This summer, Zendaya lent her features to Athena, goddess of wisdom, in Christopher Nolan's “The Odyssey”. Off screen, the star of Euphoria, Dune and Challengers embodies another legend: Lancôme's Idôle, whose face she has been since day one. Part 1 of our series: from Greek mythology to the modern rose — portrait of a fragrance turned cult, available at Olara.
1Athena on screen: Nolan's “The Odyssey”
Released in cinemas on 17 July 2026, Christopher Nolan's “The Odyssey” adapts Homer's epic with an extraordinary cast: Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus — and Zendaya as Athena, the bright-eyed goddess who champions the hero throughout his journey. A divine role that fits perfectly the woman Lancôme chose, back in 2019, to embody a certain idea of conquering femininity. Because behind the actress stands an ambassador — and behind the ambassador, a fragrance.
2Lancôme ambassador since 2019: the birth of Idôle
In February 2019, Zendaya became Lancôme's global ambassador. Six months later, the house launched Idôle and made her its face — a role she has never relinquished. “I like the fact that it's fresh and light,” she told the press at launch, before offering her definition of an idol: “my idol is my future self.” The fragrance is signed by an all-female trio of perfumers — Shyamala Maisondieu, Adriana Medina and Nadège Le Garlantezec: a clean, luminous rose, composed by women for women. The saga has since grown into several intensities, all gathered in our Lancôme collection.
Did you know?
The Idôle bottle, designed by architect-designer Chafik Gasmi, is only 15 millimetres slim — one of the thinnest in perfumery. Made to slip into any bag, it is also refillable: elegance that travels light, just like its ambassador.
3Idôle's olfactory pyramid
Idôle is a pared-back musky floral, built like a ray of light. The opening sparkles with bergamot, juicy pear and pink peppercorn; the heart unfolds a duo of rose and jasmine grandiflorum — the house's great floral signature —; the base wraps it all in white musks, vanilla and a touch of patchouli. A clean, fresh, radiant trail that explains its place among the bestsellers of our women's fragrances.
4Which Idôle should you choose?
For the original signature, the musky rose of 2019: Idôle Le Parfum, the emblematic eau de parfum. For energising everyday freshness, ideal at the office: Idôle Eau de Toilette. For more intensity and staying power as evenings cool down: Idôle Power, the intense eau de parfum. And for a more gourmand, enveloping facet: Idôle Nectar, in very limited stock. All of them live among our women's eaux de parfum. And tomorrow, join us for part 2 of our series: Zendaya's Lancôme beauty routine, from MJ to real life — on our blog.
Your questions, answered
Which fragrance does Zendaya represent?
Zendaya has been Lancôme's global ambassador since February 2019 and the face of the Idôle saga since its 2019 launch — from the original eau de parfum to flankers like Idôle Power. At launch, she said she loved how “fresh and light” it is.
Who created Lancôme's Idôle?
An all-female trio of perfumers: Shyamala Maisondieu, Adriana Medina and Nadège Le Garlantezec. The ultra-slim 15 mm bottle is the work of designer Chafik Gasmi.
What does Idôle smell like?
A clean, luminous musky floral: bergamot, pear and pink peppercorn in the opening, a heart of rose and jasmine grandiflorum, a base of white musks, vanilla and patchouli. Fresh, crisp, feminine without being sugary.
What is the difference between Idôle Le Parfum, the Eau de Toilette, Power and Nectar?
Le Parfum (2019) is the original musky floral signature; the Eau de Toilette is its freshest, lightest reading; Power, the intense eau de parfum, pushes the rose deeper; Nectar rounds the formula with a gourmand facet. Same backbone, four intensities.
Is Zendaya in Christopher Nolan's “The Odyssey”?
Yes: she plays the goddess Athena in the film released on 17 July 2026, alongside Matt Damon (Odysseus), Anne Hathaway (Penelope) and Tom Holland (Telemachus).
