One of the biggest beauty news announcements of 2026 thus far has been Jacob Elordi as the face Bleu de CHANEL L’Exclusif, and finally we have a look at the official campaign.
The short film, directed by academy award winner Alfonso Cuarón (Great Expectations, Gravity, Children of Men), moves through a thrilling heist, with Elordi as the protagonist. There’s a frenzied chase, some martial arts, a mysterious woman and a bottle of Bleu de CHANEL L’Exclusif. Elordi pursues the masked thief, reclaiming the bottle before the two eventually take off together into the night. Cinematic but pacey, it’s a bold take on the iconic fragrance and the man it represents.
Bleu de CHANEL is an olfactive interpretation of modern masculinity. The Bleu man is one of softness and strength. He’s also a cinephile. There’s only been two previous faces: French actor Gaspard Ulliel and Timothee Chalamet.
For Thomas Du Pré De Saint Maur, CHANEL’s Global Head of Creative Resources, Fragrance & Beauty, Elordi was the natural choice: “What drew me to Jacob was the fact that he does not fit the conventional image of the action hero. He embodies a gentleness and sensitivity that bring a new dimension to masculinity. Today, strength lies in balance and attentiveness, and this campaign portrays a form of power rooted in sharing, not domination. Alfonso Cuarón translated this beautifully on screen, particularly through the way the bottle moves between the characters, creating a kind of choreography.”
Bleu de CHANEL L’Exclusif is dense, aromatic and woody. With notes of sandalwood, leather, labdanum, citrus and cedar distilled into a rich extrait, it’s evocative but mysterious – a mood Du Pré De Saint Maur says is complicated to capture in a visual format: “The real challenge is giving form to the invisible,” he explains. “A fragrance, especially in the world of luxury, is never simply about scent: it tells a story and promises a unique intensity to the person who wears it. What I want to convey is precisely that extra dose of soul. It is not about illustrating the olfactory notes, but about evoking an emotion, leaving an imprint on the imagination. For BLEU DE CHANEL L’EXCLUSIF, I wanted the film to express both vitality and depth, while portraying a man who remains true to himself and free in his choices. From this vision, I started a creative dialogue with the director to ensure the meaning was preserved while giving him broad artistic freedom. Thanks to the remarkable work of Alfonso Cuarón, the emotion and essence of the fragrance truly came to life on screen.”
It’s been a stellar year for Elordi thus far and this campaign is especially momentous. It’s not his first CHANEL moment (he starred alongside Robbie in ‘See You At 5’, a video project by Luca Guadagnino for CHANEL N°5. But it is his first solo appointment.
Now excuse us while we watch it again (and again).
Images courtesy of CHANEL.
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