To celebrate 25 years of Light Blue, Dolce&Gabbana tapped The White Lotus actor and VMAN 54 cover star Theo James and supermodel Vittoria Ceretti to star in a sun-drenched campaign that captures the scent’s enduring magnetism. Shot against the glistening backdrop of Capri, the new campaign marks a fresh chapter for the iconic fragrance—one that honors its roots while ushering in a new era of Mediterranean seduction.

For a quarter of a century, Light Blue has been the signature scent for people worldwide, a fragrant way to capture the warmth and spirit of the Mediterranean, even on the most stressful days. Now, to commemorate its quarter-century reign, Dolce&Gabbana has reimagined the fragrance with enhanced intensity, staying true to its signature notes while dialing up the depth and freshness. The bottle, too, has been redesigned to reflect the sparkling vitality of Capri itself.

Behind this olfactory evolution are legendary Master Perfumers Alberto Morillas and Olivier Cresp—the same visionary duo that brought Light Blue to life in 2001. Spanish-born Morillas, a Fragrance Foundation Hall of Fame inductee, is known for having an innovative take on fragrances by blending natural ingredients with synthetic molecules, thus creating fragrances that are modern yet enduring. French perfumer Cresp, a recipient of the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, is known for creating both niche and mainstream fragrances, with innovative compositions that showcase his technical mastery of balancing sweet and woody accords.

To mark the anniversary, Morillas and Cresp spoke with V’s Kev Ponce about the delicate process of updating a beloved classic—how they preserved Light Blue’s signature scent while enhancing its longevity, and why its sun-soaked notes continue to evoke the timeless allure of Capri and la dolce vita.

V Magazine: Reinterpreting an iconic scent like Light Blue as it celebrates its 25th anniversary could seem like a daunting task for some. How did you want to approach the re-edition knowing the scent’s important milestone? What did the early stages of refining the scent look like?

Alberto Morillas: Working on the re-stage of an iconic fragrance like Light Blue Pour Homme was both a demanding and challenging task. The most important goal was to update the fragrance by applying a series of technical refinements without altering its olfactory profile, to which so many people are deeply attached. This required time and extensive preliminary work, but the mission was fully achieved. Light Blue Pour Homme has undergone a re-stage while remaining true to its authentic essence.

Olivier Cresp: Reinterpreting this fragrance has been both an honor and a profound responsibility. Light Blue Pour Femme holds special meaning for me, as it represents my long-standing collaboration with Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana—a partnership that continues to thrive today. What brings me the most joy is seeing how beloved and relevant this perfume remains, even 25 years after its launch. Revisiting Light Blue required careful work and deep respect for a fragrance that has become a true classic of contemporary perfumery.

V: For this milestone, we’re seeing a redesign in the bottle’s look and an intensified formula that now has the scent lasting up to 16 hours. Where did the idea of multiplying the celebration with multiple new updates of the scent begin?

AM: It’s amazing to think that a fragrance remains relevant and beloved even after more than two decades. But as so much time has passed since the creation of Light Blue Pour Homme, I believe it was interesting to re-stage the fragrance—creating a newer and even fresher version. The top notes, in particular, have been amplified, giving the fragrance greater projection and intensity, along with a longevity of up to 16 hours. All these refinements ensure that the charm of the Italian summer continues to endure over time, with a newfound vitality—more realistic, more intense than ever.

OC: The delicate challenge of this re-stage was to enhance the fragrance’s longevity without altering its olfactory profile—one that has captivated, and continues to captivate, so many people. Light Blue Pour Femme has been refreshed with a boost in brightness, reinforcing the impact of lemon and giving the top notes a more distinctive presence, while maintaining its elegance and balance. The drydown has also been intensified, amplifying its woody facets. After 25 years, I’m confident that these subtle refinements will further elevate the fragrance, allowing it to continue embodying the essence and radiance of Capri—and the enduring charm of la dolce vita.

V: The fragrance has brought the dream of an Italian summer holiday to life for millions of users around the world. How do you think the woody aromatic notes of the scent helped capture this idea? Why do you think it has taken up such an important part of many fragrance lovers’ memories?

AM: I believe the secret to Light Blue Pour Homme’s success lies in its ability to fully embody the values of Dolce&Gabbana: attention to detail, craftsmanship, love for high quality, and the use of the finest raw materials. This fragrance is a hymn to the untouched beauty of the Mediterranean—its rugged, verdant coastlines, the warmth of summer radiating off sunlit rocks, and the gentle rhythm of the sea. Carefully selected ingredients evoke the breathtaking allure of Capri: sparkling, refreshing lemon meets the aromatic clarity of rosemary, grounded by the enveloping sophistication of patchouli. The result is an iconic scent that captures the spirit of hope, lightheartedness, and love.

OC: Light Blue pour Femme is a snapshot of the island of Capri, with the sunlight shimmering over the waves. This fragrance captures the scent of summer with a view of the faraglioni—an ode to elegance and vitality, expressing the DNA of an iconic brand like Dolce&Gabbana. The secret behind this fragrance lies in the balance of the best raw materials selected: the finest, most sparkling lemons, the fresh and crisp Granny Smith apple, and the timeless elegance of cedarwood. A unique and perfectly balanced blend in which so many people find comfort and indulgence—a fragrance that transcends trends and time.