2015 is the time for Paco Rabanne to invent a new story. This story is the story of Olympea, the new feminine fragrance for women…

Architect by training, designer by passion, perfumer on the foref- ront, Paco Rabanne has always been synonymous with boldness and modernism. A vision of women in the spirit of the times. Radical, sensual fashion that defies standards and uniformity. Fashion where art, craftsmanship and boldness come together in total fusion. Paco Rabanne has developed this ability to reveal the Zeitgeist in a unique visual and cultural identity. Paco Rabanne’s style stands out, disturbs, shakes things up, but never takes itself too seriously.

Since Calandre in 1969, Paco Rabanne’s leading-edge and innovative fragrances have accompanied men and women thro- ugh the spectrum of their fantasies. Iconic fragrances, reflecting an audacious, ultra-contemporary lifestyle: Black XS and Black XS for Her to be the ultimate rock star; 1 Million and Lady Million, to live the fabulous life in a snap of the fingers; Invictus, released in 2013, to embody the fantasy of victory.

2015 is the time for Paco Rabanne to invent a new story. What if women’s absolute fantasy were to be the one? The one chosen over all else, the one who surpasses ordinary mortals with her boldness and her success? Along her way, certainty is broken, triviality is shattered. She didn’t have to choose between beauty and intelligence, making her unique. For her, glory is innate.

With Olympéa, Paco Rabanne writes a new chapter. Terribly feminine. Faithful to his innovative values, where provocation re- veals the spirit of the time, Paco Rabanne has imagined unique, irreverent sensuality to which nothing and no one can resist. This modernday Cleopatra is the queen of queens, the woman of all victories, the absolute icon. Endowed with every strength, she chooses her hero on the steps of Olympus. A demi-goddess, but a woman above all. Divinely woman.

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THE BOTTLE

The bottle was created by Marc Ange, a designer originally from Rome. Each of his creations is guided by the voluntary confusion between real and imaginary, paradox in its purest state.

Olympéa features this same bipolarity in the bold combina- tion of antique codes with ultra-contemporary aesthetic. This time, the design is not directly inspired by the distortion of an object but features strong symbolism. A perfect circle, similar to the sacred talismans and divine attributes, set on a gadrooned, coppery metal crown. Horizontally, this ring evokes the laurels of victory. Vertically, this signature brings to mind the wings of the Greek statues, Niké – who in Greek mythology was a goddess personifying Victory – of all conquests. Classic references and Art Deco come together with balance and boldness.

“Symmetry and geometry are there to express pride, but the proportions and the curves bring softness and femininity,” explains Marc Ange.

Like a jewel, the stopper is removed to discover the fragran- ce, emphasising the bottle’s preciousness.

Exhibiting the wings of victory, the case displays the character of Olympéa: the feminine expression of triumph, reflected in the pale pink, pure white and pink gold tones.

THE FRAGRANCE

Olympéa is a unique olfactory adventure, at the crossroads between the sensuality of asalty vanilla accord and the freshness of floral notes. A fresh oriental in which green mandarin awakens the senses, boosted by the floral and aquatic essences of ginger lily and hydroponic jasmine – jasmine grown in water. Tempting, bold and absolute nature. The sensual and luminous salty vanilla accord brings addictive magnetism, amplified by sandal- wood and an ambergris accord. Its powerful scent and the unique balance of the accords form a genuine Paco Rabanne signature.

For this creation Paco Rabanne drew on the talents of IFF, Loc Dong, Anne Flipo and Dominique Ropion. It was a French premiere for Loc, a Saigonborn perfumer now based in New York for many years. It took more than two years to develop this voluptuous and original duality.

“The initial concept came very quickly. With the Paco Rabanne team, we immediately started by looking into aquatic notes,” says Loc. “In the region of Vietnam where I was born, salt is harvested through the evaporation of sea water. Salt rapidly appeared to me as the starting point, as the symbol of freshness for Olympéa. For the floral and feminine aspect, I suggested working essenti- ally with hydroponic jasmine. This soilless technique removes the earthy notes and exalts the bouquet. When creating my frag- rances, I like to play on opposing universes, like yin and yang. To counter-balance this freshness, I brought roundness with a very sensual, enveloping vanilla.”

OLYMPÉA, EXTRAIT DE PARFUM

Excellence. That is the watchword designated by Paco Rabanne in creating the Olympéa Extrait de Parfum: exclusive, refined ingredients, and especially the incomparable expertise of master glassmakers from Haute-Normandie in France for the semi-artisa- nal manufacture of its bottle.

The Extrait de Parfum is enveloped in an even more precious bottle, expressing its ultra-femininity and exclusive nature. Through the transparent glass, dagger can be seen, sculpted from the stopper in a single piece. This feature is designed for a very femini- ne, refined way of putting on fragrance, elegantly bringing to mind the haute parfumerie of the 20th century.

The Olympéa Extrait de Parfum is not an absolute or a concent- rated version. It is an olfactory creation. To enhance the original formula of the Eau de Parfum and bring even greater intensity, Loc Dong joins two precious elements: Sambac jasmine absolute, for its floral, green and almost fruity character and Bourbon vanilla extract for purer, warm and balsamic notes of vanilla. A strong signature. An unforgettable scent.

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THE MODEL

To embody this goddess-like femininity, Paco Rabanne has chosen Luma, a 21-year old Brazilian model. A modern sensuality, virtually supernatural beauty and endearing personality, in perfect align- ment with the values of the Paco Rabanne brand.

Her magnetic eyes feature in the ad film from beginning to end. “Luma’s eyes are inhabited with seduction and mischief. They show tremendous emotion. It’s her gaze that takes us, like stead- fast gods in this imaginary Olympus, into the wake of her seduction,” director Alexandre Courtès comments.

Luma opposes the masculine physique of Nick Youngquest,

the hero of Invictus, with the evidence and power of her charm. Complementary. The two facets of a single absolute fantasy, which is victory, either physical or intellectual. A new legendary couple is born. Nothing can resist them.

THE FILM

We’re downright bored in the Kingdom of the Gods… Immortality made of marble. Olympéa appears, sure of herself. Along her way, certainty and egos are broken. The gods awaken, and everything comes back to life. Victorious and imperial, Olympéa has chosen her hero.

After Invictus, 1 Million and Lady Million, Alexandre Courtès delivers his fourth film for Paco Rabanne. A strong visual and stylistic identity in an antique-contemporary setting scattered with surprising temporal clashes. Luma takes the viewer through to the end of her victory thanks to her irresistible magnetism.

“We wanted to express that almost divine notion of power but without using force. Femininity has other strengths and other we- apons. What is expressed through muscles in men passes through the eyes here. The scene is more intimate. The bath has replaced the stadium. But she is definitely a conqueror who succeeds in everything,” Alexandre Courtès.