As Carine Roitfeld once said: “I like to surprise people, I try to take risks.”
Her latest venture is a testament to that exactly. We might know Roitfeld as one of the most iconic French fashion personalities, having been the former editor of Vogue Paris, a former model, writer and more recently, the founder of her namesake CR Fashion Book—the industry bible.
Now, she has created a perfume brand. Since launching Carine Roitfeld Parfums in 2019, and made waves with her first scent, 7 Lovers. Now, she is releasing her second scent, called Carine, which has notes of fresh spices, rose, jasmine, and gardenia, and was created with master perfumer, Dominique Ropion.
It’s classic, timeless and an empowering scent. It’s all about feeling beautiful—no matter what your age. The 67-year-old editor, who looks utterly fantastic, speaks to Forbes about her new scent, pushing her boundaries and what she misses about Karl Lagerfeld.
Why was now the right time to release this new scent?
Carine Roitfeld: While promoting my first 7 Lovers perfume collection, I was always asked if any of them were my personal scent, during interviews. At the time, I was actually in the process of developing it. It’s been almost three years since the release of the 7 Lovers, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot. Now is the right time as I finally felt ready to launch this new scent.
In which ways is this scent a portrait of you?
Carine is linked to my memories. It was a journey into my youth, where I discovered little bottles of Patchouli in the Indian import markets where I shopped on the weekends. I wanted to create an irreverent fragrance that people didn't expect, something sensual and unpredictable in the way I create my fashion editorials or put together an outfit. With the legendary Dominique Ropion, Carine was created as a seductive and disconcerting olfactory reflection of my life, with a new interpretation of a woody floral accented by notes of the black Patchouli I reminisce fondly about from my childhood.
What did you learn from perfumer Dominique Ropion in the process of making Carine?
Creating a perfume or any scent personal to you demands an unconditional trust to the perfumer and being completely vulnerable and honest with your reactions to the ingredients and concoctions created. In the process of creating Carine, I shared my thoughts, dreams, emotions, and memories with Dominique Ropion, memories that I didn't even realize I had, to create something unique that people will smell and hopefully love. In the process, I realized that creating Carine has been my most personal journey, and launching it has been like a naked stroll down the Champs-Elysées.
Why did you want to work with photographer, Max Von Gumppenberg?
I've known Max Von Gumppenberg for several years and have worked with him on many CR Fashion Book editorials. When Carine was finalized, I asked him to capture the campaign imagery because I trusted him to capture the intricacies of the fragrance through his lens. I'm always delighted with his work.
What are you wearing in the promo photos?
In the first campaign drop—as there will be more releases over the year—I wanted to surprise people. While people usually expect me in black, leopard, or lace, I wanted to show a more colorful side to Carine. I am wearing a purple latex skirt, a sweater that was cropped onset, and a red bra. This look is new for me and also unusual for a woman in her 60s. I want this campaign to convey a message of empowerment. I feel like women are often frowned upon for wearing outfits that are said not to be for them anymore. I believe in timelessness.
Why is it a quintessentially French scent?
People often see me as the ultimate Parisian; how can this not be a quintessentially French scent?
What do you miss most about Karl Lagerfeld?
I miss everything about Karl, his wit, his advice, his kindness, his humor, his elegance, his culture, his taste, his vision, his love.
'Carine' is available on Carine Roitfeld’s website, and will also be available at Harrods in the U.K. later this month.
