THE OLFACTION To evoke the prestige of 37 RUE DE BELLECHASSE, the perfumers Cécile Matton and Julie Massé have selected elemi, a rare, precious resin from the Philippines that has been burned as incense for centuries. Elemi blends citrusy freshness and woody depth, for a multifaceted spicy scent. Though the high mass of fashion has replaced religious services at 37 RUE DE BELLECHASSE, the fragrance nods to the building’s former vocation with a wisp of incense. The utter luxury of rich, oud wood adds to the scent’s dark and mysterious atmosphere. THE INSPIRATION Founded in the 13th century, rebuilt in the 18th in the heart of the aristocratic Faubourg Saint-Germain, the Cistercian Abbey of Penthemont once served as a culturally vibrant retreat for ladies of the French nobility (Joséphine de Beauharnais lived there for a time). After three years of painstaking restoration respecting the rich cultural heritage of the building, the historic monument in the 7th arrondissement became the headquarters of the house of Saint Laurent in 2018.