Cartier’s New La Panthère Elixir Is For The Woman Who Knows What She Wants

There’s something strong yet not overbearing about Cartier’s new La Panthère Elixir fragrance that launched today. Its name meaning “The Panther” is meant to be intoxicating like feline fur. La Panthère Elixir has been around since 2014 when it was conceived by the luxury jewelry brand, but this Elixir rendition according to notes from the brand, “revisits the chypre scent with an innovative floral feline accord.”

Housed in the sleek La Panthère bottle, which is the head of a panther. (The panther is also Cartier’s brand symbol, first appearing on a watch in 1914.) Refillable, it’s a nod to all things’s sustainability. Its gold detailing at the top of the bottle, and Art Deco curved edges makes the bottle all the more attractive- reminding you that Cartier is a renowned jewelry house.

Its olfactory notes were envisioned by Mathilde Laurent, who is known for pushing the boundaries of perfumery. “Every woman harbors an essence of femininity within her, and every flower carries animal notes in its heart,” she shares in notes. When Jeanne Toussaint was Creative Director of Cartier in 1933, she sought to combine the panther and Cartier. In 1948, according to the brand, “she fleshed out the creature in three dimensions.” Laurent harped on this, seeking to get the panther’s fur and its softness- like caressing velvet- but in the form of a scent.

Typically, stronger fragrances are perfect for older women who have matured in age, and light floral scents are perfect for younger women. But even in its strength, La Panthère Elixir we find works for women of all ages. Yet, we say it’s for the woman who knows what she wants, she’s not decisive, and she leads well in her sphere of influence. Its notes of wild musk, amber, and jasmine brings that velvety essence upon first waft. What these three notes do, when combined, is that they exude a femininity adding nuance to its original rendition from 2014, which is what Laurent was going for.