California Dream

California Dream, inspired by Louis Vuitton California Dream (2020)

California Dream starts as a citrus and ends somewhere much cosier. Mandarin is vivid and slightly fiery at first. Ambrette seed, a plant source of musk with an airy, faintly pear-like tone, takes the edge off. Benzoin, a tree resin with a vanilla-like balsamic smell, then forms the base, so the scent moves from zest to a gentle resinous glow.

About the original

Jacques Cavallier Belletrud announced California Dream in spring 2020 as a follow-up to Louis Vuitton's 2019 cologne trio. Its theme is the Los Angeles sky at sunset, and Alex Israel again designed the packaging. LV still sells it in its California collection. Coverage at launch also listed pear among the notes and described the ambrette as musk ambrette.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Louis Vuitton stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Compared with Afternoon Swim, this is the evening member of the family, since LV frames it around a summer sunset. The benzoin gives it a gentle sweetness that suits a wearer who finds pure citrus too thin, though fans of crisp, dry colognes may miss the bite.

Related scents

• Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim
• Louis Vuitton Cactus Garden

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Notes: Mandarin, Ambrette Seed, Benzoin Balm

Mandarin leads, vivid and a little fiery, with a pear note mentioned in 2020 launch coverage.

Ambrette seed brings a musky, almost powdery smoothness that blurs the citrus.

Benzoin closes it, resinous and vanilla-like on the skin.

How is California Dream different from Afternoon Swim?

Afternoon Swim stays citrus throughout. California Dream uses mandarin at the top but finishes on ambrette and benzoin, so it ends gentler and more balsamic.

Is California Dream sweet?

Mildly. The benzoin base has a vanilla-like sweetness, while the mandarin keeps the opening fresh.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Louis Vuitton and California Dream are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Louis Vuitton in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.