Pierre Balmain’s story has always been intermingled with scent. His fashion house began in 1945, and its first fragrance Élysées 64-83 came out a year later, followed by Vent Vert in 1947.

And so it was for Monsieur Pierre Balmain, who launched his eponymous label’s first perfume in 1946, just one year after his debut fashion collection which was hailed as the “New French Style”.

Rousteing has always loved perfume and has a long-standing link to Balmain. When he was appointed to the house in 2011, his grandmother reminded him she used to wear Ivoire, dating from 1979. Pierre ...