The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Nouvel Élan arrived in 2017, part of And Other Stories' expanding line of body mists designed as wearable extensions of the brand's editorial world. The fragrance was composed by Jérôme Epinette, a perfumer known for translating refined concepts into accessible, uncomplicated scent. Its name translates roughly to 'new impulse' or 'new momentum,' a fitting title for a body mist meant to add a quiet personal layer rather than dominate. The composition moves through jasmine sambac, heliotrope, and patchouli, with amber and musk anchoring the base. On skin, the opening arrives soft and floral, almost weightless in its delivery.
What makes this composition interesting is its restraint. Nouvel Élan works because of the heliotrope. That note, almond-sweet and slightly medicinal, sits between the narcotic jasmine and the earthy patchouli like a translator. It keeps the opening from going too heady and the base from going too heavy. The heliotrope does more than moderate though. It bridges the airy lift of the jasmine top with the grounded weight of the patchouli, weaving them into a continuous thread rather than two separate acts.
The evolution
The first ten minutes are all jasmine sambac, but not the indolic, garden variety. It sits close, floral but never loud. By the thirty-minute mark, heliotrope arrives with its marzipan warmth, and the jasmine softens into something more abstract. The almond sweetness is there, but cushioned, never sticky. The character shifts here from white floral to something warmer, almost gourmand-adjacent without crossing into pastry territory. The heliotrope carries the transition with a quiet confidence, smoothing the edges of the jasmine while keeping its presence felt, then easing the composition toward the deeper notes waiting below. From the two-hour mark onward, the base settles in. Patchouli arrives quiet, not the raw earthy kind but a smoother, almost suede-like version. Amber and musk form the undertone, adding warmth without sweetness.
Cultural impact
Body mists sit at the intersection of skincare and scent, offering a lighter, more frequent-reapplication approach that appeals to younger wearers and layering enthusiasts. The mist format invites a different relationship with fragrance, one built around touch-ups throughout the day and an ease of wear that heavier formats sometimes lack. Nouvel Élan participates in this conversation with a powdery floral composition built around jasmine sambac, heliotrope, and patchouli, notes that move between softness and depth.
