< Previousto blend ingredients in unexpected combinations, much like how I combine colours, prints, or atmospheres that seemingly clash, such as sportswear and couture, or a clash of colours… I approached perfume creation similarly to my approach to fashion collections.” Created in collaboration with the Spanish luxury group Puig, which has held a majority stake in the DVN business since 2018, the set off ers a curation of distinct olfactory blends that are as complex as the wearers. “Just as I design clothes for diverse types of people – diff erent ages and personalities – I approach perfumery in a similar manner,” explains Van Noten. “Th at’s why I developed a range of 10 perfumes, each tailored to match various personalities and capture specifi c moments and feelings.” “Perfume is deeply personal, and its beauty lies in its ability to evoke memories and emotions,” he continues. “A scent should transport you to a specifi c moment or emotion, allowing you to express yourself uniquely. It allows you to enrich your personality by expressing a facet of what you feel at a specifi c moment.” Of course, this isn’t his fi rst foray into fragrance. In 2013, renowned perfumier Frédéric Malle created a scent portrait of the designer, with notes inspired by his life and infl uences. But with this collection, Van Noten forges something distinctly his own, refl ecting his belief that fashion and beauty are intrinsically linked. “Fashion and beauty complement each other seamlessly,” he says. “It is part of the way I express myself.” Finding harmony in juxtaposition has always been Van Noten’s signature ploy, and his knack for pairing unexpectedly satisfying combinations comes through in the perfumes’ packaging – recycled and refi llable – which visually refl ects the duality of the scents through a mix of materials, patterns, and textures. Th ink earthy tortoiseshell with regal purple or porcelain handpainted with blue oxide and contrasted with a translucent deep berry. Th e balancing of seemingly disparate elements is an essential part of Van Noten’s life. Th e designer still resides in his homeland of Belgium in an expansive property named Ringenhof, on the outskirts of Lier. Alongside his partner and creative director, Patrick Vangheluwe, and their Airedale terrier, Harry, he takes comfort in its quiet. “I always recognise the contrast between gardening and my work as a designer,” he says. “Nature requires patience, whereas fashion moves forward rapidly. In fashion, control is essential, while nature constantly surprises… Living in Belgium gives me a wholly diff erent point of view on a lot of things. Once I have fi nished with a collection, I can go back to Antwerp and see the whole fashion scene from a healthy distance.” Like many creatives before him, though, ‘retirement’ doesn’t quite meet the conventional defi nition. Sure, there was a fi nal show, but Van Noten will not be far from this world he has so methodically built. With prolifi c shifts in leadership taking place across major fashion houses and beauty brands as companies dial up the pressure for rapid commercial growth and exposure, Van Noten has expressed some hesitation about walking away entirely. He has no say in who will take on his namesake, but the founder is naturally eager to see what is in store. “Th e whole thing now of designers changing and changing and changing again worries me a lot,” he said in a recent interview. “Th e last thing I want is that my name becomes just a name that is put on diff erent collections. And that happens so much.” It’s true that the turnover of late is a symptom of general instability in the industry, but between a growing cost-of-living crisis and the news cycle reading like a dystopian horror fi lm, fashion holds weight. Van Noten knows this; however, his ability to balance the artistry of the avant-garde with the levity of ready-to-wear has imbued his designs with a discerning expressiveness that is exceptionally rare. “I used to think my work should refl ect what’s going on in the world. But four years ago, I realised the world was getting more chaotic,” he concedes. “Maybe fashion should off er an escape, but you can’t ignore the world’s problems. Is it silly to celebrate bright colours and summer when there’s war nearby? Still, escapism matters. It’s not better to hide at home wearing only black because the world isn’t perfect.” In impossible conditions and an ever-turbulent fashion landscape, the designer has managed to create in ways that enables his customers to see themselves in their best form, and now he brings this talent to fragrance. “Like fashion, I aim to create fragrances that resonate on a soulful level,” he says, utilising his taste for the unexpected to carry on his legacy through new and