincides with growing consumer interest in vintage-inspired fragrances. Younger demographics, in particular, gravitate toward powdery, violet-based scents reminiscent of classic perfumery, making Le Dix especially relevant in contemporary markets.
“For people my age, the formula evokes vintage fragrances, but all the younger people in the office love it,” Cornaggia told Vogue Business, highlighting the collection’s cross-generational appeal.
Future Fragrance Horizons
The Balenciaga perfume collection is just the beginning of the house’s olfactory ambitions. Initial distribution covers select Balenciaga stores across Europe and North America, with a broader rollout planned.
Kering Beauté’s strategy emphasizes authentic brand expression over mass-market competition. Following the successful launches of Bottega Veneta fragrances and the acquisition of the heritage house Creed, Balenciaga fragrances are establishing another pillar in the group’s beauty portfolio.
“We wanted to create a collection of ten highly individualistic fragrances that embody different attitudes with global appeal,” Gianangeli explained. “In the near future, there will be further developments in this category. The potential is limitless.“