The house and its idea
The idea behind Liquides Imaginaires took shape in October 2011 at Paris Design Week, around the theme of holy water, and then grew with co-founder David Frossard. The perfume names don't describe the notes but the character: Fortis is strength, Sancti purification and Lacrima the precious water of the most intimate emotions. The cap recalls an amphora, the vessel that held precious essences in ancient times.
The trilogies in the catalog
Les Eaux Delà: Sancti, Fortis, Tumultu
The first trilogy is devoted to the sacred and to protection. It includes Fortis, the "water of strength," which combines woods and spices and which the house describes as the black ink of literary painting. Sancti is an amber scent, conceived as a symbol of light and purification. With Tumultu the reference is Cleopatra's milk and honey baths, with soft spices and a sensual character.
Les Eaux Sanguines: the sacred wines
In this trilogy the theme is wine. Dom Rosa is inspired by an aged rosé champagne and is a romantic, intoxicating perfume; for its tenth anniversary the house created Dom Rosa Millésimé, a more concentrated version. Then there's Bello Rabelo, dedicated to a sailor and his rabelo boat, which smells of solid wood, of vanilla from the barrels and of the sweet liquor of ripe grapes.
Les Eaux Imaginaires and Les Humeurs
Les Eaux Imaginaires is the trilogy of the imaginary journey. It includes Île Pourpre, inspired by an island of purple fruit fallen into the ocean, fresh but with a fiery temper, Fleuve Tendre, dedicated to the meeting of masculine and feminine, and Désert Suave, sweet and spicy like a mirage. Les Humeurs draws on the humors of Hippocrates and brings together Lacrima, the salty drop of emotions, Melancolia, the "Queen of a rainy land dear to Baudelaire," and Phantasma, the ghost of hidden desires.
Les Eaux de l'Est and Les Eaux de Peau
Les Eaux de l'Est is a tribute to the East and to the wind. Here you'll find Fleur de Sable, the "queen of the dunes," a floral born from scorching sand, and Buveur de Vent, a woody scent inspired by a desert horse. From the Les Eaux de Peau trilogy, devoted to the fusion of the human and animal worlds, comes Blanche Bête, a milky, soft perfume.
The other eaux de parfum
Navis belongs to Les Eaux des Bermudes, inspired by legends of the sea, and is a luminous perfume of woods and citrus. Signed by Louise Turner, Morning Star is fresh, woody and musky, with aldehydes, incense and creamy woods. Âme de Fleur is a white floral inspired by the anemone, with tuberose and jasmine over a woody base. Lunatique is built on contrasts: it opens with juniper, pear and Sichuan pepper and then turns darker. Liquide Gold combines floral and amber notes; Âme de Coeur is dedicated to the heart as the seat of love.
How to choose a Liquides Imaginaires perfume
The most practical starting point is the olfactory family the house gives for each eau de parfum. The stories matter, but the notes are what help you find your way.
Among the woody scents are Buveur de Vent, a woody fragrance, and Bello Rabelo, which pairs the solid wood of the boat with vanilla from the barrels; Navis combines woods and citrus and Morning Star is woody and musky. Among the spicy ones are Tumultu, with soft spices, Désert Suave, sweet and spicy, Fortis, which weaves together spices and woods, and Lunatique, which opens with Sichuan pepper. Among the florals are Âme de Fleur, with tuberose and jasmine, Fleur de Sable, floral, and Liquide Gold, floral and amber. Sancti is amber, as is Liquide Gold on the floral side. Among the fresh, luminous scents are Morning Star with its aldehydes, Navis with citrus and Île Pourpre, "fresh with a fiery temper."
A second criterion is the "moods" the catalog associates with each fragrance. Sancti, Blanche Bête, Buveur de Vent and Désert Suave are listed as mystical. Dom Rosa, Île Pourpre, Fleuve Tendre and Fleur de Sable are listed as seductive. The transformative mood applies to Lacrima, Sancti, Dom Rosa and Fleuve Tendre, the energizing one to Fleur de Sable, Désert Suave and Buveur de Vent.
The gift set to get to know the house
Seven Charms brings together seven 7.5 ml vials: Fortis, Dom Rosa, Blanche Bête, Fleur de Sable, Buveur de Vent, Phantasma and Âme de Coeur. It spans several trilogies.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Liquides Imaginaires?
Liquides Imaginaires was founded by Philippe Di Méo, its artistic mind, and co-founder David Frossard later joined the project. The ideas and stories behind each fragrance start with Di Méo. The house describes its work as a return to the essence of perfume, a symbolic object able to capture a memory.
How are Liquides Imaginaires fragrances organized?
Liquides Imaginaires fragrances are grouped in trilogies, conceived as three chapters of a book. There's Les Eaux Delà, with Sancti, Fortis and Tumultu, and Les Eaux Sanguines, devoted to the sacred wines, with Dom Rosa and Bello Rabelo. Les Eaux Imaginaires brings together Île Pourpre, Fleuve Tendre and Désert Suave. Les Humeurs includes Lacrima, Melancolia and Phantasma.
What does Morning Star by Liquides Imaginaires smell like?
Morning Star is a fresh, woody, musky unisex eau de parfum created by perfumer Louise Turner. It has clean aldehydic notes, incense and creamy woods, and offers a contemporary take on the theme of light. The house calls its personality luminous, and its enigmatic character comes from the incense.
What does Fortis by Liquides Imaginaires smell like?
Fortis is an eau de parfum of woods and spices, which the house describes as a union of unique woods and spices wrapped in "smoking feathers." It belongs to the Les Eaux Delà trilogy, devoted to the sacred. The name means "water of strength," and the house presents it as a scented shadow that fortifies the body.
What's the difference between Dom Rosa and Dom Rosa Millésimé?
Dom Rosa Millésimé is the more concentrated version of Dom Rosa, created by the house for the fragrance's tenth anniversary. The theme is the same in both, a perfectly aged rosé champagne, romantic and intoxicating. Both versions are part of the Les Eaux Sanguines trilogy, devoted to the sacred wines.
What does Blanche Bête smell like?
Blanche Bête is a milky, pure white perfume, born from the idea of an innocent, pure strength, "the animal that never was." It's part of the Les Eaux de Peau trilogy, devoted to the fusion of the human and animal worlds. In the catalog it's associated with the Seductive and Mystical moods.
Which Liquides Imaginaires perfume should I choose if I love florals?
If you love flowers, you can start with Âme de Fleur, a white floral inspired by the anemone, with tuberose and jasmine over a woody base. Fleur de Sable, the "queen of the dunes," is also a floral fragrance, while Liquide Gold combines floral and amber notes.
Which Liquides Imaginaires fragrances are fresh?
Among the fresh fragrances is Navis, a luminous perfume of citrus and woods inspired by sea voyages. Île Pourpre is fresh too, but with a fiery temper. Lunatique opens with juniper, pear and Sichuan pepper and then moves toward deeper, more mysterious tones.
Which Liquides Imaginaires perfume is woody?
The fragrance the house describes as woody is Buveur de Vent, inspired by a desert horse. Wood also appears in Bello Rabelo, together with vanilla from the barrels, and in Navis, alongside citrus. Then there's Morning Star, with musk and incense, and Fortis, which combines woods and spices.
Is there a way to try several Liquides Imaginaires fragrances?
Yes, the Seven Charms gift set contains seven 7.5 ml vials of Fortis, Dom Rosa, Blanche Bête, Fleur de Sable, Buveur de Vent, Phantasma and Âme de Coeur. It brings together different registers, from the woody Buveur de Vent to the floral Fleur de Sable and the milky Blanche Bête.
