Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Courtesy of Dior
I haven’t gone clubbing on a Monday night in years, but when Dior launches a new perfume and has a one-night-only club, I find the sparkliest outfit in my closet and strap on some heels. Dior Beauty opened Club J’Adore, a house party in the hills to celebrate J’Adore Intense, a newly unveiled fragrance that is similar to the original J’Adore but more gourmand. We all know and love the heritage fragrance, but this interpretation is a gourmand, an addictive one with new honeyed base notes of sandalwood and vanilla that still has the femininity of heavy, lingering florals and the signature ylang-ylang. It smells like a sexy night out under the sun. Which is exactly what I had.
It’s the house’s first reinterpretation of the fragrance since introducing Rihanna as its face in 2024. Perfume creative director Francis Kurkdjian was inspired by her, his ultimate muse. (I mean, same) “Thanks to Rihanna — she helped me bring something unique, daring and voluptuous to the scent,” he said at the start of the party. He has continuously reimagined the heritage fragrance, but he says there’s no secret to how he does it: “J’Adore is the icon of perfumery and Rihanna is an icon of the world, so this is two worlds finally meeting.” Unfortunately, Rihanna didn’t make it to the event (it was likely a security risk). But the show went on. Come along to Club J’Adore with us, below.
The party took place in a Beverly Hills private residence. But before I stepped foot in the industrial-looking space, I was greeted by a courtyard with clustered chandeliers. They were installed on a gold platform, which made everyone look like they were in a golden sunset, because you can never have enough gold when you’re celebrating J’Adore (after all, they shut down Versailles, the ultimate gold oasis, to film Rihanna’s campaign video).
Upon entering the party, the first thing I noticed was the view. I had never seen Los Angeles that way. Then I saw a huge J’adore bottle, a sculptural golden vessel placed in the middle of a pool with smoke rising from it, which was serving as the DJ booth. Inside were twin Parisian DJs Brice and Regis Abby, best known as Doppelganger Paris.
After a further stroll into the house, I found a pool table, which, of course, had gold billiard balls in true J’Adore fashion. It became a photo moment for the night that had a line at one point, because who wouldn’t want to pose across a sexy pool table?
Photo: Courtesy of Dior
My favorite detail was the server who walked around the party holding a bottle of J’Adore Intense on a gold platter. (How does one get that job?) At one point in the night there were so many people swarming around one area that we thought Rihanna was arriving, but that was wishful thinking. It was just the bottle and its gold platter being filmed by everyone around. The bottle is technically just as important.
At 10 p.m., two hours into the party, Club J’Adore opened. About 22 steps below the main area, we entered what felt like a vault. Inside was a gold library with J’Adore bottles locked throughout the club, a perfect setting to dance the night away.
From left: Photo: Courtesy of DiorPhoto: Courtesy of Dior
From top: Photo: Courtesy of DiorPhoto: Courtesy of Dior
Rating: 1,000/10 gold flakes (the details broke the scale)
“Do you think they intentionally cast these bartenders?” another beauty editor said to me at the bar. “They’re all so good looking.” Every cocktail had a taste of the fragrance notes: There was a vodka jasmine; a tequila rose, which wasn’t complete without exactly three spritz of rose water; a vodka ylang-ylang, which was decorated with tiny gold flakes; and a mocktail. Behind the bar was a fridge full of Ruinart and Ghia cans. (Plus: When Club J’Adore opened, guests were greeted with strawberry, blood-orange, and mango-vodka Jell-O shots.)
There was no shortage of food, either. The night started off with lighter bites like mahi-mahi tacos, yellowtail tartare, and jerk-chicken tostones (my personal favorite). Right before the clock struck midnight, there was still no Rihanna, but there was tender fried chicken topped with caviar and burgers that came around the dance floor followed by more Jell-O shots. I’d go clubbing every Monday night if the menu were this good.
Rating: 10/10 gold flakes
There was one woman in a full hot-pink look: a silk dress and blazer. I overheard her husband introduce her and add that her outfit was vintage Dior, because of course it was. Some guests dressed in yellow and orange, a nod to the fragrance. My favorite outfit was someone wearing Jonathan Anderson’s new Dior look: the signature cropped blazer and matching pleated skirt. A couple people wore a J’Adore Dior tee; it doesn’t get more casually obvious than that.
Rating: 8/10 gold flakes
Photo: Courtesy of Dior
Photo: Courtesy of Dior
Photo: Marc Patrick/BFA.com
Photo: Marc Patrick/BFA.com
The beginning of the night started with hits like Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” and Adele’s “Hometown Glory” mixed with techno beats during the Doppelganger Paris set. They also had pianist Brian Kennedy playing the entire time. When Club J’Adore opened, the party continued with professional dancers around to encourage guests to join the dancefloor. By 10:30 p.m. it was time for Kitty Ca$h to take over the DJ stand. She started with Bad Bunny’s “NUEVAYoL,” and there wasn’t one body in the room that was still. As I walked out the door, French Montana’s “Pop That,” a popular 2012 twerking song, started, and it almost forced my feet back down the stairs into Club J’Adore. The last set was by DJ Inferno, who played until 1 a.m., which is way past my bedtime. Even though I didn’t get to see Rihanna, I settled into bed smelling like her — of white flowers and vanilla. And that’s good enough for me.
Rating: 9/10 gold flakes
Photo: Courtesy of Dior
Photo: Courtesy of Dior
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