Louis Vuitton just released Fantasmagory, the seventh entry in its Les Extraits Collection, and it's unlike anything the House has done before. This fragrance is the result of a creative partnership between the Maison's Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud and legendary architect Frank Gehry, two creative minds who decided to reimagine what a luxury fragrance could actually be.

Where This Collaboration Started

Since 2021, the Les Extraits Collection has been Louis Vuitton's platform for pushing what's possible in fragrance. Cavallier Belletrud has been reinterpreting classic perfumery themes and taking them deeper. When Gehry entered the picture, something clicked. The two share a philosophy about breaking with tradition, celebrating the raw beauty of nature, and embracing creative freedom. The result is a collaboration where fragrance meets architecture, where science becomes art.

The Star Ingredient: Vanilla Reimagined

The foundation of Fantasmagory is vanilla, but not the kind you've encountered before. Cavallier Belletrud sourced tahitensis vanilla from Papua New Guinea, known for its radiance and silky quality. The pulp from the whole vanilla pod is cryogenically frozen and then CO2 extracted, resulting in something nearly pure. It's designed to feel like you're applying vanilla's natural essence directly to your skin.

Around this vanilla, he layered Italian almond that brings creamy amaretto sweetness with powdered undertones. Then comes CO2-extracted ginger, a frequent Cavallier Belletrud choice, providing sharp freshness and spiced contrast without burning. The combination creates something that's simultaneously bright, warm, and layered.

The Inspiration Behind the Name and Scent

Fantasmagory takes its concept from 18th-century illumination shows, where light and movement created dreamlike spectacles. The idea of radiance as a force for transformation appealed to Cavallier Belletrud. The fragrance captures that same sense of glow and illusion, bottling vanilla's sunny brightness into something that feels both radiant and mysterious.

Frank Gehry's Bottle as Sculpture

This is where the visual magic happens. Gehry reshaped the iconic apothecary bottle originally designed by Marc Newson. He softened the curves, captured its radiance, and created a cap that looks like a wind-blown flower made of fluttering silver petals. The glass itself shows off a bright, soft yellow hue with hints of green that shift as light catches it. The bottle isn't just a container. It's a sculpture that represents the fragrance as it dissipates.

What Makes This Different From Other Luxury Fragrances

The philosophy behind Fantasmagory is about breaking rules without breaking tradition. Cavallier Belletrud spent decades mastering classical perfumery, which is exactly why he can deconstruct it so effectively. The fragrance isn't just a collection of nice-smelling ingredients. It's an intentional composition where each element has a purpose, and the balance between sweetness, spice, and warmth feels carefully considered rather than obvious.

When You Can Actually Get It

Fantasmagory hits stores October 16, 2025, priced at 510 euros for the 100ml bottle. It's available through select Louis Vuitton locations and on louisvuitton.com. This is the kind of release that people will actually pay attention to, the kind that matters in a crowded luxury fragrance market.

The Real Takeaway

Fantasmagory works because it respects both fragrance and design as serious disciplines. Cavallier Belletrud didn't compromise the scent to fit Gehry's vision, and Gehry didn't create a bottle that was purely decorative. They built something where the fragrance, the bottle, and the concept all reinforce each other. It's ambitious without being pretentious, and that's what makes it worth the attention.

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