American fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez has a new fragrance, number 44, by my last count. This new edition in his line up of eponymously named perfumes is potent yet elegant, says editor Trudi Brewer, who believes it may be his best yet. Read more to find out what's in it.
Image BeautyEQ
When I was told by a very well-informed beauty buyer, the new Narciso Rodriguez was divine, I was not convinced. I love the first Narciso Rodriguez, For Her, which launched back in 2003. Housed in a simple, blush pink bottle, the fragrance, a complex fruity, floral, is a beautiful blend of rose, peach, amber, and musk. It’s been in my top five scents-to-wear for the past 17 years. So, I didn't think this designer of body-conscious, timeless fashion could improve on what I considered perfume perfection. But he has. Narciso Ambrèe is rich and heady, lasts for hours on the skin - and in the words of the style guru himself, 'It's radiant, sensual, and mesmerizing,' - and I agree.
Narciso Ambrée Eau de Parfum, by Narciso Rodriguez, from $120.
What's in it?
Narciso Rodriguez was inspired by 'a woman's golden freckled skin radiating with the warmth,' when conjuring up this new fragrance. He engaged French perfumer Aurélien Guichard to create a scent that smells like summer. To that end, a concoction of frangipani and exotic ylang-ylang blended with sensual musk was the result. But that's not all you'll find inside a bottle of Ambrée. It lasts so long on the skin, thanks to the amber, cedarwood, vanilla, and Cashmeran, a synthetic ingredient responsible for the smooth musky, woody nuances.
“Narciso Rodriguez was inspired by ‘a woman’s golden freckled skin radiating with the warmth,’ when conjuring up this new fragrance.”
Image Narciso Rodriguez
Why do we like it?
The trademark cube-shaped bottle in golden coral is a nod to the classic For Her, but with the addition of tropical blooms, it's potent, yet powdery - a combination I like. Maybe I love it so much because it landed on my desk on a cold, wet, wintery day. Or perhaps it's because it makes me feel confident when I wear it. Sophisticated, yet mellow, it leaves me feeling warm and happy, just like after a day in the sun. That beauty buyer was right, who was I to doubt her fragrance instinct; it is utterly divine.