exciting mediums. Th e result is beauty products that are at once quintessential and entirely new. Luckily for the world, it seems the modern magic of Van Noten is far from desertion, with more to come in the beauty space, and a quiet advisory role in fashion. “I’m not completely closing the door,” he assures. And in this space, the fresh air continues to fl ow in. that page Fleur du Mal Eau De Parfum, DRIES VAN NOTEN BEAUTY Dries Van Noten fragrances are available at Ounass in the Middle East 88GRAZIAMA GAZINE. COM GME_011_84to89_NewScentsOfDirection_13374743.indd 8801/10/2024 21:27GRAZIAMA GAZINE. COM89 GME_011_84to89_NewScentsOfDirection_13374743.indd 8901/10/2024 21:27The elegance and romance of a classic oral scent is unrivalled. Here’s the best in show PHOTOGRAPHY JAYA KHIDIR ART DIRECTION MARISA XIN PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANTS NG KAI MING & SYED ABDULLAH WORDS DANISHA LIANG COME INTO BLOOMCOME INTO BLOOM YSL Beauty and Gucci Beauty celebrate the feminine with sweet, albeit sensual, fragrances. Libre L’Absolu Platine combines the freshness of bergamot and mandarin orange with the softness of lavender and orange blossom and base notes of vanilla and amber. Meanwhile, Bloom Intense’s notes of pear, ginger and mandarin tickle before opening up into a rich white fl oral heart of jasmine, tuberose and orange blossom. Patchouli, moss and coconut inform the sillage. Libre L’Absolu Platine, YSL BEAUTY. Bloom Intense EDP, GUCCI BEAUTY GME_011_90to95_FragranceStills_13383115.indd 9002/10/2024 20:44DAWN TO MUSKDAWN TO MUSK Not all fl oral fragrances are created equal. A concentrated cocktail crafted by renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, L’Or de J’adore from Dior Beauty distinguishes itself with delicate nuances of jasmine, violet and lily of the valley, all thoughtfully balanced for an olfactory experience that feels as luxe as liquid gold. L’Or de J’adore, DIOR BEAUTY GME_011_90to95_FragranceStills_13383115.indd 9102/10/2024 20:45GOLDEN GIRLSGOLDEN GIRLS Radiance is a hard quality to capture in fragrances, but both Chloé and Penhaligon’s have it down. Chloé’s L’Eau de Parfum Lumineuse is rose scented and grounded by the intensity of jasmine and vanilla notes, with balsamic off ering a soft, woody tone. Penhaligon’s Solaris, meanwhile, is a brighter fragrance whose white fl oral accord is carried by jasmine, ylang-ylang and Tahitian gardenia. With zingy notes of lemon, neroli and blackcurrant, it’s uplifting and fresh, and is steadied by the opulence and earthiness of cedarwood, sandalwood and vanilla. L’Eau de Parfum Lumineuse, CHLOÉ . Solaris EDP, PENHALIGON’S GME_011_90to95_FragranceStills_13383115.indd 9202/10/2024 20:45LADY IN REDLADY IN RED Givenchy Beauty’s L’Interdit Rouge Ultime wears like a wonderfully cosy fl oral blanket, enticing with the silky honeyed notes of jasmine, orange blossom and neroli. With a seductive heart of Indian tuberose and cocoa, a woody anchor of vetiver and patchouli rounds the scent. L‘Interdit Rouge Ultime EDP, GIVENCHY BEAUTY GME_011_90to95_FragranceStills_13383115.indd 9302/10/2024 20:45SMOKE MACHINE SMOKE MACHINE Inspired by the grandeur of lush gardens in Rome, Born in Roma Donna Green Stravaganza from Valentino Beauty opens with the smoky notes of lapsang souchong tea before revealing a rich jasmine heart. A warm base of gourmand vanilla rests beautifully on the skin. Born in Roma Donna Green Stravaganza, VALENTINO BEAUTY GME_011_90to95_FragranceStills_13383115.indd 9402/10/2024 20:45TO THE DAISYTO THE DAISY A fruity and fl oral fragrance that surprises at every turn, the new Daisy Wild perfume from Marc Jacobs features the unconventional banana blossom. This creamy note is supported by a heart of jasmine and macadamia before the scent settles into an earthy base of sandalwood and vetiver des sables. Daisy Wild EDP, MARC JACOBS GME_011_90to95_FragranceStills_13383115.indd 9502/10/2024 20:45Preserving the sacred heritage of the Al Taif region in Saudi Arabia, Batlah hones the mastered craft in the making of rose oil preserved in fragrances re ecting the visible culture of the Kingdom CREATIVE DIRECTION MARNE SCHWARTZ PHOTOGRAPHY VLADIMIR MARTÍ STYLING IMOGENE LEGRAND HAIR JEAN LUC AMARIN MAKEUP MANU LOSADA GOMEZ COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER JOHANA V. DANA PRODUCTION COORDINATOR CHLOE CHRISTODOULOU CASTING DIRECTOR JEAN-MARC MONDELET MODEL SOPHIE ALSHEHRY / WILHELMINA NEW YORK WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO DAR TANTORA THE HOUSE HOTEL GME_011_096to103_Batlah_13404620.indd 9602/10/2024 20:47this page Metallic Scalloped Maxi Dress, MISSONI that page Taif Rose, Nahar Limited Collection, Diriyah, Heritage, BATLAH GME_011_096to103_Batlah_13404620.indd 9703/10/2024 11:54Next >