Emmanuel Macron wears ‘industrial amounts’ of cologne and has a box of ‘ugly’ sunglasses which he uses to mock his aides, according to a new bombshell new book.
One extract reveals how, in what is considered a bizarre power play, the French president sprays on so much Dior Eau Savage that his staff can smell him before he enters a room.
Another claims Mr Macron insists on keeping a box of sunglasses ‘each uglier than the last’ to be given to guests when they forget their own, in an apparent attempt to further assert his dominance.
The Tragedy of the Elysée, by Le Parisien journalist Olivier Beaumont, says Mr Macron applies the £104 cologne ‘at all hours of the day’ and always has a bottle on hand, reports The Telegraph.
The book reads: ‘Less-accustomed visitors may find themselves overcome by the floral and musky scent, as refined as it is powerful. It is a sign of one thing: that the president is in the building.’
It continues: ‘Just as Louis XIV made his perfumes an attribute of power when he paraded through the galleries of Versailles, Emmanuel Macron uses his as an element of his authority at the Elysée.’
Sauvage is the best-selling fragrance in the world and is linked to Johnny Depp, who has been the face of its advertising since 2015.
A former aide quoted in the book said: ‘When Emmanuel Macron enters the room, you can feel it.’
The aide described it as a way of asserting his authority ‘almost like marking his territory.’
Dior is part of Bernard Arnault’s LVMH empire. He is France and Europe’s richest person and is seen as close to President Macron.
Mr Macron’s wife, Brigitte, wears Louis Vuitton, also an Arnault brand.
The book notes that Brigitte will spray herself with her husband’s perfume ‘to have the feeling that her man is not very far away’.
In another extract, it transpires Mr Macron also insists upon aides keeping a box of dark glasses to be given to people he quizzes in the Elysée garden when the sun is out in case they have forgotten to bring their own pair.
He has a case ‘containing about 20 pairs of second-hand glasses, of all shapes, not really fashionable, some with crooked arms, others with red rims, “even a little ridiculous”, from which you have to choose in order to be allowed to stay.’
The book cites one minister as saying he believes this is one of Mr Macron’s power plays.
‘Clearly, it’s not meant to make us look good. I even wonder if, deep down, he doesn’t get a kick out of seeing us with these things. We look so stupid,’ the minister said.
He explained: ‘Once you’ve borrowed one of these pairs, you don’t want to forget to bring your own.’
