Balenciaga launches a collection of 10 fragrances Let's discover all the details of the new fragrances
More than seventy-five years after the launch of its first fragrance, Balenciaga returns to haute perfumery. The maison, always a symbol of rigor, innovation, and experimentation in the fashion world, has now chosen to express its identity through a new collection of 10 fragrances. Each one is unique, distinctive, with a precise identity to be chosen and combined according to the occasion and mood. Together, they bring couture into the realm of scent, showing how a perfume can embody the same conceptual power as a garment. Designed to be worn as if it were an integral part of the wardrobe, the collection intertwines memory and future, celebrating Cristóbal Balenciaga while reinterpreting his vision for a modern audience through new formulas and designs. Let’s explore the details of this new sensory season.
The origin of Balenciaga's perfumes: a lost bottle, a rediscovered memory
The genesis of this collection was not immediate. The maison’s archivists spent fifteen years tracking down a bottle of Balenciaga’s very first perfume, the legendary Le Dix, launched in 1947. Only one specimen was recovered, from the private collection of a vintage perfume enthusiast who had carefully preserved this precious fragment of olfactory history. From that bottle, its glass marked by time, its liquid steeped in powdery iris and violet leaves, sprouted the seed that grew into the current collection. Why return to Le Dix? To stay true to the maison’s DNA and that pivotal moment when couture and perfumery first met. The name itself, Le Dix, carries a double meaning: it pays homage to the Parisian address of the maison, 10 Avenue George V, while also echoing the number of fragrances in this new line.
A collection that "transcends eras"
According to the official statement, Balenciaga’s fragrance collection is presented as a series of creations that “transcend eras, through fusions and tensions that go beyond traditional perfumery.” It is not merely a tribute to tradition or a way to tap into Gen Z’s passion for vintage perfumes with powdery notes, but rather a project that aims to cross boundaries, blending historical and contemporary elements in an aesthetic and sensory continuum. The refillable glass bottles reflect this duality: their retro allure comes through in the rectangular shape, globular cap, and hand-tied ribbon, all encased in packaging aged through modern industrial techniques. Yet details such as geometric lines, monochromatic gray, and sans serif typeface speak a contemporary language. Another modern element? The practical spray dispenser, absent from the original 1947 Le Dix design that inspired the new packaging.
The ten fragrances
The collection should be seen as a true fragrance wardrobe, where each perfume evokes a distinctive trait to wear as a reflection of one’s identity. Le Dix revived with powdery iris and enveloping violet, refreshed with aldehydes for a contemporary clarity. No Comment brings with it the power of rough, resinous wood, brightened by the freshness of Spanish cypress. Getaria is a marine journey of salty citrus, pink pepper, and seaweed, a tribute to Cristóbal Balenciaga’s hometown.Twenty Four Seven becomes a sensorial cocoon of vanilla and warm woods, wrapping the wearer like a reassuring second skin. To Be Confirmed is a narrative perfume, a nocturnal tulip that slowly blooms, enriched by ethereal Silverneedle tea. Muscara surprises with a material interpretation blending smoky ambrette and luminous iris. 100% is pure modern rigor with a dry, oxidized Bulgarian rose, conceived as a unisex fragrance with a bold character. Extra ignites the senses with a mélange of saffron, pink pepper, and boozy notes, juicy and sparkling. Cristóbal is described by the brand as “an oud for those who don’t love oud,” interweaving patchouli and oakmoss. Incense Perfumum is an ode to incense, a trio of oils fused with cedarwood and labdanum, turning spirituality into tangible warmth.
Kering Beauté’s vision and Balenciaga’s legacy
The revival of Balenciaga fragrances also marks a strategic industrial shift. After the Coty license expired in 2021, Kering decided to bring fragrance development back in-house, entrusting Kering Beauté with the mission of writing a new chapter. Speaking to Vogue Business, Raffaella Cornaggia, CEO of Kering Beauté, emphasized that the collection strikes a balance between tradition and modernity, remaining faithful to the brand’s aesthetic codes while speaking to a wider audience. The goal is clear: not only to satisfy longtime enthusiasts of the maison, but also to capture those who seek exclusivity, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge aesthetics in haute perfumery. In the same exclusive interview, Gianfranco Gianangeli, CEO of Balenciaga, described the launch as “an exciting new chapter in the olfactory and couture history of the maison,” paralleling perfumes and fashion as two languages coexisting in harmony for nearly eighty years.
Prices and availability
The collection is introduced with a campaign by British artist Katerina Jebb, who uses high-resolution scanning as a storytelling tool. In her vision, the bottles become scanned objects, immersed in an industrial gray that conveys both technical precision and visual poetry. The result is consistent with Balenciaga’s philosophy, which has long played with the duality between technology and tradition, poetry and industrial rigor. So, where can the new perfumes be purchased? Distribution begins at Balenciaga boutiques in Europe and North America, as well as the official website, with plans for progressive global expansion. It is a launch that combines exclusivity with accessibility, appealing to those who wish to experience the maison without necessarily wearing its couture garments. Prices are carefully positioned in the contemporary luxury segment: the 100 ml bottle is priced at €260, which, compared to other maisons such as Bottega Veneta (€390), is competitive. Exclusive formats and accessories are also available: the Discovery Box (€320), the travel spray case (€130), and, perfectly in line with current trends, the bag charm (€395).
