LA artist, Alex Israel speaks about what went behind the creation of this exclusive collection and capturing the essence of California

California has always held a unique place in popular culture. From the glamour of Hollywood to its surf culture, open roads and laid-back way of life, the Golden State has become synonymous with a particular kind of freedom and creativity.
For <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/style/pharrell-williams-louis-vuitton-fall-winter-2026-mens-collection-paris-fahion-week-looks" title="Pharrell Looks at Practicality for Louis Vuitton's Fall/Winter 2026 Men's Collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pharrell Williams</a>, Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director, California is a seemingly endless source of inspiration. His <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/style/louis-vuitton-mens-spring-summer-2027-menswear-pharrell-williams-celebrities-fashion" title="Pharrell Williams Brings Surf Style to Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2027 Men's Show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spring/Summer 2027 Men’s collection</a>, for instance, brought the spirit of California’s surf culture to Paris. But the Maison’s fascination with the West Coast extends beyond fashion. Its influence can also be felt across Louis Vuitton’s world of fragrance, art and travel.
The latest expression of that connection is the exclusive Louis Vuitton Woody Wagon Colognes Collection, created in collaboration with Los Angeles-based artist Alex Israel.
For Israel, the project marks another chapter in his longstanding creative relationship with the Maison. The artist first collaborated with <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/louis-vuitton-multipass-bag-cruise-2026-new-classic-lv-handbags-fashion-style" title="Louis Vuitton Multipass Bag: The Versatile New Icon from Cruise 2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louis Vuitton</a> in 2019, working alongside Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud on the packaging artwork for Sun Song, Cactus Garden and Afternoon Swim. The collaboration returned in 2024 with Ocean BLVD, an ambitious project that brought art and fragrance together in an unexpected way. Five colognes were housed within a hand-built, two-metre-long miniature of a fictional Los Angeles street, turning the fragrance collection into an immersive celebration of the city.
With the Woody Wagon, the scale has grown once again.

Inspired by the classic American wood-panelled station wagon, the limited-edition sculptural gift set houses six of Louis Vuitton’s Cologne Perfumes inside a meticulously handcrafted miniature vehicle. Long associated with California’s car culture and the freedom of the open road, the iconic Woody makes a fitting home for a collection inspired by the many experiences of Southern California.
From surfing to hiking, Hollywood, the desert and the sea, the Louis Vuitton Cologne collection is, in many ways, a road trip through California. Each fragrance captures a different stop along the way: Afternoon Swim evokes the rush of the open ocean with bright orange, Pacific Chill brings a fresh sense of Californian wellness with cédrat, lemon and blackcurrant, while Sun Song recalls the warmth of summer. California Dream captures the glow of a sunset with mandarin and ambrette, City of Stars adds the energy of LA after dark with blood orange and tiaré flower, and On The Beach brings it all back to the coast with yuzu, sun-warmed sand and salty sea air. The Woody Wagon brings these experiences together in one collection.&nbsp;
The creation itself was an extraordinary feat of craftsmanship. It took more than 7,000 hours to produce and involved 60 artisans, with 219 individual elements making up the finished piece. Every detail, from the woodwork and LV Monogram to the miniature surfboard mounted on the roof, helps bring Israel’s vision come to life.
L’OFFICIEL SINGAPORE spoke with Alex Israel about the inspiration behind the Woody Wagon, the evolution of his relationship with Louis Vuitton, the fragrances that remind him of Los Angeles and the creative spirit that continues to shape his work.

How did the concept of the Woody Wagon come about and why did you pick to model this piece on the classic American station wagons? What is the significance of this car in particular?&nbsp;
The Cologne collection has always been inspired by different Los Angeles experiences—from surfing to swimming to hiking, from Hollywood to the desert to the sea. In a way, it's a road trip across Southern California. The collection really is a family of scents, and every family needs a car! The iconic Woody, so deeply rooted in California car culture, felt like the perfect vehicle—and a natural expression of Louis Vuitton's commitment to the art of travel. Since we'd already designed a surfboard for On The Beach, of course it belonged on the roof. 
You’ve been working with Louis Vuitton since 2019. How has your relationship with the Maison evolved over the 7 years?&nbsp;
It has grown deeper with every project. We keep pushing one another creatively, expanding the narrative we've been building together—a little microcosm inspired by Los Angeles, set within the larger world of the brand. Each collaboration opens the door to the next one.

Of the six cologne perfumes that are in the set, which one do you personally resonate with the most and why?&nbsp;
It changes. For a long time it was Afternoon Swim. Then it became Pacific Chill. Maybe that's because I got older over these seven years. My lifestyle shifted from sport toward wellness, and my favorite fragrance shifted with it.
Your works are often described as ‘capturing the essence of Los Angeles’. What is the essence of LA to you?&nbsp;
Freedom.
For those who have not experienced LA, could you describe what the West Coast culture is like and how you chose to interpret that in your artwork?&nbsp;
Los Angeles is an incredibly creative place. People come here to reinvent themselves and try new things. I try to embody that spirit in my work. As an artist, experimentation is everything, and Los Angeles is endlessly full of new discoveries.
Take us through the design process of the Woody Wagon. How did you go about choosing the materials and what went into the actual wagon design?&nbsp;
There was a lot of back and forth around the proportions, branding, textures, and colours. Scale was especially important and ultimately determined by the classic Louis Vuitton Cologne bottles. I wanted each bottle to feel like a passenger—a different personality within the family of scents. From the beginning, I knew a miniature version of our surfboard from On The Beach belonged on the roof. Details like the LV-Monogram carved into the wood and the magnetized convertible roof came later, evolving naturally through the design process as function and form came together.&nbsp;

The Woody Wagon recalls the carefree feeling of road trips in which music is an essential part of. What would be your personal playlist if you were on road tripping on the Woody Wagon?&nbsp;
'Kick', the album by INXS, on repeat.
Perfumery and art go hand in hand. What are the scents and smells that instantly transport you to Los Angeles no matter where you are in the world?&nbsp;
Salty ocean air. Night-blooming jasmine. Orange blossoms. Avocados. Fresh movie-theater popcorn. An In-N-Out burger. And, of course, each of our Louis Vuitton Colognes. 
What do you think it is about California that resonates so deeply with Louis Vuitton and in particular their colognes?&nbsp;
The Creativity. Los Angeles and Louis Vuitton are both dream factories, each in their own way.
With Ocean BLVD, you took us to the LA streets and with the Woody Wagon, you’ve brought us on a road trip to surf the seas. What are other quintessential Californian places or experiences you’d like to explore in future?
You'll have to wait and see!

Exclusive! Inside The Making of Louis Vuitton’s Woody Wagon Colognes Collection

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