Louis Vuitton - Fragrances of the World - Journey to the Middle East - AMBRE LEVANT

2026-04-07

There are moments when the world shifts into a new intensity—when daylight turns amber just before yielding to night. In that deep glow pulses a vibrant energy, heralding the rise of celebration and the spellbinding scents of the Thousand and One Nights. Within the Fragrances of the World collection, Louis Vuitton continues its exploration of cultures and olfactory landscapes shaped by millennia of tradition. Jacques Cavallier Belletrud composes a new exceptional creation, inspired by the mythical golden hour of the Middle East.

As the sun begins its descent and gradually releases the heat of day, the air grows denser with light, transforming the landscape. A palace reveals itself in all its splendor. From its monumental doors, the horizon unfolds like an incandescent mirage. Light ignites the stone, clings to carved wood, and traces every ornament of this sumptuous setting, while the lingering warmth in the air awakens the senses.

At the heart of the palace, the first movements of evening emerge. Silhouettes gather. The initial steps of dance take shape. Scents of spices, confections, and delicate pastries fill the space. The sun floods the atmosphere; everything stirs, everything intensifies. Ambre Levant is born from this fleeting moment, when an amber veil rises to unite sky and earth in a single hue—between what is ending and what is about to begin, between the momentum of day and the celebrations of night.

The Amber of the Thousand and One Nights

With the precision and generosity that define his style, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud imagines a composition that captures this instant and expresses its full intensity. The Master Perfumer signs a fragrance of countless nuances, crafted like a golden radiance that unfolds and reveals its depth over time. Rooted in the union of two emblematic signatures of the Middle East—amber and oud—this creation offers a distinctly modern interpretation. “Amber has been with me since the very beginning, always with the same sense of fascination. It was one of the first notes I discovered as a child in my father’s laboratory. It has never stopped guiding my writing.”

Here, amber is embraced in all its dimensions: the richness of resinous amber intertwined with the contemporary facets of ambergris—its saline inflections, its deeply human animality. From this dialogue emerges a creation where ancestral perfume traditions and the most current olfactory language respond to one another, revealing a new golden glow. The composition opens with a luscious mandarin, whose pulpy freshness lays down a gourmand sparkle on the skin. Its fruity accents call forth a breath of warm spices: vibrant cardamom, luminous cinnamon, white pepper with a troubling character, and a saffron touch that intensifies the warmth. Together, they confer a savory tension and evoke the gentle indulgence of Oriental delicacies.

Then the amber notes unfurl their full breadth. The resinous warmth of labdanum, the purity of white incense, and the mineral vibration of contemporary ambergris lend the accord its captivating radiance. The alliance is sealed with an exceptional oud essence, sourced from Bangladesh and drawn from a supply chain exclusive to Louis Vuitton. This black gold—an emblematic treasure of Middle Eastern perfumery—amplifies the depth and intensity of the composition. For Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, it is one of the most sensual woods imaginable: “This one is unique, of exceptional quality. Its woody character, of rare finesse, reveals a very subtle animality and an elegance that is both spicy and ambery.” An ultimate amber signature, Ambre Levant stretches the light of the golden hour and prolongs its radiance on the skin.

The Bottle

The emblematic Louis Vuitton fragrance bottle, rendered in transparent black glass for the Journey to the Middle East collection, is here infused with a deep, warm amber hue. A glow born of the golden hour seems to radiate from the heart of the glass. The bottle can be refilled in Louis Vuitton stores equipped with a perfume fountain.

Louis Vuitton’s Exceptional Oud

In northeastern Bangladesh, within the tropical, mist-laden region of Sylhet, oud forms at the heart of aquilaria forests, behind mangrove curtains that filter the light. A natural infection slowly triggers, over many years, the emergence of a dark, precious resin— extracted by artisans with remarkable precision and expertise. Here, each tree is harvested according to a rhythm that respects biodiversity and preserves the forest’s equilibrium. It is in this region that Louis Vuitton has forged an exclusive partnership with a family that has perpetuated this ancestral savoir-faire for over 200 years. This supply chain cultivates the luxury of time. No fewer than thirty years are required for the resin to develop its full aromatic complexity and richness. The family allows the trees to reach this level of evolution—a rare patience that endows the material with exceptional quality.

This deliberately confidential production offers the House an oud whose clarity and finesse set it apart from the saturated clichés often associated with the ingredient. For Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, oud is bound to a formative memory. As a young apprentice, he first encountered its effluence—an immediate olfactory shock that marked the beginning of a fascination that has never left him. His quest led him to these lands, where oud is watched over, harvested, and distilled like a living heritage. A single drop is enough to summon a distant horizon. In Louis Vuitton creations, this oud reveals a majestic elegance—deep, contemporary, and enduring. Both vegetal treasure and human legacy, it stands as a material of the future for the House, capable of inspiring new forms of expression while extending a precious heritage.

Eau de parfum Ambre Levant 100ml, 375€

Available exclusively in the Middle East from January 15, 2026, in a selection of Louis Vuitton stores and on louisvuitton.com, ahead of a worldwide launch scheduled for March 5, 2026.

About Louis Vuitton

Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has brought unique designs to the world, combining innovation with style, always aiming for the finest quality. Today, the House remains faithful to the spirit of its founder, Louis Vuitton, who invented a genuine “Art of Travel” through luggage, bags and accessories which were as creative as they were elegant and practical. Since then, audacity has shaped the story of Louis Vuitton. Faithful to its heritage, Louis Vuitton has opened its doors to architects, artists, and designers across the years, all the while developing disciplines such as ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, watches, jewellery, fragrance and beauty. These carefully created products are testament to Louis Vuitton’s commitment to fine craftsmanship.