The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has unveiled Balmain Beauty’s debut fragrance collection Les Éternels de Balmain, comprising eight gender-neutral eaux de parfums.
As reported, ELC and Balmain entered into a license agreement to collaboratively develop, produce and distribute an innovative line of beauty products under the banner Balmain Beauty in 2022.
The fragrances, influenced by Founder Pierre Balmain’s Parisian heritage and Creative Director Olivier Rousteing’s modern vision, mark a new chapter in the brand’s evolution into the beauty sector.
With reinvented legacy scents alongside new creations, the collection represents Rousteing’s commitment to inclusivity and self-expression. It also underscores the potential for cross-category collaborations between Balmain’s fashion and beauty businesses.
Rousteing commented: “Balmain Beauty gives you the freedom to live your truth, free and powerful. Fashion cannot exist without beauty, and beauty cannot exist without fashion. Beauty is part of your silhouette, of who you are, just like the way you dress. I want to represent all the beauties of the world and welcome everyone without exceptions.”
The Estée Lauder Companies President and CEO Tom Ford Beauty and Luxury Business Development Guillaume Jesel added: “Balmain Beauty is forging a new, avant-garde space in luxury beauty that celebrates the legacy and inclusive spirit of the house of Balmain.
“Olivier Rousteing is one of the most accomplished designers of his generation, inventing revolutionary concepts at the confluence of past, present and future. It has been an extraordinary journey bringing his vision for Balmain Beauty to life.”
Balmain Chief Executive Officer Matteo Sgarbossa added: “Just like Olivier Rousteing’s most impressive runways, Balmain’s ambitious plans for future luxury growth build directly upon a skilled melding together of the richness of our singular heritage with a distinctively modern outlook.
“Our agreement with The Estée Lauder Companies for Balmain Beauty is an obvious embodiment of that strategy. With this partnership, the house begins a new chapter, making very clear to all our commitment to maximising cross-category possibilities as we move forward, driven by the passion of our ‘Balmain Army’ and determined to fully realise this house’s potential to become a true leader in the luxury world.”
The Les Éternels de Balmain fragrances are categorised into four olfactive families: Musk, Amber, Floral and Woody. Rousteing chose four of Balmain’s legacy scents to be reinvented for the modern era: Vent Vert, Ivoire, Ébène and Carbone. He also helped create four new fragrances to complete the collection: Sel d’Ambre, Rouge, Bronze and Bleu Infini.
The packaging design reflects the brand’s signature aesthetic. The fragrance bottles, inspired by Balmain’s 1946 flaçon, reinterpret the classic design with modern touches.
The launch is supported by a visual campaign that reinforces the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship and diversity. ✈
