Like This, the fragrance collaboration between actor Tilda Swinton and niche perfume house Etat Libre d’Orange, recently launched in the United States. Etat Libre’s founder, Etienne de Swardt, made appearances at New London Pharmacy and Henri Bendel to introduce the fragrance and to reveal more facts about Like This; for example, its “code name” as a work-in-progress was “Immortal Ginger.” And the final name, in addition to being borrowed from a poem by Rumi, is a bit of wordplay on Tilda Swinton’s request for a “cozy” scent, since the sound-alike Italian word “così” translates as “like this.”
Tilda Swinton herself made a visit to Henri Bendel on June 17. I was able to speak with her for a few precious minutes, and I asked her to imagine fragrances for three memorable characters she has played in films.
Orlando: "Oh, I think he would have worn Like This. Because of the colors---he's all orange and gold. And because Orlando is very personal to me, and this fragrance is very personal, really a 'home brew.'"
The White Witch (from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe): "The smell of snow. Different kinds of snow. I didn't previously know that could be done, being a newcomer to this fragrance-making world, but now I know it can!"
Emma Recchi (her character in I Am Love): "The scent of her lover."
She is so absolutely stunning. Also I find her *actually* interesting (unlike the celebrities that get covered in the media day in and day out). Her reading of “Like This” on the ELD’O site moved me. Thanks for the report, Jessica!
I can now testify that she is also extraordinarily beautiful in “real life”; and, as Etienne de Swardt of Etat Libre said to me, she also has a “beautiful mind.” She was so articulate and funny and gracious in person! I’m still a bit dazed by the encounter. 😉
Also, I just read this article at Salon:
http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/film_salon/2010/06/19/tilda_swinton_interview/index.html?source=newsletter
Feel free to delete the link, Robin.
This looks like a great interview! Thanks, MJR. (I think it’s ok… you’re not the Salon writer, and you’re not selling anything!) 😉
How great that you were able to go and chat with her a bit, Jessica.
What’s that in the right-hand photo? A factice? Or the tester packaging?
I haven’t heard of “I Am Love,” so I looked it up and now I’m really anxious to see it! Thanks!
Hi, Joe! The bottle on the right is a tester (larger than the bottles-for-sale). I liked the fact that it still had the “Immortal Ginger” working-name on it!
Oh me too, Joe! I also just added Orlando to my netflix queue because I have not seen that one since the 90s!
According to SWINTON herself, “Orlando” will be re-released/shown in theaters sometime soon…! I’d love to see it on the “big screen” again.
Oh yes, I read that too. Unfortunately, I can’t imagine it will play in my neck of the woods!
Thanks for the report, Jessica! I like the cozy/cosi word play. 🙂
Thanks, Haunani! I love this scent: I completely agree with Angela’s excellent review of it. And I like wordplay and literary references, in general, so that attracts me to Like This even more!
That is so cool that you got to talk with her, Jessica! What great questions to ask her. I hadn’t heard of “I Am Love” either but will have to check it out.
I’m glad, too! The event itself was somewhat badly organized; the problems seemed to be located at the Bendel end, not the fault of Etat Libre or SWINTON herself. It was a very confused and confusing situation. It’s only thanks to Etat Libre that I had my brief, lovely chat with her.
Great article, Jessica!
Those answers to the questions about her characters are wonderful.
I was afraid the fragrance would smell foody–but I’m delighted with my sample. It does smell “cozy” but not in a baby-powder and fuzzy kittens way.
Thanks, Cheryl! I figured I should ask her something fragrance-related, rather than something about her movie or her clothes or what she likes to do when she’s in NYC (although that last one would have been interesting, come to think of it). Like This *is* warm and cozy, but in a grown-up, unexpected way… Angela nailed it in her review.
Hey, great report! I’m sure I wouldn’t have had the nerve to chat The Swinton up, and am glad you did!
Alyssa, I was a bit nervous, but the Etat Libre d’Orange folks were very welcoming, and TS herself couldn’t have been kinder! So, I overcame my starry-eyed jitters for a few minutes. 🙂
Great question to ask her, Jessica.
