[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] So, a French fragrance press release is always a thing of joy for its ever hopeful impression of the ideal women. In this instance, this new iteration of Idole is a celebration, apparently, of women who set standards, challenge societal norms and change the world for the better. Without forgetting the absolute standard of symbolising sensuality and confidence (i.e. melts instantly at the touch of a handsome chap after just having broken some balls in the boardroom and then driven off on a motorbike wearing a ballgown to stroke kittens, stopping only for a flirty glass of wine and no food). But in this case, I’m wrong (in part) to be cynical. The three female creators of this fragrance (Nadege le Garlantezec, Shyamala Mainsondieu and Adriana Medina) are representative of culture and age and although they don’t feature as they should on the Lancome website (eye roll – the brand ‘face’, Zendaya, is beautiful but predictably 24) The Cut has a fantastic article on them HERE. These are the women I want to make all the perfume!
The bottle – oh my! It has a rose gold metallic lacquer coating in the now well-known slim bottle that prefers to lie on its side than stand up. It’s stunning – you can see the globs of air moving about like mercury. I was cynical about this bottle style to start with but really, I am a convert now – it’s ornamental.
The fragrance itself is floral and woody with rose, jasmine and white chypre – and a warmer, more embracing version. The first spritz is about the flowers while the dry down takes on patchouli and cedar without the ever present vanilla disappearing. It’s deeper and fuller than I expected it to be – I’m not a fan of vanilla in high street fragrances – too cup-cakey for my taste – but lots of people love it (which is why it’s present in so many). With spritzing not as readily available, I’d suggest that you read as many reviews as possible – if you liked the original I think you will like this as an autumnal, nestling version. Stroking kittens optional. From £54 HERE, non affiliate HERE.
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8 comments
Ha! Very evocative Jane. It might well not be for me, but I’m going to have to smell it somehow just because I’m so curious about it now!
I’d be interested to know what you think x
I absolutely love the original and get so many comments when I wear it. I’m away this weekend so may have to treat myself. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Hope you have a lovely weekend Bethany x
I put my hand up and admit I ignore Lancome perfumes now. Yes, it is to do with the young pretty actress they insist on using. I mean even Julia Roberts was photoshopped so much it was hard to recognize her! Oh, I really disliked La Belle in all forms.
Magie Noir and Cuir are my favourites from Lancome and they are oldies.
I hear you – if something doesn’t feel like it’s got any relevance to you, you just end up blanking it out of your radar.
That is a beautiful bottle. Usually rectangles are pretty standard bottle shapes but making it so slim makes it unexpectedly elegant.
I really like Zendaya but she would suit being a Marc Jacobs perfume face better or Glossier if they ever went for a celebrity face. There are older women who could have been the face of these perfumes (and they fit my elegant image of the brand better too! Actually Marc Jacobs did it well with Jessica Lange for the make up range but that was years ago now and I can’t recall enough campaigns like it since)
I’ve got no reference point for her at all to be honest but it’s not that she isn’t right for it, it’s more that she’s at odds with the fragrance creators, age wise. On the one hand, it’s exciting that the all female fragrance creators – who are all sort of mid-life – are being given some platform but on the other, being hidden.