But how could he give resonance to this exceptional material, given its such lavish proportions? Belletrud excels in the art of contrast. For him, tension brings plenitude, of overdose, the balance of a perfect accord. As ever, there is an obsession for detail, a love for his subject and the vocation to seek out the grace in the most beautiful things nature has to offer. Here, Ambrox unfurls upon contact with the most noble of citrus. Bursting with sunlight, Calabrian bergamot, orange, and Sicilian cedar brings out radiant light. “I’m very attached to the literal expression of raw materials,” the Master Perfumer allows. Their majestic freshness is further enhanced by the floral, green brightness of Tunisian neroli. Together, they draw a lush Mediterranean landscape emerging in the light of dawn. Then, spices make everything sizzle. Nigerian ginger, extracted with carbon dioxide, and Ceylon cinnamon each in their own way amplify and energise the composition’s coolest or most intense facets.

In order to accentuate the relief even further, Belletrud selected a rare and precious black tea from China, also extracted with carbon dioxide, with notes of grass, straw, and a slightly smoky edge. “The tea evokes the magic of the East, an imaginary scene of caravans. It carries within it the spirit of travel, like an olfactory transcription of Louis Vuitton’s universe,” the perfumer reveals.