The Sexual Life of Catherine M, the bestselling memoir of an art critic’s erotic adventures, is the inspiration for this bright, fresh perfume. The hedonistic thrill of alfresco cruising is expressed by a citrus overdose grounded by earth and rain. Grapefruit, bergamot and lemon collide with wet white florals and musk to create a no-holds-barred experience.
Perfumer: Caren Roberts
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
An afternoon conversation spills outdoors just after rain. Sharp grapefruit and damp florals suit the shift from measured talk to something less guarded: an outwardly composed presence with a quietly uninhibited edge.
How to wear
The transparent citrus-and-rain profile lends itself to spring and mild summer weather. Start with two sprays on exposed skin, leaving the bright opening room to lift around you; the floral and musk facets offer a softer counterpoint. In hotter conditions, begin lightly and reassess before adding more.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy tart citrus, transparent florals and rain-like freshness without a sugary finish. Its appeal lies in the contrast between an apparently straightforward freshness and a more intimate, earthy sensuality, especially for readers drawn to perfume with a literary point of view.
Release year
2024
The nose
Caren Roberts.
Collaborators
Founder and creative director Cherry Cheng shaped the literary concept. Working with the team, she selected scent-evoking passages from the source material and considered historical perfume styles as a framework for translating writing into fragrance.
Jouissance’s story
Jouissance approaches perfume through women’s writing, erotic imagination and creative freedom. Drawing on Hélène Cixous’s understanding of pleasure, the house treats scent as an expressive art rather than simply an agreeable accessory, extending its literary world through books, salons, film and artist collaborations.
En Plein Air’s concept
Inspired by Catherine Millet’s memoir The Sexual Life of Catherine M., En Plein Air translates intellectual detachment and sexual freedom into an unexpectedly bright composition. Its citrus excess, rain-wet flowers and earthy undertow evoke outdoor encounters rather than an idealised pastoral landscape. It debuted as one of Jouissance’s first three fragrances.
Extra info
The “1968” associated with En Plein Air belongs to its narrative, not its release date: it refers to Catherine Millet’s move from the suburbs to Paris and the beginning of her sexual awakening. A limited artist edition featured specially commissioned artwork by Katrien De Blauwer.
Will it suit you?
Couldn’t load your stylist’s take.
Set up your scent profile and your stylist will tell you honestly whether En Plein Air is you.
How your fit is worked out
- 1
Reads your profile
What you told us, the voice you picked, and the fragrances you’ve bought and rated.
- 2
Compares it with this fragrance
Notes, structure and strength, and how similar fragrances landed with you.
- 3
Writes a verdict in your character’s voice
A fit from “Strong fit” to “Not for you”, with the reasons, at your reading length.
The fit scale
Your stylist is an AI, so treat the verdict as an informed opinion, not a promise. The surest test is still skin: most fragrances come as a 1 ml sample.
The Sexual Life of Catherine M, the bestselling memoir of an art critic’s erotic adventures, is the inspiration for this bright, fresh perfume. The hedonistic thrill of alfresco cruising is expressed by a citrus overdose grounded by earth and rain. Grapefruit, bergamot and lemon collide with wet white florals and musk to create a no-holds-barred experience.
Perfumer: Caren Roberts
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
An afternoon conversation spills outdoors just after rain. Sharp grapefruit and damp florals suit the shift from measured talk to something less guarded: an outwardly composed presence with a quietly uninhibited edge.
How to wear
The transparent citrus-and-rain profile lends itself to spring and mild summer weather. Start with two sprays on exposed skin, leaving the bright opening room to lift around you; the floral and musk facets offer a softer counterpoint. In hotter conditions, begin lightly and reassess before adding more.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy tart citrus, transparent florals and rain-like freshness without a sugary finish. Its appeal lies in the contrast between an apparently straightforward freshness and a more intimate, earthy sensuality, especially for readers drawn to perfume with a literary point of view.
Release year
2024
The nose
Caren Roberts.
Collaborators
Founder and creative director Cherry Cheng shaped the literary concept. Working with the team, she selected scent-evoking passages from the source material and considered historical perfume styles as a framework for translating writing into fragrance.
Jouissance’s story
Jouissance approaches perfume through women’s writing, erotic imagination and creative freedom. Drawing on Hélène Cixous’s understanding of pleasure, the house treats scent as an expressive art rather than simply an agreeable accessory, extending its literary world through books, salons, film and artist collaborations.
En Plein Air’s concept
Inspired by Catherine Millet’s memoir The Sexual Life of Catherine M., En Plein Air translates intellectual detachment and sexual freedom into an unexpectedly bright composition. Its citrus excess, rain-wet flowers and earthy undertow evoke outdoor encounters rather than an idealised pastoral landscape. It debuted as one of Jouissance’s first three fragrances.
Extra info
The “1968” associated with En Plein Air belongs to its narrative, not its release date: it refers to Catherine Millet’s move from the suburbs to Paris and the beginning of her sexual awakening. A limited artist edition featured specially commissioned artwork by Katrien De Blauwer.