Viktor & Rolf: “We mix white magic and glamour”

When a situation works out like magic, it’s only happiness. It’s this feeling that fashion designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, better known as Viktor&Rolf, want to awaken with their new fragrance, Good Fortune. It comes in the form of a crystal ball and is even said to ward off negative energies.

The creators’ approach is part of a form of spirituality developed through yoga, psychology and meditation, which is evident in their way of approaching perfumery. We met them at the launch of their new fragrance to talk about luck, magic and spirituality.

Good Fortune is part of a form of spirituality. In your eyes, what is the meaning of this?

Rolf Snoeren: For us, spirituality is an inner journey. Luck doesn’t come to us just like that. We have to be active and can create our own happiness – that’s also the idea behind our new fragrance. Do it well and good will happen to you.

British singer, dancer and musician FKA Twigs is the face of the fragrance. Why does it fit so well?

Viktor Horsting: She’s an extremely feminine and very creative artist who has worked hard to become the best version of herself. Plus, she’s incredibly talented. For us, it was immediately clear that she was perfect to embody Good Fortune.

A few years ago, you undertook personal development approaches such as meditation, yoga and psychotherapy. How did it go?

Rolf: There was no particular event, it was more of a process that happened slowly. For many years, we were both very focused on our careers. Our whole life revolved around our work. At some point, we realized that was not the key to happiness. So we went in search of other facets of life. Now we have a completely different attitude, which goes far beyond simple yoga. It’s about paying more attention to your friends, but also to yourself and your soul.

Viktor: Or nurturing healthy, loving relationships – all of which take a lot of work, but pay off.

To what extent does this spiritual dimension influence your work as a designer?

Rolf: Our work has always had a spiritual dimension. It is always about us, our feelings and a particular situation in which we find ourselves at a specific moment. We are artists. For us, art and spirituality simply go hand in hand.

The cap of the bottle of Good Fortune represents an amethyst. This stone is known for its soothing virtues: in lithotherapy, it is used to fight against sleep disorders and blood pressure problems. What does your perfume have to do with it?

Viktor: We believe in the healing power of crystals. In addition, during meetings with our perfumers, we discussed esoteric concepts such as certain ingredients of healing potions that were once used by those who practiced alchemy or white magic. We found that very interesting. Some of these substances are now found in Good Fortune.

Viktor: For example, a distillate of fennel and gentian flowers, never used before. We wanted to get away from the typical, heavy scents you think of when you hear spirituality. Our perfume is sparkling and joyful.

Your first perfume, Flowerbomb, was launched in 2005. In an interview, you said that you wanted to create something romantic and aggressive at the same time. In comparison, your new fragrance seems almost sweet…

Rolf: Good Fortune is anything but docile. Although we don’t necessarily associate white flowers with spirituality, the fragrance is an eloquent statement.

Victor: It brings our understanding of spirituality closer to that of the outside world – while embodying glamour. It’s a very exciting mix, which we didn’t expect. Best to feel it yourself.