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Anushya Mamtora

Chennai, March 20

In the rarefied world of luxury perfumes, the Indian influence has historically been heavy like the jasmine top note in a floral ‘pour femme’.

Our colourful cities and cultural ethos have influenced many a blockbuster perfume brand. And of course, by now we also know that the big ‘perfume houses’ regularly source essential oils, plant extracts and ‘attars’ from Indian suppliers.

Yet, when French luxury fashion and perfume giant Christian Dior decides to launch a new fragrance inspired by India, named after an Indian town and premiered here in the presence of 40 international experts and journalists…phew…this just might be an occasion that will also need some smelling salts!

Yes, you heard that right. ‘CDior’ has taken a whiff of the quaint ex-French colony – Pondicherry – for its latest perfume and has named it ‘Escale a Pondichery’! No, it’s certainly not the first time an international luxury perfume brand has created a scent that attempts to capture the essence of an Indian city.

While Boucheron’s hit scent ‘Jaipur’ was inspired by the Pink city and also crafted its bottle like a charm bracelet worn in Rajasthan, Guerlain’s top-rated ‘Shalimar’ is said to have bloomed out of the legendary love between Indian emperor Shahjahan and his wife Mumtaz in the Gardens of Shalimar.

However, unlike these other French perfume houses; Dior has taken a step closer to its inspiration. They have chosen The Dune Eco Beach Hotel in Puduchery to host the grand launch party and are also bringing in a flight load of international journalists and officials for the event. While no details have been revealed about the scent and its packaging, according to an official communiqué from The Dune, Dior has also organised a three-day celebration of the fragrances of India for its guests at its venue.

Glad to be the chosen one, Dimitri Klien, Managing Director of The Dune, mentions in the communiqué, “It is a privilege and honour for us to have been selected by Christian Dior to have their new perfume being launched for the world, out of here. It is also a matter of pride for us as this happens to be the first launch of perfumes from Christian Dior in India.”

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