These fragrances that became iconic thanks to image (3/5): Dior Sauvage
Published January 2, 2026, 5:30 PM
Before Sauvage, there was Eau Sauvage, one of Dior’s most emblematic perfumes and for good reason: it was the French fashion house’s first men’s fragrance. Created in 1966 by Edmond Roudnitska, one of the greatest perfumers of the 20th century, it blended bergamot and mandarin with a chypre accord. Such a groundbreaking scent required an unforgettable personality to embody it, and Dior chose Alain Delon.
The renewal with Johnny Depp
In 1966, Alain Delon was at the peak of his career. At 31, he enjoyed a string of successes including Plein Soleil (René Clément), Rocco and His Brothers (Luchino Visconti), and The Leopard (also by Visconti). Beyond his films, Delon’s striking looks piercing blue eyes and a beauty likened to a Greek god defined his image. Rather than a commercial, a black-and-white photograph became iconic and helped cement Eau Sauvage’s success: Delon appears hypnotic, with a dark, intense gaze, tousled hair, and a slightly open shirt.
Eau Sauvage still exists today but later inspired offshoots, including Sauvage, launched in 2015 by perfumer François Demachy. This time, the fragrance was embodied by another iconic actor: Johnny Depp. Conceived by fashion photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino, the campaign is far more cinematic set against desert landscapes with Californian tones, presenting a near-mystical, untamed Johnny Depp. A collaboration worth its weight in gold: Variety reported in 2023 that the American actor signed a record deal exceeding $20 million to be the luxury brand’s ambassador for three years, notably for the Sauvage advertising campaign.
Dior’s men’s fragrances became iconic through powerful imagery. Eau Sauvage (1966), Dior’s first men’s scent by Edmond Roudnitska, was immortalized by a cult black-and-white image of Alain Delon. Decades later, Sauvage (2015) renewed the legacy with Johnny Depp, whose desert-themed, cinematic campaigns elevated the perfume’s image and commercial impact culminating in a record ambassador deal reported in 2023.
https://t.co/gD96HgmbhN
Johnny Depp doesn’t play music for the spotlight.
He plays because it’s part of his bloodstream.
That’s the kind of rock star you don’t become ♥️ you are.
Johnny Depp, winner of the Favorite Movie Actor award for Alice in Wonderland attends the 2011 People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, California on January 5, 2011 (📸 Kevin Winter)
Johnny Depp accepts the Favorite Movie Actor award at the People’s Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. in Los Angeles, California, on January 6, 2010 (📸 Kevin Winter).
Jeanne du Barry will be released on digital streaming on May 21. The movie will be available on several digital platforms for rental or purchase via premium video on demand. https://t.co/bLoXnkxyAt
Via artofthepantheon “Throughout his practice, #johnnydepp fleshes out his emotions with layered textures and compulsive mark-making techniques. His studio is always stocked with oil paints, canvases, acrylics, tape, Rizla paper and spray paints.”
“Guided by his materials and creative instinct, what begins as an idea, thought or impulse, soon evolves into a realised piece that takes on a life of its own.
Featuring Bob Dylan & Keith Richards portraits by Johnny Depp from Friends & Heroes I. “
On March 06, 1999..
Johnny Depp was honored with the Honorary César, the highest honorary prize from France’s Academy of Arts and Techniques of Cinema during the 24th César Awards ceremony, at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, in Paris, France.