By Rebecca Stone

A 76-ml bottle priced at $2,250, fragrance concentrations of up to 60 percent and a handmade Lalique crystal vessel holding up to 450 grams: that is the formula behind Saujet, the haute parfumerie house Thomas Saujet launches Oct. 20 with a pop-up at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills.

For context, a traditional extrait de parfum typically runs 20 to 30 percent concentration. Saujet is doubling that ceiling.

"They thought I was crazy," Saujet said of presenting the idea to the perfumers at Givaudan, who developed the line. "Let's stretch the limit. In the world of fragrance, people now want higher levels of concentration. We're at such a high price point, we have the ability to not compromise."

What is in the debut collection?

The launch collection, Lumière d'Azur, takes its inspiration from the Mediterranean lifestyle and is organized around sun, sea and earth elements. Givaudan perfumers Yann Vasnier, Christine Hassan, Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Caroline Sabas and Shyamala Maisondieu developed the fragrances.

At the center sits Saujet Cannes, a tuberose composition softened by coconut water, peach blossom, solar amber, jasmine, neroli, vetiver and vanilla. The lineup also includes:

• Saujette, built on a Champagne accord and cassis
• Saujet Tuscany, featuring a black olive accord and mimosa
• Les Caves, created by Saujet's eldest son Théo and inspired by the Saint-Tropez nightclub Les Caves du Roy — the fragrance Thomas Saujet expects to be the most multigenerational of all

The launch also introduces Le Briquet, an 18-karat gold-plated fragrance atomizer inspired by the French cigarette lighter, priced at $475.

"We had carte blanche in interpreting Thomas' vision for the Lumière d'Azur collection. The high concentration was exciting and challenging, giving Saujet its signature and then you top that off with a Lalique bottle. It's a powerful statement. It's a very special project for us," said Flores-Roux, senior perfumer and vice president of fragrance creation at Givaudan.

Why Lalique crystal?

Saujet partnered with Lalique Group on the bottle design, with crystal caps modeled on the umbrella pine trees of the South of France for each fragrance. Each vessel is handmade from start to finish in more than 22 steps that only multigenerational artisans in Alsace, France, can perform.

The manufacturing is so rigorous that Saujet will most likely produce only around 1,000 bottles in its first year.

Bottles can be refilled in stores with any fragrance in the collection — the refills will be housed in Lalique vases.

Where will it be sold?

After the Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills pop-up, the brand will expand its retail presence over the next year, including Bergdorf Goodman and the Lalique Townhouse in New York.

"At Neiman Marcus, we are always looking for meaningful ways to bring our customers the very best in luxury through exceptional product and unparalleled experiences that cannot be found anywhere else," said Tatiana Birkelund, senior vice president, general merchandise manager of beauty, jewelry, gifts and home at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. "Our partnership with Thomas Saujet, and launching his new brand Saujet, reflects that commitment, bringing together his unique creative perspective with our deep understanding of our luxury customer."

The brand will not sell online at all.

"That's not luxury," Saujet said of purchasing online. "So we're taking a policy that if you want it, you come to the store."

Saujet is also exploring stand-alone stores in Miami, Saint-Tropez and Cannes, where Thomas Saujet spent his childhood before relocating to the U.S.

Who is behind the brand?

Thomas Saujet previously cofounded International Cosmetics & Perfumes Inc. with his family and spent more than 20 years building the House of Creed business in the Americas, which was sold to Kering as part of its acquisition of Creed. His father, Claude Saujet, created the first fragrance for Van Cleef & Arpels and later became vice chairman of Cartier Americas — where he created Must de Cartier perfume — before serving as president of Harry Winston.

Last year, Saujet launched Saujet Fragrances Group, a distributor-investor under Saujet Holdings that takes equity in each brand it distributes. Its portfolio includes Fabricca Della Musa, Anti, Chambre52 and What We Do Is Secret, plus investments in Barberino's.

Saujet developed the brand strategy and creative expression with Studio ALIFFI, founded by former Neiman Marcus chief brand officer Nabil Aliffi. "Thomas and his family are uniquely positioned to introduce a new luxury brand in the world of fragrances. Coupled with the momentum we are seeing in the ultra-high-end segment of this industry and the luxury client's desire for authentic storytelling, the market entry is perfectly timed," Aliffi said.

With roughly 1,000 bottles a year and no e-commerce, Saujet is betting that scarcity itself — not accessibility — is the sell.