In the highly competitive world of fragrance, perfumeries have to do a lot to stand out from the crowd. Consumers these days are savvy, well educated and have nuanced sensory palates that change seasonally. In addition, a successful fragrance has as much to do with what is outside, as is inside. A beautiful perfume bottle can create a moment for the wearer; a quiet moment in their day when they pause to participate in an elegant ritual of scent and movement. Henry Jacques – the luxurious, historied French parfumerie lauded by the famous and elite for decades – has sought to create this complete sensory experience with each of its fragrances, recently introducing a new collection to add to their Masterpieces: Les Toupies, “The Spinning Tops”. Why niche fragrances appeal to the millennials and Gen Z Three years in the making, the series includes three sets of complementary scents, matched to reflect different views of the fragrance’s story, presented in handcrafted crystal. The “spinning tops” concept embodies the spirit of the series, referencing the phases of life, of memories and moments which brought us joy revisited over a lifetime. Christophe Tollemer, Henry Jacques’ artistic director, oversaw every element of the creation and development of Les Toupies. The challenge went beyond developing the fragrances – to create multifaceted crystal flacons evocative of a childhood toy, suited to and worthy of the fragrances they would hold. First Couple: Les Toupies I The first set reflects two signature perfumes in the maison’s collection, Mr H and Mrs Y. These fragrances are awash in the series’ symbolism: a love story coupling feminine and masculine energy with easy elegance and class. The notes on the pair, “one more assertive, the other more delicate”, emphasise the natural ingredients for which the parfumerie is known. Mr H carries hints of cedar leaf, geranium, sandalwood, tobacco, amber and patchouli, while Mrs Y plays on ylang ylang, rose damascena, jasmine, iris, wild lily of the valley and tonka bean. The otherwise identical bottles slightly differ in size to evoke the balance/imbalance that exists in love and life. Fashion post coronavirus: no fashion shows or luxury stores? Second Couple: Les Toupies II The next chapter in the series pivots to a more modern path for Henry Jacques. Anchored by their traditional practices and values, the atelier introduces new and unusual ingredients that are layered and develop within the fragrance. No 16 has a heart of Rose de Mai, which opens into a “honeyed trail” of scent – floral beginnings that belie the subtle and deep lines which follow. No 81 brightens at the top with bergamot and grapefruit, light and fresh, before sinking into spicier smoke and wood middle and base notes, as well as musk and ginger. In this case, the crystal bottles play with futuristic lines and facets, edgy and bold in structure, which capture and refract light off their surfaces. Third Couple: Les Toupies III The last in Les Toupies series – Fanfan and Galileo – appear in rounded toupies, curved chalices with smooth, clean, infinite walls. In Galileo, we see lavender and Italian mandarin dance with notes of patchouli, tobacco, amber and myrrh. Lavender is quietly mirrored in Fanfan, forming a delicate connection with its partner, while saffron and rose damascena ground the perfume, evoking a classical Parisian scent. Would you pay US$10,000 for Formula One’s first perfumes? Each pairing and its complex bouquet are testament to the long-standing quality and artistry of the Henry Jacques parfumerie. The balanced, symbiotic relationship between the visual and olfactory sensations they stimulate invokes a sense of luxury, poise and a powerful emotional connection to the atelier. Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .