fragrance

This week in Top Notes, we road-tested La Tulipe, a new-ish fragrance from Swedish perfume house, Byredo. While tulips aren't known for being super fragrant, this scent takes on a little more. Ben Gorham, the man behind Byredo, wanted to capture the flower's "shy characteristic" and work that alongside other floral essences. The result is a mash-up of different parts of the tulip as well as hints of freesia, rhubarb and vetiver. Our editors wore La Tulipe for a week -- here's what they really thought:

Brie Diyas, DIYLife editor

What were you initial thoughts of the fragrance?
I tried La Tulipe on one of the hottest weekends of the year. The first spritz smells a bit strongly of lilac, even though it's supposed to be tulip. I was a bit worried that it would be too flowery/sweet for such hot weather.

How did the scent evolve throughout the day?
Shortly after putting it on, something very unexpected happened: The fragrance went from lilacs to the scent of a tulip stem. You know how, when you cut into a tulip stem, you smell that great "green", fresh scent? Like aloe vera, but more intense. There were also hints of line-dried laundry. Crisp and warm with the faintest trace of lilac. It was very nice.

After wearing it for a few days, how do you feel about the fragrance now?
It grew on me. Even though I found the immediate lilac notes a bit too intensely floral for my liking, I really loved how it smelled when the other notes (that tulip stem and line-dried laundry scent) developed.

Did it remind you of anything--person, place, memory?
La Tulipe reminded me of the month of May: Lilacs, sun-warmed cotton and new leaves.

What did others think of the way you smelled?
It's funny: The reaction was divided amongst my girl and guy friends. (And, my parents.) All girls loved it, one even calling it a "sundress in a bottle." They really responded to that lilac note (and thought it was a lilac perfume). But guys thought it smelled like detergent or "something medicinal". And my friend Joe said that I smelled like his mother.

Would you consider this scent unique and different from others you've worn in the past?
Definitely. Even though Fracas is one of my favorite scents, I shy away from floral scents. Especially if it's on the sweet side. But the definite unique quality to La Tulipe is that scent transformation from floral to fresh. I've never had a scent transform like that.

--

Brooke Bobb, fashion assistant

What were you initial thoughts of the fragrance?
I thought it was a light, fresh, summery scent that wasn't heavy at all -- just delicate and floral.

How did it compare to other scents you've worn?
I normally wear Balenciaga's fragrance everyday and this felt a little less spicy and was maybe even more appropriate to wear during the day.

Is this a scent that would work for both day and night?
I do, but it's best during the day, for night I'd like something a bit stronger and less sweet.

How did the scent evolve throughout the day?
The scent seemed to stay pretty consistent throughout the day. I did notice -- because it's pretty light -- that it faded just a bit towards the evening.

After wearing it for a few days, how do you feel about the fragrance now?
I really liked it a lot, and as a person who just sticks to one fragrance a season, I think this is the perfect balance of light, floral notes for summer. It's something to wear all day and even into the night.

Did it remind you of anything--person, place, memory?
The smell of my Mom's bathroom and hints of one of the flower shops near my apartment in Chelsea's flower district.

What did others think of the way you smelled?
Everyone seemed to really like it. Several said it was a "pretty" smell and one that was very clean, fresh and light. One friend sprayed some on herself just a tiny bit and she needed to put a bit more on to actually get the full notes of the scent. She also then guessed that it was a Chloe perfume.

Would you consider this scent unique and different from others you've worn in the past?
Yes, because when I've worn floral based scents in the past they've tended to be very sweet and this had a great balance to it. It was just enough for the everyday but still sophisticated enough for night time.

Last week -- appropriately on Bastille Day -- French perfume house Lubin launched Black Jade, a fragrance that was exclusively created for Marie Antoinette. The scent, originally formulated by royal perfumer Jean-Louis Fargeon, was an homage to the queen's rose-filled gardens in Versailles. Antoinette kept a small vial of the fragrance with her at all times, even right up until her death. According to Luca Turin in The Secret of Scent, it was her unmistakable perfume that gave away her disguise as she fled the palace.

Black Jade (a blend of bergamot, cardamom, rose, jasmine, incense, cinnamon, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean and amber) is now available at Aedes De Venustas in New York.

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Celebrity fragrances are where it's at this summer!

Taylor Swift has joined the ranks of Heidi Klum and Jennifer Lopez with the launch of her first signature perfume, Wonderstruck, in partnership with Elizabeth Arden. The scent is set to hit stores this October, but Swift is wasting no time reaching out to her adoring fans.

