Do you remember your very first "grown-up" fragrance? After graduating from Britney Spears Fantasy, Escada Tropical Punch and Lacoste Touch Of Pink in the noughties, I made my way to Boots to choose a more sophisticated scent for myself—ideally, one that wasn't housed in a bedazzled bottle and spiked with sugar. As I wandered the perfume aisle, I discovered Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Toilette, and it felt like a defining moment of my late teens.
I first read about the perfume in an interview with the American fashion designer whom it was named after when it launched in 2003, and I was immediately intrigued. A far cry from the sweet perfumes I had been coating myself in, this (decidedly more sophisticated) fragrance centres around musk; smooth, skin-like and totally addictive. "I couldn't imagine creating a fragrance without musk," says Rodriguez of the fragrance. "It lends such an air of individuality, and it’s like an addiction. Musk's raw power is very seductive and lends itself to unique permutations for each woman who wears it, which is quite magical."
It's safe to say that I was instantly hooked, and even in my late twenties, I still wear and love it—even more so now. In fact, lots of beauty editors I've spoken to have also claimed it as their signature scent from the past two decades—a real testament from those who have tried hundreds of perfume launches. The brand's flanking fragrance (a sort of spin-off perfume that shares some attributes of the original), Musc Rose Noir, went TikTok-viral after a content creator asked a Parisian in the street what perfume she was wearing. So it's safe to say that Narciso Rodriguez has managed to bottle some beautiful fragrances.
What Does Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau de Toilette Smell Like?
Key Notes: African orange flower, osmanthus, bergamot, musk, amber, vetiver, vanilla and patchouli.
Musk is the main character in the eau de toilette version (the eau de parfum, in a pink bottle, was second to launch and smells quite different). Coupled with creamy orange flower and osmanthus and earthy vetiver and patchouli, it's woody, musky and a touch floral, sweetened with a hint of warm amber and creamy vanilla. I'll admit that the first spritz is deceptive—this isn't where the magic happens, but rather it's in the hours afterwards that this perfume becomes totally hypnotic and addictive as it settles and radiates from your skin.
It's worth mentioning that you do not get the same experience from smelling the perfume on a tester strip or straight from the bottle. You really need to apply it on your skin for this fragrance to come alive with your skin's chemistry. And when you do smell the dry-down of this perfume, you'll never forget about it. Trust me: you won't be able to stop smelling your wrists even hours later.
When I wear this, it makes me feel both cosy yet sophisticated, like being bundled in the softest and most expensive cashmere, and the muskiness is akin to nuzzling your nose into the jumper of someone you love. It's warm and sensual whilst remaining completely classy and timeless. It's one of those fragrances that you could really wear anywhere, whether it be to work or for the evening. It also has a grounding, woodsy twist that makes me feel calm.
It's very long-lasting, even for an eau de toilette, and I often catch wafts of it from my skin throughout the day. Because a little goes a long way, I don't feel the need to top up with additional spritzes—one in each area is plenty. I actually tend to enjoy the dry-down of this perfume more as it morphs over the hours. It also clings beautifully to a polo neck or scarf, creating a musky and woody halo that is also very comforting. I love wearing this in the winter months when I crave something cosy and warm on my skin.
What I adore most about this perfume though is that it becomes like a second skin as you wear it. It smells a little different on everyone but really does become one with your own scent. It's not a perfume that wears you—rather it makes your skin smell like it's just naturally that alluring and seductive. I have the 100ml bottle and it has lasted me for years, so don't worry that it'll run out quickly. Just be prepared for everyone in your close vicinity to ask not what perfume you're wearing, but why you smell so good.
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