“I was in my teens when I first discovered Helmut Newton’s picture that made YSL’s ‘Le Smoking’ iconic. The genderlessness really made a big impression on me. With stark monochrome simplicity, Newton created a piece of iconography I still find myself inspired by. In the making of L'air Barbès I was strongly influenced by the androgyny in this picture. L'air Barbès by 19-69 is evocative of Paris’ different personas such as the concrete alleyways, la banlieue and of course, the area Barbès – Rochechouart. The fragrance is also a tribute to Paris, capitale de la mode.”

The scent is cold, light and fresh.