The Maison’s first fragrance is reinterpreted after a 15-year archival search
Balenciaga has returned to perfumery with a new fragrance collection centered on the revival of its first scent, Le Dix. The launch marks a shift away from the brand’s recent forays into abstract runway fragrances, such as antiseptic and asphalt, toward a more classical expression rooted in its archives.
Originally introduced in 1947 by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Le Dix was named after the Maison’s address at 10 Avenue George V in Paris. The new version, reconstructed over a three-year period, required archivists more than a decade to locate an original bottle. The composition focuses on iris, updated with contemporary aldehydes to link the past with the present.
The collection also introduces new scents tied to the brand’s history. No Comment nods to Balenciaga’s avoidance of interviews with a resinous, woody profile. Extra delivers a pepper-infused character, while Muscura blends iris with varnish-like notes.
Packaging follows archival references. Designers scanned original bottles and advertising sketches to recreate containers that suggest a mid-century atmosphere, evoking a mix of lived-in glamour and vintage design.
The bottles, photographed by Katerina Jebb, accompany the wider campaign. The collection is available from September 10 in select stores and on balenciaga.com.
