“You can wear anything, the important thing is that you wear a suit jacket””

He adds a new string to his bow and becomes the nose for a collection of perfumes from the house of Balmain. Olivier Rousteing is launching “Les étés”, eight unisex fragrances for which he has undergone olfactory training. A new chapter that the designer inaugurated with the first Balmain Beauty boutique, rue des Francs-Bourgeois, in Paris.

Madame Figaro. – My inspiration for The Eternals?
Olivier Rousteing. -I drew it from the heritage of the house and the disruptive spirit of Pierre Balmain. I also drew inspiration from my own story and emotions, particularly how I felt after my accident (Olivier Rousteing was seriously burned during a domestic accident at his home in 2020, Editor's note).

The perfume from the collection in which I recognize myself?
Carbone, the firstborn of the eight. The tension between musk and rose reflects my dichotomy well, and the black and gold bottle reflects Balmain's identity.

The smell that takes me back to childhood?
That of rum, which my grandmother put in crepes, and that of cannelés, because I am from Bordeaux and proud of it. There is also the Ivoire perfume by Balmain that my grandmother wore, and Shalimar by Guerlain, that of my mother.

What is eternal in my life?
No one is eternal. What is, is the imprint of the human being on this planet. Making history is my obsession in life.

A piece of clothing or beauty that makes me feel powerful?
My jacket with shoulder pads. I also love highlighting my eyes with black with the Tom Ford Beauty pencil. And I feel good with my braids, which I've been growing for a year now. They give me confidence in myself.

I feel good with my braids, they give me confidence

Olivier Rousteing

Best style advice received?
When I first started at Balmain, Karl Lagerfeld complimented me on my outfit and said: “This is the jacket that makes you look chic. You can wear anything, the important thing is that you wear a suit jacket.”

What do I think when I look in the mirror?
I tell myself that at 38 years old, I'm not doing so badly. Not knowing my biological parents, I often wonder what they look like, and if I take more after my father or my mother.

My current beauty obsessions?
Facial creams. I love ingredients that come from nature, and I am lucky to be able to discover products in spas through my travels around the world. My morning rituals are treatments based on pine trees from southern Austria, and I drink carrot, ginger, apple and blueberry juice to have healthier skin. And every evening, I make clay masks. I also use a lot of aloe vera since my accident.

My biggest luxury today?
Freedom, that of creating, of thinking, of living, of being.

My state of mind at the moment?
I feel an even stronger need for freedom and elevation in my personal and professional life. I want and need to go even higher, to reach the summits.

A misunderstanding about me?
There are so many… That's what you get when you're a public person. I think they have a lot to do with my looks, my hair… People have made fun of me a lot. It is said that I have done a lot of plastic surgery on my face.

What do I like people to say about me?
Make people feel good with me.

The last time I was proud of myself?
This morning when I managed to run 25 kilometers. But also when I saw Brigitte Macron sitting in the front row of my fashion show last September. It was a huge source of pride.

What am I going to do after this interview?
Return to my workshop and choose the fabrics for my winter 2025 pre-collection.

The perfumes of the “Les Ètérs” collection of Balmain are available on www.balmainbeauty.fr and in the Balmain Beauty boutique, 8, rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75003 Paris.