120 YEARS OF ADVENTURE
“And now I can give my name to the world” – Zino Davidoff
Founder Zino Davidoff possessed a pioneering spirit, following his ambition to set off from Switzerland, where his family lived, to Argentina, Brazil and Cuba in 1924. His relentless pursuit of refinement extended across his travels. As he finessed his taste, he developed products – from cognac and coffee to sophisticated scents – that were always imbued with a touch of elegance while elevating the senses.
Zino’s legacy lives on as a search for the extraordinary, a constant exploration beyond the obvious. The discovery of sensorial details that add an unexpected touch of elegance can feel awe-inspiring. This is embodied by Cool Water, a men’s fragrance that reinvented freshness and became a phenomenal success. Today, 100 years since the founding of Davidoff, Cool Elixir arrives like a tribute to Zino and his lust for adventure pushed to the limits.
GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER
“I enjoyed embodying the feeling of this gentleman adventurer and I’m honored to be able to represent the modern interpretation of Zino Davidoff’s spirit through this campaign.” – Charles Melton
Davidoff has cast actor Charles Melton as the face of Cool Elixir. A rising talent with 5.4 million followers on Instagram, he exudes modern masculinity on and off screen. Known for his roles in Riverdale and May December, he is the epitome of a “gentleman adventurer” who encapsulates the Davidoff man, furtheringthe vision of our founder, Zino Davidoff. With his multicultural background, Melton reflects a more inclusive masculinity, both contemporary and cool.
LONG-LASTING STRENGTH WITH A HIGHLY CONCENTRATED FORMULA
Cool Elixir introduces a new noble olfactive signature – at once sensual and rare. Superbly textured, three ingredients – an intriguing oud accord, lavandin absolute and rose oxide – give the fragrance its elegant and precious profile.
Cool Elixir’s evolution is also reflected in its design. The deep blue faceted bottle signals the intensity of the fragrance while the weighted cap boasts a luxurious texture. In royal blue with a stamped gold label, the box makes a sophisticated impression.
THE NEW OUD TREASURE
Cool Elixir was developed through a unique approach that involved three perfumers: Jean-Christophe Herault, Nelly Hachem-Ruiz and Anne Flipo. The creative trio brought different facets of their artistic
vision, inspiration and ingredient expertise to the project, and their ideas unified as this singular composition.
“We imagined depth as a double intention – in terms of the sea and in terms of freshness. The immediate impression feels like a deep dive, then the intensity takes over, leaving a lasting and seductive trail,” says Jean-Christophe Herault, a student of perfumer Pierre Bourdon, who composed the original Cool Water almost 40 years ago in 1988.
Just as the original Cool Water marked a new direction in men’s fragrance, Davidoff has responded to the rise of niche perfumery by bridging a noble composition with accessibility. At the center of this development is the use of an oud accord combined with lavandin absolute and rose oxide molecule.
Oud Accord, among the most precious and coveted ingredients in perfumery – the black gold of perfumers
– releases a sensual and instantly captivating aura. Used over centuries, this elegant ingredient is a symbol of opulence and sophistication.
Says Nelly Hachem-Ruiz: “To illustrate this elixir idea, we chose an oud accord with a dark, mysterious character. With its leathery, woody notes, the oud accord lends a mystical dimension.
Lavandin Absolute, a raw material that is a hybrid of lavender, enhances the infusion with clean, herbaceous freshness. Notably, the Lavandin is harvested according to an enfleurage technique that uses only the flower heads for an enriched accord.
“By isolating the flower tips for the enfleurage, which involves extracting a delicate essence through a fatty material, we have arrived at a lavandin 2.0 that is especially sharp, almost icy. This is how we achieve the marine effect in Cool Elixir. Combined with the elegant base notes of oud, the fragrance leaves a highly powerful trail,” says Anne Flipo.
Rose oxide molecule brings a salty floral texture like a subtle breeze. Its unique freshness contributes to Cool Elixir’s alluring profile.
“More than an ordinary floral note, Rose Oxide is far more unusual – as though the flower petals were suspended in liquid metal. As an aldehyde, its unique molecular structure results a scent that is clean but also otherworldly. In using Rose Oxide, we have transported Cool Elixir to another dimension,” adds Anne Flipo.
AN EPIC BLOCKBUSTER CAMPAIGN
“This Davidoff project is really unique in fragrance because it takes the concept of an epic blockbuster trailer – a sea dragon and the launch of a new elixir perfume. This fragrance story where James Bond meets Indiana Jones has never been done before.” – Loni Peristere
Charles Melton embodies the charismatic, gentleman adventurer hero who dives to the ocean’s depths, where the bottle is being fiercely guarded by a mythical sea dragon – a first in perfumery campaigns. Through the vision of Loni Peristere, the award-winning American director and producer behind House of the Dragon, this saga unfolds through suspenseful encounters with this gigantic underwater creature anda guardian temptress played by American singer and model, Annahstasia Enuke. As the coveted Cool Elixir is retrieved, Melton’s bravery echoes the bold spirit of the scent in addition to Davidoff masculinity.
This blockbuster campaign comes to life through the cinematic experience of the talents working on it, including Oscar-winning Director of Photography, Linus Sangren. Photographer Matthew Brookes completes the line-up of artists collaborating on the Cool Elixir epic universe by capturing the main portrait of Melton.
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