"We always created for a woman to be admired," said Jacques Guerlain, author of the Blue Hour, Shalimar and Mitsouko. In the tradition of his elder, Thierry Wasser, Master perfumer of the house, has started to create a trail inspired by what he sees as the new femininity, far from the often sexist stereotypes of the industry.

This woman would be at once maternal, combative, brilliant, committed. While she had never agreed to embody a perfume, Angelina Jolie - whose mother was of French origin - became the incarnation.

In December 2015, she met Laurent Boillot, president of Guerlain, in Cambodia, on the grueling set of First They Killed My Father . He says he has been seized by his intelligence more than by his beauty, and bows before his will, including that of turning the film of perfume by Terrence Malick. Angelina Jolie talks about this association, exclusively for MC.

MC: Are you sensitive to perfume in general?

Angelina Jolie: I wear perfume every day, unless I'm in a country with malaria and mosquitoes. It's nice for a woman to have a scent that her lover remembers, which identifies her to her. But we do not just perfume for men.

"My children know my smell. They sometimes spray my perfume on their covers. This is also why a signature fragrance is important. "

You are a mother, Oscar winner, producer, director, Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Why did you accept to become the image of a scent?

Guerlain is the oldest perfume house in the world. She was born in France, a country I love, which I feel close to and where I spend time. My mother was of French origin, she liked this brand. She spoke to him, as to me since childhood, beauty, history, quality.

By discussing the art with which they make perfume, the way they work and get their ingredients, I felt that we understood each other. And then the filming took place in the South, an area that my family loves, where she wove a story. It is also where the lavender of the perfume is harvested.

Do you have a specific memory of your mother related to this house?

She was a very natural woman. She never spoiled, did not wear makeup, wore modest jewelry, but she still had some accessories dedicated to the moments when she wanted to feel like a lady.

One of those essentials - I remember it because it looked so elegant - was Guerlain's Ladies in All Climates powder (a perfumed blush that no longer exists today). As a child, I associated Guerlain with that: products that have something exceptional that makes you feel feminine.

Do you have a personal beauty tip?

Live a fulfilled and sincere life. This inner flame, this self-knowledge make it beautiful.

What does this new perfume evoke for you?

I love lavender and jasmine mixed with sandalwood. A perfume should not be too strong or sweet. I appreciate that it is earthy, sensual and portable at all times. I have never been so dirty and I have never felt so unattractive as the day I met Laurent Boillot, CEO of the brand, in Cambodia.

I had just spent a day on the ground, in the dust, while I was directing my film, They They Killed My Father. We had a giggle trying to decipher the subtleties of the different notes of the perfume that competed with my special insect jungle bomb.

How to go from shooting a film to a conference at the United Nations or a visit to a refugee camp?

This has been the case in my life for many years, one feeds the other. It's a joy to be an artist, but that does not mean much unless it's helpful. I have the chance to do some creative work that can in turn fund development programs and help other people.

Earning money without any purpose would make a life very meaningless.

You have chosen to return all your stamp to your foundation. What is his role ?

It is inspired by my children and their links with certain countries. We visit the projects together and the foundation develops with them. It is dedicated to education, health and the environment. It began thirteen years ago with a tuberculosis control program in Cambodia, which has become a program in Ethiopia for the treatment and rehabilitation of children and adolescents with this disease.

In Namibia, we are focusing our efforts on conservation and education, funding a wildlife sanctuary, an animal rescue program, and health and education programs for local communities. We are slowly unfolding, but our goal is to empower local people to develop their communities and their futures and rights, especially for women and children.

What are your beauty icons?

I do not have one because I do not think of icons this way. But I am very inspired by my daughter Zahara and impressed by the way she evolves and becomes a young woman.

She is elegant, she has grace and her own style in terms of beauty and fashion. He even makes me up and helps me choose my clothes when I have to go out.

What do you like in quarantine?

I like this age. I love the first gray hair, being a teenage mom, knowing that all life lived so far has made me a better person.

Genesis of a essence

Baptized Mon Guerlain, this perfume has this extra soul that loves the skin and binds you permanently. Its author, Thierry Wasser, master perfumer of the house, tells us.

What presided over the creation of this perfume?

The beauty of women. It is a serious subject since it gives the necessary assurance to fight and be strong. While traveling in search of raw materials, I realized that the woman is the pillar of the company. I wanted this perfume to be the manifest of a strong femininity, free and sensual. A tribute to this mother, wife, lover and committed woman of the XXI century that lies within each. Angelina Jolie sticks to this portrait.

What are the key notes?

Lavender comes first. The one that made the success of the famous Jicky, in 1889, before being diverted by the masculine perfumery, turns out to be luminous, singular and deliciously androgynous. It is relayed by the jasmine, warm, sensual, full of charm.

Then sandalwood comes into play. This mysterious and almost milky wood, which bends but does not break, evokes an almost militant facet. Finally the vanilla asserts itself, essential signature of the Guerlinade enthroned in majesty in Shalimar or Habit Rouge, for the sensuality. The tonka bean, with its amanded accents, contributes to the addiction.