Dior launched Eau Sauvage in 1966.
Eau Sauvage was created by perfumer Edmond Roudnitska for Christian Dior. It became one of Dior’s best-known classic men’s fragrances and helped establish a refined citrus style in mainstream perfumery. Its name means “wild water,” although it is not the same fragrance as Dior Sauvage, a much later release.
The composition is often associated with lemon, bergamot, hedione, rosemary, basil, and oakmoss. Hedione, a jasmine-like aroma chemical, became especially important in modern perfumery through its use in this fragrance. Eau Sauvage’s bottle and advertising have also made it a recognizable part of Dior’s fragrance history.
A common mix-up is confusing Eau Sauvage with Sauvage, which Dior introduced decades later in 2015. They are separate perfumes with different compositions, branding, and creative direction. Eau Sauvage belongs to Dior’s classic heritage line, while Sauvage was designed as a contemporary woody-aromatic fragrance.