Olivier Rousteing Brings Balmain's Fragrance Legacy to New Heights with Les Éternels Collection

In a move that combines his personal passions with the history of Balmain, Olivier Rousteing has brought new life to the iconic French fashion house's fragrance offerings. Balmain's creative director, who transformed the brand into one of the most coveted labels in fashion, has expanded his influence into the world of perfumery with the launch of Les Éternels de Balmain.

The new collection, which is produced under license by Estée Lauder Cos., features a selection of eight fragrances. Four of the fragrances in the collection reimagine classic scents from the house’s archives, including the iconic Ivoire, while the other four are completely original creations. Rousteing's deep connection to fragrance is personal, with the designer revealing that his grandmother used to wear Ivoire, which inspired his approach to the entire line.

“I've always loved perfume,” Rousteing said. “My grandmother wore Ivoire, and when I joined Balmain, I wanted to bring something new to the legacy of this iconic brand. Fragrance is an extension of the identity of a house, and I wanted to find a way to push it forward in a way that felt fresh, bold, and unmistakably Balmain.”

Rousteing’s journey into fragrance creation was hands-on and immersive. He even went so far as to attend fragrance school, adding a personal touch to the process by incorporating his signature style into the creation of the perfumes, even down to adding shoulder pads to the traditional white lab coat worn by students. For Rousteing, fragrance creation became a form of therapy and an opportunity for self-discovery. 

His vision for the collection is deeply conceptual. The launch of Les Éternels was unveiled during Balmain’s spring collection, where Rousteing sent models down the runway wearing bustiers inspired by the fragrance bottles, and dresses adorned with red lips and nails. The fragrances are available exclusively at high-end retailers like Neiman Marcus in the U.S., Galeries Lafayette in France, and Selfridges in the U.K., with plans to expand into more luxury destinations in the near future. This launch marks a pivotal moment in the house’s history, as fragrance becomes an integral part of its identity under Rousteing’s leadership.

Guillaume Jesel, CEO of Tom Ford Beauty and luxury business development at Lauder, commended Rousteing’s distinct approach to scent-making. “Olivier has a very unique vision,” Jesel said. “His fragrances are more than just scents; they’re an experience, a reflection of Balmain’s values of confidence and strength.”

As for Rousteing, he sees Les Éternels as a new chapter for Balmain.