Yves Saint Laurent's Fashion Legacy Bottled with Saharienne (2011) {New Fragrance}

Nearly three years after the death of couturier Yves Saint Laurent (see also images of his funeral), a new perfume called Saharienne will pay homage to the fashion heritage of the designer who took a colonial-era garment, probably under the influence of his childhood spent in North Africa, and turned it into one of his iconic creations. In 1992 a fragrance named Maison de Couture had seen the day, but there were no systematic efforts to translate his fashion universe into a perfume universe...

This summer 2011, Saharienne will open on top notes of citrus, bergamot and mandarin. The heart will rest on crushed orange leaves, galbanum, blackcurrant bud. The base notes will be pink peppercorn and ginger.

The Eau de Toilette showcases a note of Primo Fiore lemon and Italian agrumes. A white petale-y effect wants to allude to "blanc de blanc" champagne. The scent which is meant for summer will also feature typical beach notes of salty and solar floral skin notes.

Polish top model Monika «Jac» Jagaciak is the face of the fragrance. Photographer Enrique Badulescu shot the ad campaign in Mexico.

Both the flacon and the fresh aromatic concept are reminiscent of the Dior Escales perfumes. Expect to have to make a choice (or maybe not) between Saharienne and the upcoming Escale à Shanghaï this year.

See also Escale à Portofino (2008), Escale à Pondichéry (2009), and Escale aux Marquises (2010).