LOUIS VUITTON
LV LOVERS / LVERS

2024

PERFUMER
Jacques Cavallier

galbanum
bergamot
ginger
Cedarwood
sandalwood

‘The scent of light: the radiant intensity of luminous woods. The scent of the sun is a sensation. Born from a creative dialogue between Pharrell Williams and Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, LV Lovers captures the light which is the essence of the LV Lovers community. Echoing this philosophy of sunlight as a metaphor for love and a source of life, Louis Vuitton Master Perfumer conveys in perfume the scent of the sun illuming the skin. Transcribing the vitalising power of light in Nature, LV Lovers reveals vibrant green notes of galbanum energised by the clean crispness of ginger and grounded in the woody intensity of cedarwood. An elixir of well-being distilled in a bottle refracting light’ – Louis Vuitton

LV Lovers or LVERS is a 2024 release by Louis Vuitton and I believe the first one with explicit creative direction by Pharrell Williams. It is yet another mass appealing, warm-weather appropriate, safe fragrance by the brand, that is well made, but that’s where the excitement begins and ends.

I have to preface it by saying that I find almost every popular Louis Vuitton fragrance underwhelming. I like their roses (especially Matiere Noire), I love the Extraits (especially Myriad), the opening from City Of Stars… but the others don’t excite me.

Even though I bought and enjoy Pacific Chill, it’s very mundane. And I feel the same way about anything from Afternoon Swim, Meteore, L’Immensite, the discontinued Cactus Garden or Sun Song. None of them are bad, in fact, all are pleasant, but they are… functional perfumes. They’re decorative art. I don’t find any emotion, any risk-taking or any surprises in them.

And the same is true for LV Lovers. The first thing you will hear about this fragrance is that it smells like Le Labo Santal 33 and that is unquestionably true. It’s not a direct copy, but the connection is instantly there. I find LV Lovers more citrussy, milkier, smoother.

For the most part, that sounds like a good thing, but I’ve always said and still think that Santal 33 is better than any of its copies, because it’s harsher, more clinical, industrial. That minimal edge is part of the appeal. If you want Santal 33, Santal 33 is a lot better of an option than LV Lovers. If you want that smoother sandalwood; this drydown will be great, but I’m not sure that the road there is worth it.

With LV Lovers, the opening has a very recognizable accord that I’ve smelled a dozen time in the past years. Green, bitter, milky and unnatural ginger. It makes me think of the Skins x Salle Privee collaboration (which in general goes in the same direction) and the (much worse) Frederic Malle Uncut Gem. It’s not a great scent.

The best part of LV Lovers is the sandalwood base. The quality of the drydown here feels quite nice. It has that creamy, milky facet, but definitely a good spicy woody side as well and it elevates LV Lovers over many fragrances in this style. It seems very soft and close to skin, so (like many Louis Vuittons) it’s not a powerhouse, but it’s beautifully done.

First hour: Generic and a 4/10.
Slowly getting better.
Final hours: Great sandalwood and a 7, maybe even 8/10.