Victoria Beckham is launching her first fragrance collection. Eight years in the making, each scent has a story to tell, as the designer explains
Victoria Beckham has always used fragrance to inspire and ground her. Over the years, she has name-dropped only a handful of niche perfume houses, but you will always find scent diffusers backstage at her fashion shows and the most colossal pillar candles burning at her Dover Street store. “I’ve been a lover of fragrance for such a long time,” the designer tells us ahead of the launch of three sustainably crafted eau de parfums. “So to use this creative space to tell my story has been a dream come true. They are like my version of an autobiography. And I think they are very signature. In time, it will be obvious – ‘that is a Victoria Beckham fragrance’.”
For this collection, the 49-year-old has worked with perfumer Jérôme Epinette, who has created best-sellers for Byredo and Atelier Cologne. “I love to collaborate with the best,” she says. As well as Portofino ‘97, a glistening, sun-drenched skin scent, and San Ysidro Drive, a warm, amber blend, there’s the sensual Suite 302 (right). Capturing the glamour and romance of Paris, it combines rose, musk, leather and toasted spices. Here, Victoria explains how each perfume is like a “scented snapshot” of her precious life milestones.
What was your starting point for these scents?
It started with a range of notes, going through each one – discussing what I liked, which notes I responded to, which ones triggered thought and memory. Fragrances are so personal, but it was instant working with Jérôme, when we landed on the right collection of notes to portray each memory.
Was there a lot of back and forth?
I spent a lot of time with Jérôme in Paris and New York, and on Zoom, getting to know him and telling him what I liked. He is such an incredible perfumer. And he got to know me, I spent time sharing stories with him, for us to find a way to capture them as scents.
Your skin is glowing. Can you talk us through your skincare routine?
My skin is my base. I try to avoid heavy foundation and concealer and instead, really work at making my complexion the best it can be. For me this starts with skincare: I u
