BOTTEGA VENETA ILLUSIONE fragrances for her and for him
Bottega Veneta introduces Illusione, a new duo of fragrances for women and men which captures the sensuality, serenity and limitless possibilities of a moment suspended between dream and reality.
Far from the rush of everyday life sits a sunlit Italian villa. Gentle breezes warm the air, inviting water ripples in a nearby pool. The soft hum of cicadas can be heard in the distance.
In this setting, every sense is heightened, creating an intoxicating sense of calm.
For an instant, time stands still; the line between dream and reality blurs.
The fragrances of Bottega Veneta tell the stories of quintessential Italian experiences. From the first scent, the house has brought meaning to fragrance, evoking—through scent—distinct Italian moments, capturing the timeless beauty and heritage of the land. With the creation of Illusione, Bottega Veneta’s new fragrances reveal a fresh and enchanting story of Italian allure, told from dual male and female perspectives.
THE FRAGRANCES
Inspired by the heritage, landscape and extraordinary raw materials of Italy, the home of Bottega Veneta, three master perfumers used the highest quality ingredients to create two timeless fragrances: Illusione for him and Illusione for her. The pair of refreshing, refined scents represent complementary sides of a natural sensoriality and authenticity perfectly suited to Bottega Veneta fragrances.
The Bottega Veneta Illusione fragrances are built around an olfactory tension between freshness and sensuality, created by the contrast of bright top notes of Italian citrus with warm woody notes which ground their base. Bottega Veneta Illusione for her is a woody floral Eau de Parfum crafted by perfumers Annick Menardo and Amandine Clerc-Marie. Energetic top notes of bergamot and blackcurrant lend an aromatic spark, reminiscent of the lightness and transparency of water. Feminine orange blossom and vegetal green fig at the floral heart conjure a warm breeze to further enhance the composition. The dry down is anchored by a base of olive wood and tonka bean.
Bottega Veneta Illusione for him is a woody citrus Eau de Toilette created by perfumer Antoine Maisondieu. Its top notes are marked by lemon and bitter orange essence, evocative of sparkling Italian citruses. Woody fir balsam and white cedarwood provide a resinous masculinity leading to an energetic blend of vibrant vetiver and sensual tonka bean.
AN ELEGANT DESIGN
The Illusione flacons are modern and visually compelling. Their architectural design is reflective of the clean lines and artisanal craftsmanship synonymous with Bottega Veneta. Their sensorial aspect also makes an impression: the heavy weighted glass of each flacon evoking an immediate sense of luxury when held in the hand. The reflective glass serves to magnify the juice inside, infusing it with light: coppery hues of pink for her and pale, luminous green for him. At the base of each flacon’s squared shape, the underside of each bottle has an organic, round impression recalling the shape of water droplet. Each piece is topped with a circular Bakelite-inspired textured cap, with a central opening that reveals the fragrance spray.
CAPTURING THE ILLUSION
To encapsulate the sensual elegance and fleeting fantasy of Illusione, Bottega Veneta worked with art director Fabien Baron on the campaign. Three films immerse the viewer in this suspended moment, playing with perception and the line between daydream and reality.
The main campaign film begins by setting the scene: a lazy, sun-drenched day in Italy, by the swimming pool of a mysterious and elegant villa. We catch glimpses of the male and female faces of Illusione, Canadian model Simon Nessmann and Italian model Vittoria Ceretti. The wind rustles softly. The sun gleams, reflecting off the pool. The exposed skin of the male and female figures is covered in beads of sweat and droplets of water. Then, with a splash the male figure dives into the fresh, cool water. He emerges, dripping water and approaches the female figure, who is half-asleep sunbathing by the water. In a moment, the two lock eyes and lean towards each other as the film ends, leaving the viewer wondering what happens next.
In the shorter, individual campaign films, the same scene is shown from the separate points of view of the male and female characters, the opposition of two perspectives making us question whether both characters experienced the same moment.
Each film ends on an intriguingly mysterious note. Both the audience and the characters are never certain whether it’s all a dream, or how the story ends. In the suspended moment of Illusione, anything can happen.