Robert Pattinson, a distinguished virtuoso of the silver screen and face of Dior Homme, has nurtured a flourishing partnership with the brand since 2013. We checked in with Pattinson as he reflects on the unique clarity and bold minimalism of the latest Dior Homme fragrance, his deepening connection with the art of perfumery and the enduring significance of his alliance with Dior.
Is there something in particular that intrigues you when smelling this new fragrance? It has such a clarity that gives the scent a striking impression of individualism.
In your opinion, what has Francis Kurkdjian’s take on Dior Homme brought to the fragrance? Francis has brought something so uncluttered, a sort of daring simplicity that feels incredibly bold.
You have been the face of Dior Homme for quite a while now (since 2013). How has your relationship with fragrance evolved, and where does Dior Homme fit into that journey? To be with Dior for so long is such an honor for me. It is now one of the longest professional relationships I’ve had in my life. I’ve grown up working with the same people there and it’s always such a pleasure to work with them. I appreciate fragrance more and more. I think it definitely helps being educated by the very best in the business about it!
Dior Homme parfum. Photo courtesy of brand
How do you think this campaign reflects the essence and identity of the Dior Homme fragrance? There’s something extremely classic about it. A lot of cinematic references. But still has something very fresh and enticing.
How does this campaign signify the evolution of the Dior Homme brand? I like the saying that nature does not grow in leaps, and while Dior Homme is always innovating and changing, it maintains the familiar while leading us gently into the new, always with a little bit of wonder.
What do you think about The Blaze’s new remix of Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man” created for this campaign? What a dream team, a wild combination of geniuses. ‘I’m Your Man’ is one of the greatest, and The Blaze is able to break it right open and let you hear something so near and dear for the first time. There’s no better gift than that.
What does “I’m Your Man” mean to you today? Maybe that versatility might just be the secret to real masculinity.
Perfume is often described as capturing certain emotions or moods. Similarly, acting involves channeling emotions and portraying characters in an authentic way. How do you see the process of crafting a fragrance mirroring the process of developing a character for a role? I definitely haven’t done one of those things, but I can definitely say they both seem equally mysterious. You search for wildly disparate elements that you feel an emotional connection to, and then do a deep dive into trying to synthesize all the elements into a whole greater than its parts.
You’ve taken on a wide variety of roles in different genres. How do you choose your projects, and what do you look for in a script? It’s not something I can look for, and I wish it was, but really, the scripts I choose are some level of a no-brainer, whether it’s what’s on the page or the people putting it together. Sometimes, the gap between page and screen is as mysterious as making a fragrance or preparing for a role, so there’s a lot of trust and risk. I remind myself to sit comfortably with that even though I never do.
Have you ever considered exploring other areas of the entertainment industry, such as directing or producing? I started a production company and couldn’t be more excited about producing and the projects we are putting together. More soon!
How do you balance your professional career with your personal life? I have no idea. Do you have any advice? Love what you do and do what you love, except don’t because then you never know what’s actually happening.
At what time of the day do you apply your fragrance, and where? Mainly in the morning so that by the evening, you’ve really made it your own. I’m more used to wearing fragrance at night when I have plans to go out. I give one spray and walk through it.
