Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol, known as Salvador Dalí, was a renowned Spanish Catalan surrealist artist of the 20th century. While he is mainly recognized for his paintings, Dalí was a multifaceted individual who excelled in various art forms, including film, sculpture, and photography. Throughout his career, he collaborated with artists from different mediums, demonstrating his versatility and creative genius.

Dalí received his training at the San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts, where he developed his eccentric personal style and established connections with notable artists and writers of the time, such as filmmaker Luis Bunuel and poet Federico Garcia Lorca. As his artistic journey progressed, Dalí transitioned from early realistic paintings like Basket of Bread to experiments with Cubism and finally found his signature style in Surrealism. In 1929, he held a solo exhibition in Paris, where he encountered his muse and future wife, Gala Eluard. Their relationship blossomed, eventually leading to marriage.

One of Dalí’s most famous works, The Persistence of Memory, painted in 1931, gained him considerable fame in the United States. The melting watch faces depicted in the painting became iconic, capturing the imagination of art enthusiasts. Accompanied by Gala, Dalí immersed himself in the vibrant social scene in the US. With the onset of World War II, the couple relocated to New York City and resided there from 1940 to 1948.

In a departure from Surrealism, Dalí entered what is often referred to as his “classical” period. During this phase, he created a series of 19 large-scale canvases exploring religious, historical, and scientific themes. In 1949, Dalí returned to his homeland, Catalonia, even amid criticism for choosing to live under the rule of Francisco Franco. Despite the tumultuous political climate, Dalí continued to explore new artistic mediums, filming television commercials, designing logos, and experimenting with different artistic techniques.

Unfortunately, Dalí’s health deteriorated following the death of his wife, Gala, in 1982. He ultimately succumbed to heart failure in 1989, leaving behind a vast body of work spanning various artistic disciplines.

Given his diverse interests and expertise, it is not surprising that Dalí ventured into the world of perfumery. A collaboration with Cofinluxe began, and the first fragrance, bearing Dalí’s name, was chosen by the artist and Gala before her passing in 1983. Gala, reputedly an avid perfume connoisseur with a passion for roses, which feature prominently in the scent, played a pivotal role in conceptualizing the fragrance. The perfume’s bottle design drew inspiration from Dalí’s painting, Apparition of The Face of Aphrodite of Knidos, showcasing its distinctive lips and nose. Originally intended as a limited edition, the fragrance proved successful and was subsequently offered to the international market in 1985. A men’s companion scent followed in 1987.

To date, over 25 perfumes have been introduced under the Salvador Dalí brand, each featuring captivating packaging inspired by Dalí’s artwork. The fragrances were created in collaboration with esteemed perfumers, including Alberto Morillas, Raphael Haury, Olivier Pescheux, Evelyne Boulanger, Henri Bergia, Gerard Anthony, Ilias Ermenidis, Michel Almairac, Dorothée Piot, Karoline Vieth, Mark Buxton, Sidonie Lancesseur, Philippe Collet, Benoît Bergia, Fabrice Pellegrin, Alexandra Carlin, Veronique Nyberg, Amelie Bourgeois, Mathilde Bijaoui, Cécile Zarokian, Guillaume Flavigny, Emilie Bouge, Celine Ellena, Delphine Lebeau, Martin Gras, Thierry Wasser, Vincent Ricord, Antoine Lie, Philippe Romano, Dominique Ropion, Francis Kurkdjian, and Daphné Bugey.

With a legacy that spans decades and a extensive collection of perfumes, Salvador Dalí continues to enchant and intrigue fragrance enthusiasts worldwide.