SWINTON! is one of a kind; a wonderful artist, an intelligent and interesting person. She certainly doesn’t seem to be concerned with conforming to some notion of what other people think she should be. I like that.
I agree! As “celebrity” “culture” gets more and more ridiculous (and hard to ignore), I’ve come to appreciate individuals like TS even more.
Ooh Congrats on your SWINTON encounter – I don’t know if I would have been as brave. That was an excellent question to ask.
I imagine she is quite stunning – I know that he few celebs I have met tended to be better-looking in person than on screen, which I think is odd.
My jury is still out a bit on the perfume – the opening about makes me swoon but the dry-down has a bit of the baked-goods vibe that I have a hard time with. I may just put it away until fall.
Tama, your reaction to the fragrance is EXACTLY the same as mine!
That’s so funny because mine is the exact *opposite* – I get foody/baked goods on the opening and warm, non-foody coziness on the drydown! 🙂
Okay I’ll admit I am a bit jealous of her obviously perfect and glowing complexion. These ‘movie stars’ obviously know how to take care of themselves; drink enough water, intake uber vitamins or whatever… the thing I like about her is her unusualness (not a real word I know) and intelligence. The scent itself is nice but not groundbreaking, which I guess makes it accessible(wearable), as is the actress apparently ( I don’t mean Tilda is wearable but her scent certainly is…)
Orlando was visually one of the most memorable movies I’ve seen, thanks to her face and the costumes.
Sarahbeth, I do think the fragrance is accessible/wearable, in the best possibly way, while remaining unusual and interesting. I loved “Orlando,” too; I still remember the experience of seeing it in the theater.
Cool on meeting TS in person….yup, very cool. I’m generally not too impressed by “celebrities” but Ms. Swinton I do admire.
Unfortunately, Like This was too much immortelle and very little ginger on me….I was very excited about the reports of freshly ground ginger…ah well….lots of perfumistas seem to adore it and I’m glad it appears to be popular. Still, cool to meet TS. 🙂
Daisy, Oh, too bad it didn’t work for you. Have you ever tried YOSH Ginger Ciao? That’s more straight-up ginger.
I have not—but I’m making a note about it right now….me luvs some ginger! Thanks 🙂
Search your samples for the Farmacia Annunziata Aurora I sent you – lots of ginger.
I agree with everyone on how cool it is that you got to meet her! And you had some interesting questions for her. And I have to say I LOVE her hair in that picture, how it recreates the illustration on the bottle… so cool!
Helle, I’m grateful I had the chance! and I’m glad I thought of some questions on my way there. Isn’t her hair great? I like that visual parallel with the label, too!
Darn It! I reeeallly love that bottle you posted and I looked up the real bottle and I’m not as excited :(. I love Tilda, though. Oh well! I’ll smell it in passing but I won’t go searching for it.
Did she say she’d be making other fragrances???
Where in the U.S is this sold? I’ve never heard of that Henry store
Hi, PassionateJourney! I think this will be her one and only creation with Etat Libre l’Orange, the same way Rossy de Palma did one fragrance with the company. You can also purchase it through New London Pharmacy in New York (they have a website), through Luckyscent online, and Etat Libre d’Orange’s website “e-boutique.”
Jessica – that is so exciting! The thought of meeting some celebrities just provokes a “meh”, but she’s one person that would get my palms sweaty with anticipation; she seems like a genuinely original individual. And I have a bottle of Like This on order, I can’t wait til it arrives. I’ve been using my sample to fall asleep to every night.
Dzingnut, I bet she’d like the bedtime fragrance idea! Here’s another tidbit from my brief conversation: TS hopes that we will open the Like This box in our bathroom, apply the fragrance, and tape the piece of paper with the Rumi poem (included) to the bathroom mirror, to read and reread whenever we’re standing there. Isn’t that a great idea?
Where would I be able to get a sample of this? I can’t find it anywhere. I reeeaaallly wanna try this. I’ve been listening to Tilda recite the poem on the official site for like 2 hours over and over
I wore Like This just yesterday, and still loved it!
I know that The Perfumed Court website sells samples, and Luckyscent.com may have them as well.