For a fragrance whose reputation has been built on it being that little bit untamed, Johnny Depp has proven to be the perfect fit. And though he’s nearly a decade into his role as the face of Dior’s Sauvage, the collaboration shows no signs of losing its edge. Now, with the launch of Sauvage Eau Forte — a water-based scent from the master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian — Depp reflects on the journey with that characteristic offbeat charm of his. Whether he’s breaking down the minutiae of fragrance creation or explaining why he listens to the same song for five days straight on set, it’s safe to say that Depp’s way of seeing the world remains uniquely his own. Between directing his upcoming film Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness (with a little nudge from Al Pacino), crafting characters and adopting an Australian bat named Jackie Sparrow, he’s lost none of the quirky intensity that has made him such an enduring cultural figure.
In this conversation, Depp opens up about his creative process, his long-standing collaboration with the visionary director Jean-Baptiste Mondino and why he’s never quite felt at home in his own era.
HUNGER: What was your reaction when you smelt Sauvage Eau Forte for the first time?
Johnny Depp: My first impression was that it felt like a slice of Sauvage, but hitting other notes. The smell made me think of very early morning — the sun about to rise and the smell of a forest nearby.
H: This is obviously a new chapter in the Sauvage story. What did you like about it?
JD: What was amazing was the notion of creating a fragrance without the aid of a stronger base, like an alcohol. The fact that Francis Kurkdjian had to approach it literally powered by water had to have been a real obstacle. The way he explained it to me was brilliant — that the water, as opposed to the alcohol, sticks around longer.
This excerpt was taken from HUNGER Issue 33: Good People. Stay tuned for the full story.
