For the launch of his new fragrance Oriana, created by Julien Sprecher, Parfums de Marly commissioned me to design the key visual for the campaign. Parfums de Marly is a French niche perfume house inspired by the 18th century and the splendor of the royal French court. For Oriana, they asked me to create the portrait of the “Oriana woman,” built around a pink palette filled with palpable emotion.

I imagined a striking close-up poised somewhere between a marble statue and a fine-art photograph. Because Parfums de Marly enjoys blending traditional craftsmanship with technical innovation in its creations, I wanted to play with that same tension visually, breaking the codes between classicism and modernity. The image became a journey between echoes of the perfumed court of the 18th century and a contemporary woman — radiant, epicurean, and fully confident in her femininity. I developed a spectrum of pink tones inspired by the elixir itself, with hues that are soft yet vibrant — at once sensual and airy, sweet and electric. The palette references both the fragrance’s ingredients (an olfactory pyramid of grapefruit, orange blossom, and whipped cream) and the personality of a spontaneous yet sophisticated woman who moves effortlessly between timeless elegance and modern energy. I often begin my work from a single color, treating it in an almost monochromatic way. I’m drawn to this approach because every color carries its own story and evocative power, giving the image a distinctive presence. Each color has a unique quality and, through its radiance and associations, conveys a very specific feeling, attitude, or emotion. This is a major source of inspiration for me and the starting point of many personal works as well as commissioned projects.

When Parfums de Marly asked how I envisioned the Oriana woman, I described her like this: “Standing in front of her mirror, perhaps in her bedroom, she first takes a moment to enjoy the scent of the perfume on her own skin. It gives her an almost gourmand pleasure — a private, selfish pleasure. Then she feels empowered by the fragrance, ready to step out.”