Maybe it was my mood: having just dodged the latest layoff bullet at work, I was feeling relieved and celebratory. But instead of heading for the nearest bar, I went to the Galleria to sniff the scents I hadn't yet tried. Nothing interested me at Neiman's so I walked down to Saks.
I was in the right mood to deal with the sales associates at Saks. No one, no matter how dour, annoying or pissy, was going to bring me down. As it turned out, one of the two friendly SAs they have happened to be there.
When I asked to try the new Narciso Rodriguez Essence, she told me how nice it was and how everyone was asking her what she was wearing. I know to tune this stuff out, as they say the same thing about every new release. And, because I usually wind up disagreeing with their assessments.
But this time was different. This one hooked me immediately and wouldn't let me go. There was something so bubbly and happy and shiny about Essence - something that matched my mood - that I fell for it then and there.
I spritzed it on my skin, walked around with it for maybe ten minutes, then went back to buy it. Thank goodness it only got better as time went on. I felt a little like Goldilocks, finding the chair, the porridge and the bed that fit her just right.
How to describe it. Essence feels clean, yes, but in the way of sheets drying in the sun and wind, not that starchy, synthetic, fabric softener-clean. Aldehydes aren't listed among the notes, but Essence has to contain them. The fragrance triggers a memory of a pure aldehyde I got to experience once in a perfumer's lab. It gave the sensation of buttery champagne and brought a smile to my face.
The rose note in Essence is dark pink-red, jammy and sweet. The iris adds just a touch - not too much - of powder. The amber is golden and doesn't smell like head-shop amber. I don't get baby-powder powder from the iris and amber, which in my case is a very good thing.
And the musc. The musc is delicious and warm and sensual and blossoms on the skin. I am a big fan of dirty muscs, like Muscs Kublai Khan, but I also find this musc very satisfying. It smells different from other muscs and is somehow shot through with the heat of the Sun. It's as if it's been pre-warmed in preparation to be on your body. Yummy.
I wore Essence this weekend out in the country on a breezy day. We drove around for hours looking at bluebonnets and other wildflowers, getting out to shoot pictures of especially beautiful fields of flowers.
When the wind changed direction I would get whiffs of the most wonderful skin musc. It felt very in sync with all the nature and glorious flowers around me, not synthetic at all. At first it didn't register that it was Essence, it was that naturally a part of me and my experience.
I find Essence to be infused with sunshine and happiness. And so for once, I can agree with the copy the press folk put out. Here's a quote from the press release for Essence: " ...the purity of 'essence'...encompassing the sensuality of a woman with the radiance of sunlight." Yep, sensuality and sunshine, that's about it.
Alberto Morillas is the nose behind Essence, and I'd like to thank him for interpreting the marketing brief in this way. He's made me very happy. I also love the silvery bottle, which was designed by Ross Lovegrove.
Saks has the exclusive on Essence until April. You can read the entire press release about it right here.
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