Louis Vuitton’s Pacific Chill Fragrance Smells Like Erewhon

Oct 22, 2023

On a cool, overcast spring day in California, I found myself standing in a $27 million mansion in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I was there for a day of "mindfulness" for Louis Vuitton's latest fragrance, Pacific Chill. But unlike other perfume events I’ve been to, today, we were discussing an unlikely inspiration: Erewhon. Yes, the hyped, exclusive grocery store in Los Angeles. "The smoothies are very good, I must say," says the brand's master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud. "Fantastic."

Inspired by Los Angeles’ wellness lifestyle, the idea of the scent came into fruition during a conversation about green juices between Cavallier-Belletrud and co-collaborator and multimedia artist Alex Israel, who helped design the perfume bottle's packaging and artwork. The scent is made up of ingredients in Cavallier-Belletrud's morning juice: orange, carrot, black currant, mint, basil, and a bit of apricot. He first drank this juice at the Beverly Hills Hotel four years ago and has been having it every morning since. "For me, the idea of wellness is a feeling and a mind-set at the same time," he says. The fragrance comes in a green-and-blue glass bottle and is one of four Louis Vuitton scents, all inspired by different elements of Los Angeles.

"When I go to Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Malibu, the vibes make me feel like life is beautiful and anything is possible," says Cavallier-Belletrud. The inspiration for the name though, came from closer to home. "My daughters always say, ‘Well, that's, we chill.’ And I love the sound of the words ‘Pacific Chill.’ It sounds way cooler than ‘Pacific Cool’ or ‘Pacific Relax.’ And L.A. is the chillest place."

At the event, I was starting to get really comfortable with this Los Angeles lifestyle. I began with an outdoor sound bath. After the sound bath ended, I grabbed a freshly squeezed green juice. Yes, it smelled like the perfume, which has a bright and energizing aroma, thanks to the crisp blend of carrot and orange. Paired with notes of black currant, basil, and apricot, it brings up the smell of grass and nature. The scent felt very on par for the setting. Moments later, I sat back down outside for a meditative breath-work session. Then it was time for my private Reiki appointment, which was described to me as an "energy massage." I have to say, I was very "chill."

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