Imagination

Jacques Cavallier Belletrud likes to work in contrasts: against Ambrox, he sets sun-drenched citrus, Calabrian bergamot, orange and Sicilian citron. He says he is attached to the literal expression of raw materials, and the house ranks Imagination among its amber fragrances.

Tunisian neroli extends this freshness with a floral, green brightness, while Nigerian ginger and Ceylon cinnamon make the whole composition sizzle. The base brings together Chinese black tea, Ambrox, guaiac wood and olibanum.

Three tiers, according to Harper’s Bazaar

The house publishes no tiers. In June 2021, Harper’s Bazaar Malaysia divided the composition into three stages: bergamot, orange and citron for the top; neroli, ginger and cinnamon for the heart; Ambrox, black tea, guaiac and olibanum for the base.

What stays out

The house’s French pages write “cèdre de Sicile” (Sicilian cedar) where its English press release names the citron: the composition keeps the citrus fruit. Geranium, named in the ingredient list published in the United States, appears in none of the declared notes and stays out of the composition.

What the label declares

The label declares limonene, linalool, citronellol, coumarin, citral, geraniol, cinnamal, farnesol, eugenol and isoeugenol. A UV filter and an antioxidant keep the formula intact, and three colorants, blue, yellow and violet, tint the liquid.

For the American market, Louis Vuitton goes into more detail: the list includes essential oils, bergamot, orange, geranium, orange blossom, Ceylon cinnamon and lemon, as well as linalyl acetate and rose ketones.