Rabanne Calandre

Calandre was its very first fragrance. With it, Paco Rabanne wanted a perfume that would be so avant-garde it would be shocking. Calandre is a provocative juice, inspired by a couple making love on the hood of a Jaguar during a drive along the seaside. This perfectly conveys the offbeat spirit of Paco Rabanne. Calandre is a fragrance that carries the scent of bodies mingled with that of metal and the surrounding nature.

Female emancipation as seen by Paco Rabanne

Paco Rabanne has always been perceived as an atypical creator, giving rise to highly unusual and original works. At first, he made a name for himself in the world of fashion before turning to perfumery. From the 1960s onward, he set out to accompany the emancipation of women. His contemporaries wanted something else: a new fashion answering their aspirations for freedom and liberation. Moreover, at that time, more and more of them were buying cars and getting their driving licenses. The calandre is none other than the metal grille decorating the front of a car's hood. This fragrance is therefore a tribute to women discovering the magic of freedom. It is an essence synonymous with carefree spirit, surprise, laughter and boldness. Calandre is a fragrance that seems to have captured the whole paradox of women. To do so, it plays on contrasts, pairing a sparkling freshness with a warmer, more bewitching base. Calandre is a fragrance synonymous with fantasy, designed for women who dare to embrace themselves.

The floral, aldehydic freshness of Calandre

Calandre is a fresh, timeless fragrance that opens with a poetic, floral scent paired with deep vibrancy. Its dynamism arises from a fresh breath of bergamot and honeysuckle. Hyacinth, in turn, adds more pep to the apparent softness of gardenia and magnolia. These plants pave the way for the enormous floral bouquet placed at the heart of Calandre. It contains geranium, jasmine and rose. Thus, the femininity becomes opulent and spicy while gradually taking on aldehydes. It is precisely this ingredient that gives the whole its more metallic edge. The base of Calandre, meanwhile, appears richer and denser. It brings together numerous woody notes such as sandalwood, vetiver, cedar, pine, oakmoss and cistus. Iris further reinforces the nobility of the whole while adding a powdery touch. Ylang-ylang then brings in more exoticism. Finally, musk elevates its sensuality.