Elie Saab Partners With UNICEF Lebanon To Give Back With Its Fragrance Le Parfum, Now 10 Years Old

BEIRUT, LEBANON- Le Parfum turns 10 years old and the Lebanese designer is giving a portion of the … [+] fragrances’ sales to UNICEF Lebanon.

Photo Credit: Elie Saab

A decade ago, renowned Lebanese designer Elie Saab launched a fragrance so sweet yet so audacious in its olfactory notes, it’s Le Parfum. It’s a fragrance that’s reminiscent to the eponymous brand founder’s city of Beirut, and today, ten years later Elie Saab is giving back with this fragrance by supporting children through UNICEF Lebanon.

With top notes of African orange; middle notes of jasmine; and base notes of white honey, patchouli, rose and Virginia cedar, Le Parfum hits you at first waft. “The main inspiration when I create any product is the same. It is the feminine, graceful, and elegant woman who inspires my designs,” shares Saab. Lebanon’s mild Mediterranean climate gives way to lush flowers and fruits. So, when creating the fragrance, Saab wanted to pay homage to his childhood family garden with a scent that gives light to the Orient through the modernity of the West. “My childhood home was surrounded by orange blossom and when the wind blew, even slightly, it carried with it the essence of its notes,” says Saab.

BEIRUT, LEBANON- perfumer Francis Kurkdjian creates Le Parfum for Elie Saab.

Photo Credit: Elie Saab

Collaborating with perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, the two were able to create a fragrance that interpreted the House’s rich work, and various notes and harmonies that make up Le Parfum. “What I found fascinating working for Elie Saab was the idea of interpreting light; I didn’t have any specific images in mind – just sensations: the whiteness of the sun at its zenith, radiant femininity, a modern interpretation of voluptuousness,” shares Kurkdjian in a statement. Since its inauguration of the fragrance, the House has created a family of fragrances: Le Parfum in White, Le Parfum Royal, and Le Parfum Essentiel.

BEIRUT, LEBANON- Model Cindy Bruna is the face of Le Parfum’s 10 year campaign.

Photo Credit: YanSenez

The House has chosen Italian- Congolese- French model Cindy Bruna as the face of the ten-year campaign. “The first time I met Mr. Elie Saab was in 2013 during his casting at Paris Fashion week,” remembers Bruna. “From our first meeting I fell in love with the man and the artist. I remember his kindness that immediately put me at ease and especially the incredible privilege when I wore one of his magnificent creations! I am lucky enough to have walked the catwalk 23 times for the house and today I am touched by the privilege of “celebrating the 10th anniversary of his perfume and becoming its ambassadress.”

With the Savoir faire of creating a long-lasting fragrance that’s been able to stand the test of time, Saab himself sees Le Parfum’s legacy continuing for years to come. “Creating a perfume is a long process that takes a lot of time and dedication. When I create a perfume I am not looking to create a trendy fragrance. My wish is to make a timeless perfume. This is the case of Le Parfum. The trends change but the notes that create emotions do not. Many factors contribute to the success of a product, for the perfume in particular, it is the bottle’s shape, the notes that are well balanced and the color,” says Saab.

Partnering with UNICEF Lebanon, the House is donating a portion of sales from the 10th anniversary campaign to the organization. According to the House, children in Lebanon are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the country’s economic situation, Covid-19, and last August’s Beirut port explosion.

BEIRUT, LEBANON- Designer Elie Saab.

Photo Credit: Elie Saab

Saab is seeing how poverty in the tiny Levantine nation is going up, affecting education, as parents are finding it challenging to pay school fees. All of this has affected domestic violence rates and health services in Lebanon. UNICEF in the country is dedicating a lot of is programming to girls and women aged 12-24, providing them with access to non-formal education, protection from gender-based violence, skill development like employability programs, adolescent health, mental health benefits and social assistance.

“Children are the future, the builders of nations, they should be raised on a solid platform. By giving them the time and opportunities, they need, teaching them the right skills and empowering them, they will cultivate good qualities and secure better lives. Sometimes, a rough childhood can mold children into leaders with big inspirational life lessons,” muses Saab.

With ten years of perfume legacy, Elie Saab is celebrating by giving back to its country and the future, who are the many children caught in the fringes of Lebanon’s hard times. The designer shows that it’s possible for luxury brands to lead in humanitarian projects, showing that there’s something we all can do to make a difference.