Wonderstruck's packaging is flooded with intricate details of the singer's unique personality, from the gold embossed 13 on the bottle -- Swift's lucky number -- to handpicked charms. The fragrance was created from a blend of freesia, raspberry, vanilla, honeysuckle and sandalwood -- difficult to picture, but it sounds appropriately girly.

Swift chose to name her perfume after a lyric in her 2011 hit song "Enchanted." The lyric - "I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home" is "about the first time you meet someone," she said in a release. "A fragrance can help shape someone's first impression and memory of you. It's exciting to think that Wonderstruck will play a role in creating some of those memories."

What do you think of Taylor Swift's new fragrance? Will you be purchasing the scent come fall?

Leave a comment below and click here to see Burberry's new sexy fragrance ad starring "Transformers 3" star Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley may be seductively wearing a rose gold satin trench coat in Burberry's latest ad campaign, but she isn't fronting clothes. The 24-year-old "Transformers 3" star nearly bares all to promote a new fragrance perfectly coined, Burberry Body.

"Burberry Body is the most exciting launch that we have ever created and captures the iconic spirit of the brand today in a striking and sensual way," said Christopher Bailey, chief creative officer. "Rosie's effortless style and her staggering beauty made her the natural choice as the first Burberry Body."

Huntington-Whiteley kicks off the British luxury brand's iconic portfolio of "Burberry bodies" photographed by Mario Testino. While details are still hush-hush on what the actual fragrance smells like, we can only imagine that it's as cool and sexy as the ad campaign.

Buberry Body fragrance will debut September 1 in over 150 countries.

Will you be rushing to the department store counter to pick up the fragrance? Tell us in the comments section and click here to see why our editors Say Yes to Carrots. And don't forget to check out Rosie in hats & swimsuits!

With descriptions like "reflective" and "high-pitched" alongside equally hard-to-imagine ingredients like frozen morello cherry and floral woody chypre, fragrance reviews can be... a little hard to grasp. In our new series, Top Notes, our editors will road test new and classic fragrances, and report back what they really thought. This week, we're starting with one of the indie perfume world's most interesting (and slightly unconventional) scents -- Honoré Des Prés I Love Les Carottes.


Sarah Leon, associate editor

What were you initial thoughts of the fragrance?
My first reaction was "Oh, I really like this!" and then my second response was "Whoa, this really smells like carrots." I realized that it was mostly because I knew the fragrance was made of carrots that I could smell that scent so strongly. It has a very complex smell – raw and fresh - and I was excited to see how it changed throughout the day.

Did it remind you of anything--person, place, memory?
It reminded me of being in Shelter Island or being somewhere near the beach that still had lots of trees.

How did it compare to other scents you've worn?
I generally wear more floral scents, especially in summer so this had a little more spice to it.

Light enough for muggy NYC summer days?
Absolutely. There is a fruitiness to the perfume that is perfect for summer. It is light, but not too sweet.

How did the scent evolve throughout the day?
Throughout the day the scent lost some of the carrot-ness and blended well with my skin. I applied to my wrists and neck and then I wore it walking around the West Village while it was over 90 degrees. The scent somewhat faded and changed throughout the day, but it was still recognizable. The way it smelled an hour or more after I applied was my favorite.

How did it feel to be... carrot-scented?
The first morning I applied the scent, I asked a male friend what he thought. He said, "You smell like carrots. You smell like carrots and you are wearing an orange dress. You are a carrot." I immediately regretted my wardrobe choice.

What did others think of they you smelled?
One person said that I smelled like a garden (which I thought was pretty accurate) while others merely described the scent as "sweet with a little spice but it kind of reminds me of V8."

Would you continue to wear this scent?
I would, but I would make sure to apply at least 30 minutes before leaving the house so that the carrot-ness had a chance to fade. I think it is great for summer especially as the season transitions to fall.


Erin Clements, news editor

What were you initial thoughts of the fragrance?
As with eating one's root vegetables, I Love Les Carottes was an acquired taste. I initially thought it was too strong, but by the third day I was a carrot convert.

Did it remind you of anything--person, place, memory?
My mother's cooking.

How did it compare to other scents you've worn?
I tend to have an affinity for fruity florals, and this was a bit sharper.

Light enough for muggy NYC summer days?
For the first half hour, no--but the scent evaporated pretty quickly.

How did the scent evolve throughout the day?
It became less and less potent--I could barely smell it by evening.

How did it feel to be... carrot-scented?
Healthy.

Would you continue to wear this scent?
Yes--but more likely when autumn rolls around.


Honoré Des Prés I Love Les Carottes, $98, honoredespres.com

Check out one of our foodie blogger's favorite summer beauty loot.