Style Edit: Johnny Depp on music, memory, Al Pacino and loyalty – the face of Dior Sauvage talks seductive scents, escaping press on his Caribbean private island and directing the new Modigliani biopic

Sep 8 , 2023

Johnny Depp for Dior Sauvage: the actor and musician talks about being the face of the world’s best-selling men’s perfume, and his passions for art, the blues and the Bahamas. Photo: Josh Olins

In an exclusive interview Johnny Depp opens up about the loyalty he found at Dior – he’s an ambassador for the brand’s bestselling Dior Sauvage perfume

The Hollywood star also talks about directing Donnie Brasco co-star Al Pacino in Modi, his passions for art, blues music and storybook monsters, and escaping to his Bahamas hideaway

Developed by renowned perfumer François Demachy, Dior Sauvage is the world’s bestselling perfume for men. Its instantly recognisable fresh and citrusy scent, which includes notes of bergamot, vetiver and geranium, has found legions of fans around the world.

Johnny Depp has been the face of the fragrance since its launch in 2015 and recently renewed his contract with the LVMH-owned house. For the collection’s latest campaign, Dior enlisted Josh Olins to photograph Depp, now 60, whose rugged look and muso vibe are captured in a series of beautiful portraits.

Here, the actor and musician talks about his long-standing partnership with Dior, his upcoming projects and more.

Johnny Depp for Dior Sauvage. Photo: Josh Olins

What’s your favourite thing about working with Dior?

For me, it’s become a personal partnership, a collaboration. I’ve been working with them for a while now. Of course, you develop a personal relationship with folks and keep close to them. They stuck with me through every single second, and that ups the stakes quite a lot for me: they trusted me, they believed in me, and they continued.

They are … man, it’s Dior! Of course, they’re a class act, but they’re actually truly a class act. I mean, that’s strength, that’s class, that’s brave, it’s courageous. Dior will always mean much more to me than just Sauvage.

What seduced you when you first smelled Sauvage?

I do remember the first time I smelled Sauvage. They presented the first samples in little vials. It was exciting, like smelling a fine wine that’s been aged. You get various notes that are difficult to identify at first. I remember smelling a woody scent, like a strong base note. The scent hung in the air. Then the various other notes appeared; the personality of the fragrance came alive.