CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
FETICHE – LAVANDE

2025

PERFUMER
Domitille Michalon Bertier

lavender
black leather

‘For Lavande Fétiche, master perfumer Domitille Michalon wanted to marry warmth with sensuality, and this resulted in a leathery fragrance that’s enlivened by sophisticated lavender. Christian Louboutin’s perfumes are created in the same way as its exquisite accessories: with a commitment to exceptionality and a passion for impactful design.’ – Harrods

When I visited the Louboutin boutique, Lavande was the latest launch; definitely not my favorite on first impression though (which would be La Rose). It was the only sample I could acquire however, so here’s how it went on skin.

It smells of lavender mostly in the opening. And the opening is easily the best part of the fragrance for my taste. As someone who’s not the biggest fan of lavender, I did like the first hour here. It feels airy, crisp, cold… like morning air. It definitely has the retro men’s aftershave vibe that a lot of lavender fragrances have, but initially, I like it better; the texure, the lesser sweetness; it felt more classy and traditional than a lot of contemporaries (read until the end though).

There’s an astrigent, root-like quality to the first hours. Greenish, vegetal, but you can feel the sweetness creeping up slowly.

However, this positivity does not hold up. The mid of the wear is ‘ruined’ by a generic, steamy, cheap men’s shower gel aesthetic. This aquatic tinge is a bit of a letdown to me.

Then again, later in the wear, the promised leather finally pushes through. I didn’t get leather initially, but the base is heavy on the leather; bordering on skanky. I’m usually not the biggest leather fan, but here I do prefer it over that shower gel vibe, which it completely overpowers.

This was never going to be my favorite and it doesn’t wow me, but it’s solid overall. At least it’s quite a ride and doesn’t feel too linear and simplistic, but I didn’t enjoy all its phases equally.