The second chapter of Lalique's solar line, Soleil Vibrant (2022) shifts the 2019 pillar toward the amber. Nathalie Lorson and Alexandra Monet let ginger bite into a juicy pear, then let sambac jasmine and saffron lead to a woody Bourbon vanilla. The sun-shaped bottle is worn around the neck on its chain.
The opening plays on contrast rather than pure freshness. A bergamot sourced from sustainable supply chains lights up an almost crystalline pear accord, and ginger comes in to bite into it: it is the ginger that keeps the fruit from immediately falling into sweetness. Clementine, from Corsica, extends the citrus without turning it sharp. The contrast holds for only a few minutes, until the fruit takes over.
The heart is the most elaborate part. The Indian sambac jasmine absolute, obtained from upcycled flowers, brings a full, almost milky texture, which saffron pulls toward leather and dry spice. It is this saffron that widens the gap with the 2019 Soleil: where the earlier fragrance remained fruity and gourmand, Soleil Vibrant allows itself a rougher facet. Orange blossom softens the transition and ties the heart back to the light of the opening.
The base embraces the woody theme announced by the house. Bourbon vanilla and cedar frame Dreamwood, a sustainable sandalwood developed by Givaudan whose character is as much woody as milky. It is this pairing that explains the impression of warmed skin claimed by the house: the vanilla is never pastry-like here, the wood pushes it toward the amber and keeps it from turning sugary.
Lalique highlights a formulation aided by EmotiWaves, a Firmenich technology that uses fMRI to measure the emotional effect of natural essences in order to guide the choice of raw materials toward energy and well-being. The claim belongs more to brand discourse than to olfactory description, but it sheds light on the intent: a fragrance built to please quickly, and one that succeeds.