La Panthère, the feline fragrance by Cartier. The house of Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, master jeweler. Cartier is today known worldwide for its watchmaking, jewelry and leather goods lines.
Cartier's feline fragrance titled La Panthère originates in 1987. It was not until 2014 that the house of Cartier wished to offer a reinterpretation of it. The house of Cartier's idea was to imagine a sensual and terribly addictive fragrance, while evoking the feline side dormant in every woman. As perfumer Mathilde Laurent, in charge of the composition, states, every woman conceals a feline side and every flower carries animalic notes at its heart. Both fresh and sensual, La Panthère is intended for all passionate women.
Perfumer Mathilde Laurent, sole creator of La Panthère
To achieve this reinterpretation, the house of Cartier called upon Mathilde Laurent. First, it should be known that this revisiting was very important for the brand, because La Panthère is not merely the name of a perfume. Indeed, La Panthère is the name given to Jeanne Toussaint by Louis Cartier. The latter, considered a Parisian cocotte, was the mistress and muse of Louis Cartier. Jeanne Toussaint was so important that she directed the house of Cartier in 1933… Mathilde Laurent joined the prestigious perfumery school ISIPCA in 1992. Before working for Cartier, Mathilde Laurent had worked for the house of Guerlain. Mathilde Laurent is regarded as a rebellious, talented and sensitive perfumer. Each of her essences is guided by her deep instinct, and she pours her whole soul into it. Mathilde Laurent is behind great successes, such as Baiser Volé, Déclaration or Baiser Fou by Cartier.
Gardenia, the star of La Panthère
In order to offer an ultra-feminine composition, Mathilde Laurent wished to build it around gardenia, a magnificent white flower, sensual and delicate. La Panthère is regarded as a feral floral essence. La Panthère opens with an ultra-fresh association containing mainly anise and bergamot. Then, its heart is steeped in femininity and sensuality thanks to the presence of gardenia. The latter is a highly fragrant flowering shrub that thrives both indoors and outdoors. Gardenia possesses tremendous charm, not only because of its sweet scent, but also thanks to its glossy green foliage and its bright ivory-colored flowers.
Of all white flowers, gardenia is the most complex. Considered less opulent than jasmine, it is also lighter than lily. In perfumery, gardenia is a mute flower, since no essential oil can be extracted from it. Its scent is reproduced using a palette of synthetic molecules. Many perfumers have already celebrated gardenia, chiefly Chanel, Hermès or Tom Ford. Gardenia releases floral, green, but also fruity scents with tones of pear or rhubarb. Finally, the base of La Panthère is intended to be ultra sensual and wraps the composition thanks to oakmoss and white musks. The bottle is as if carved from a precious stone in the shape of a panther's bust… A majestic jewel bottle, worthy of Mathilde Laurent's composition.