A mirrored bottle, a holographic label, and a fruity-spicy fragrance created by Nisrine Grillie: with *Let’s Pretend*, Maison État Libre d’Orange marks its 20th anniversary through the lens of play, masks, and chosen identity.
In contemporary perfumery, few houses have explored the tension between scent and language as much as État Libre d’Orange. Founded in Paris in 2006 by Etienne de Swardt, the House has built its identity on a form of controlled indiscipline: provocative titles, narratives with hidden meanings, and the use of perfume as a vehicle for social commentary as much as a scent trail. In 2026, the brand’s 20th anniversary is therefore not treated as a celebration of its heritage, but as a performance.
Let’s Pretend is based on a simple idea: perfume as an invisible costume. Not the final accessory to an outfit, but what shifts how it is interpreted. The press kit frames it within an explicit dramatic framework— “Life becomes a stage”—and quotes Shakespeare, reminding us that the whole world is a stage. The angle might seem theatrical in the trite sense of the word; it becomes more interesting when viewed through the very structure of the fragrance itself.
Created by Nisrine Grillie, a perfumer at Givaudan, Let’s Pretend is described as a fruity-spicy fragrance. The opening combines saffron, pink pepper, and mandarin essence. These three elements immediately create a sense of tension: the warm, dry quality of saffron, the vibrant effect of pink pepper, and the citrusy brightness of mandarin. The heart note glides toward peach, osmanthus flower absolute, and sambac jasmine absolute. The peach lends a velvety texture, the osmanthus brings that characteristic fruity-leathery nuance, and the sambac jasmine adds a more sensual floral presence. The base note combines a precious wood accord—a trio of cedar, Akigalawood, and Georgywood—with styrax and benzoin. The composition thus evolves from an almost theatrical brilliance toward a woody-resinous base, as if the role chosen at the outset were ultimately meant to find its true weight on the skin.
The bottle extends this idea of transformation. The label features a silver disc, designed to act as a mirror, which reveals the House’s emblem through a holographic effect when handled. The metal case, which is also reflective, distorts the silhouettes without fixing them in place. This detail is no mere trifle: it transforms the packaging into an interactive experience. The fragrance isn’t simply meant to sit on a vanity; it calls for movement, a change in angle—almost a physical engagement.
This is consistent with the history of État Libre d’Orange. In its press kit, the house notes that it was founded in Paris in 2006 and champions a “different” approach to perfumery, driven by irony, creative boldness, and the use of fragrance as a medium of expression. Its official website confirms this positioning, centered on olfactory compositions that break free from traditional creative boundaries, while the page dedicated to “Let’s Pretend” presents the fragrance as one designed to accompany the interplay of appearance, illusion, and identity.
What *Let’s Pretend* says most of all about today’s perfumery lies in the way it embraces fragrance as a social language. In an era when identity is constantly shifting—depending on places, screens, communities, and professional or personal roles—fragrance is reclaiming an ancient function: that of a discreet signal. It reveals nothing, yet it shapes perception. It does not clothe, yet it transforms one’s appearance.
The House could have celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a heritage reissue or an anniversary bottle. Instead, it chose an olfactory narrative exploring the possibility of becoming something else. This is no coincidence. For two decades, État Libre d’Orange has focused less on the staid continuity of a legacy and more on freedom of expression. “Let’s Pretend” follows this tradition: a composition about the mask, but also about the pleasure of wearing it knowingly.
Release date announced for April 15, 2026. Available in 50 ml and 100 ml sizes, online and at État Libre d’Orange retail locations, including 69 rue des Archives, Paris 3rd arrondissement, and 80 rue des Saints-Pères, Paris 7th arrondissement.
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