Celebrating the pure scent of tuberose petals, the latest Givenchy Eau de Parfum also has a surprisingly smoky quality that pays tribute to a perfume created to be forbidden. Editor Trudi Brewer shares the latest L’Interdit.
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There is always a buzz around a limited-edition fragrance, and the latest Givenchy’s L’Interdit Tubereuse Noire lives up to its mysterious beginnings. Before we unpack what makes this newbie so sensual, its history is worth sharing. If you don’t know, this fragrance has been around since 1957. Made exclusively for actress Audrey Hepburn by Givenchy’s creator, Hubert de Givenchy. She was his longtime friend and fashion muse, and she wore that scent as your signature perfume for decades. But when Givenchy wanted to bottle it for all women to wear, she refused to let him. Hepburn reputedly joked, ‘Je vous l’interdis!’ – I forbid you, hence this legendary scent name. Since then, the brand has shared five reinterpretations of L’Interdit; the latest is an ultra-feminine expression of a famous flower, tuberose. At the same time, it has a woody, almost smoky allure.
What’s in it?
Givenchy is famous for pushing olfactory boundaries; this newbie is no different. Each bottle has at least eight hand-picked Indian tuberose flowers, which smell like a blend of jasmine and gardenia with a spicy edge. Burnt tuberose petals, orange blossom, patchouli, roasted coffee, and crisp vetiver strengthen that bloom’s intensity.
Why do we like it?
If you love tuberose or are a fan of sweet floral perfumes, this is as intoxicating as it is smoky. Tuberose flowers are challenging to cultivate and demand precise conditions for optimal growth, which adds to their enigma and cost. Tuberose is famous for its intensity, and the Indian tuberose petals in this scent help enhance a woody facet that the brand believes is as addictive as it is forbidden. If you want to wear a bold and intriguing scent, sweet but with a touch of wood, this is, no doubt, different from the mainstream.
Another designer expression of loving our true selves.