Deci Delà, a timeless fragrance
Sophistication, research for unique know-how and historical references go hand in hand with modernity and originality, both in terms of watch models and scent compositions. By approaching Jean-Claude Ellena to create a masculine fragrance, Cartier already knew that he would write his most beautiful… Declaration!
Perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena and his magnificent Declaration for Cartier
If a young perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena had not succeeded in freeing himself from the diktats and olfactory trends of classic perfumery, it is precisely L'Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert by Bulgari and then Declaration that will make him assume this trend for waters. clear and timeless impressionist juices, relatively far from the criteria of the time. Moreover, the perfumer does not hesitate to admit the direct relationship between these two perfumes, one, as its name suggests, being a green tea and the other, Declaration, what he calls a “smoked tea”. .
This “smoked tea”, which will later be called Declaration, had nothing that promised it a bright future in perfumery. Jean-Claude Ellena offers his composition without much conviction to the creative director of Cartier perfumes, Véronique Gautier. He begs the director not to do any marketing tests as he doubts that this very spicy woody scent will please. And indeed it does not please, whatever, Véronique Gautier fell in love with it and decided to release it under the name of Declaration.
“Véronique carried out the test all the same and she told me: We tested and you lost. I was very disappointed. And she added But it's still your perfume that we chose. I was overjoyed, I walked over his desk to kiss him. We are then in 1998. ”Jean-Claude Ellena on the history of Declaration of Cartier, Ma Récréation.com.
A fresh and spicy statement with floral sophistication by Cartier
The story of Declaration is therefore that of a liberation, that of Jean-Claude Ellena and his first steps in what will become his style in its own right, but also that of love at first sight and a formidable intuition of from Maison Cartier.
It should be noted, however, that the perfumes of the time were much more structured around new freshness and aquatic waves than woody or even spicy. Declaration is therefore on this point very innovative and offers in each of its agreements something new and discovery.
Thus the citrus and aromatic top notes are refreshed bathed in a delicate and suave neroli flower, but also rather unexpected. As for the heart of Declaration, it beats both under the burning effects of pepper and spices and under the powdery and delicate impulse of iris and jasmine. From this powerful and contrasting blend, an extraordinary woody depth is born, with notes of vetiver, cedar, amber and leather to mark a very virile but delicate trail with its flowery heart.