Narciso Rodriguez for Her, from Narciso Rodriguez was released in 2003. The perfumer behind this creation is Christine Nagel and Francis Kurkdjian. It has the top notes of Bergamot, Orange Blossom, and Osmanthus, middle notes of Amber and Musk, and base notes of Patchouli, Vanilla, and Vetiver.
Narciso for her (EDT) is...was, my nemesis. I remember that back in 2003 when it was launched, apart from being completely different to what was in style, I fell in love with the black austere heavy bottle. I tried it repeatedly, on various occasions but I never really got it. I knew it smelt nice; everyone was wearing it and the sillage trail left behind was actually very pleasant. But on me all I could smell was a sharp alcoholic opening, that never seemed to really go away. And when it left, I couldn't smell that intriguing smell on me. Sure, my clothes did smell gorgeous, and it lasted until laundry time. But on my skin? Nada. It was a case of desperately wanting to love it. The thing is it didn't love me back. A couple of weeks ago I stumbled on a sample after purchasing something else. I thought why not. First wearing wasn't bad. The opening of my nightmares was there alright, but it didn't last. Wow, that was a first. Soon after I could smell it on ME, not just my clothes. And there it was, the sillage I remembered. Soft, musky, creamy. I left it at that. Two days later I wore it again. The sharp opening wasn't so sharp this time, and the good part arrived earlier! Again, a soft musk that does not feel particularly clean. It felt like skin. Bathed with a luxurious bar of artisanal soap. Covered in a layer of rich cream, with a hint of floral powder. I could finally get it. The heat of my skin revealed the orange blossom heart, and the osmanthous which turned to shampoo on me, became a gorgeous tea like smell with hints of apricot. I was swooning! I get no vanilla, although it does its work in the sweet creamy drydown. The amber and patchouli are not heavy, but instead add a certain dryness, which is what makes it excellent for guys and women all around. (I was told when I bought my bottle yesterday that many men prefer this version to the regular Narciso for him) For me Narciso is a versatile fragrance. It covers the void of an everyday fragrance that I feel doesn't offend anybody, while at the same time smelling interesting. There have been many launches in the last decade, that are considered 'modern classics'. I highly disagree. But I believe that Narciso has earned that title. In my humble opinion, it's the only perfume delivered to us by the mainstream department that truly offers something innovative, while maintaining a consistent quality, in the last 15 years. I just hope that it remains that way!
I hadn’t realized just how much For Her had changed until I got hold of a bottle from 2006/7. I still stand by my older review about a current bottle (I still love it), but smelling the original again has brought back so many memories and has made me love it even more. The OG has a more pronounced sweet floral character. The orange blossom and the osmanthous take center stage, while the musk, which is creamier and headier and far more easily discernible makes it incredibly smooth. It’s got a lovely huggable feeling, and a rich floral sweetness just like in L’Absolu (that one is the closest thing to the OG For Her). The patchouli and amber sweeten it up just a bit more; the musk still feels potent and there’s a genuine feel of a musk oil or unguent that makes it extremely sensual. Years later, and appreciating it far more than when it was released, I find it beautiful and engulfing. Sillage is high and if it sticks to clothes, it has to be washed of. The current, while still beautiful, is more fleeting, I find I become anosmic to it faster, and the musk feels sharper and ‘colder’, thus it makes everything smell different. It’s still creamy but that gorgeous floral sweetness is diminished. It’s rougher and woodier, less floral and more ambery. I love both but now I feel as if I have two different fragrances, a flanker of sorts. As info, first versions do have a transparent bottom, and the black glass, while still painted from the inside, looks like 4 different pieces instead of one. First bottles don’t have the inner pouch but I can guarantee they are original (got mine from a friend who worked Narciso Rodriguez and had stashed away sealed bottles). Of course, as always, fakes exist and can make someone doubt. For this review, a limited edition signed bottle, 100ml.
Narciso for her (EDT) is...was, my nemesis. I remember that back in 2003 when it was launched, apart from being completely different to what was in style, I fell in love with the black austere heavy bottle. I tried it repeatedly, on various occasions but I never really got it. I knew it smelt nice; everyone was wearing it and the sillage trail left behind was actually very pleasant. But on me all I could smell was a sharp alcoholic opening, that never seemed to really go away. And when it left, I couldn't smell that intriguing smell on me. Sure, my clothes did smell gorgeous, and it lasted until laundry time. But on my skin? Nada. It was a case of desperately wanting to love it. The thing is it didn't love me back. A couple of weeks ago I stumbled on a sample after purchasing something else. I thought why not. First wearing wasn't bad. The opening of my nightmares was there alright, but it didn't last. Wow, that was a first. Soon after I could smell it on ME, not just my clothes. And there it was, the sillage I remembered. Soft, musky, creamy. I left it at that. Two days later I wore it again. The sharp opening wasn't so sharp this time, and the good part arrived earlier! Again, a soft musk that does not feel particularly clean. It felt like skin. Bathed with a luxurious bar of artisanal soap. Covered in a layer of rich cream, with a hint of floral powder. I could finally get it. The heat of my skin revealed the orange blossom heart, and the osmanthous which turned to shampoo on me, became a gorgeous tea like smell with hints of apricot. I was swooning! I get no vanilla, although it does its work in the sweet creamy drydown. The amber and patchouli are not heavy, but instead add a certain dryness, which is what makes it excellent for guys and women all around. (I was told when I bought my bottle yesterday that many men prefer this version to the regular Narciso for him) For me Narciso is a versatile fragrance. It covers the void of an everyday fragrance that I feel doesn't offend anybody, while at the same time smelling interesting. There have been many launches in the last decade, that are considered 'modern classics'. I highly disagree. But I believe that Narciso has earned that title. In my humble opinion, it's the only perfume delivered to us by the mainstream department that truly offers something innovative, while maintaining a consistent quality, in the last 15 years. I just hope that it remains that way!
I hadn’t realized just how much For Her had changed until I got hold of a bottle from 2006/7. I still stand by my older review about a current bottle (I still love it), but smelling the original again has brought back so many memories and has made me love it even more. The OG has a more pronounced sweet floral character. The orange blossom and the osmanthous take center stage, while the musk, which is creamier and headier and far more easily discernible makes it incredibly smooth. It’s got a lovely huggable feeling, and a rich floral sweetness just like in L’Absolu (that one is the closest thing to the OG For Her). The patchouli and amber sweeten it up just a bit more; the musk still feels potent and there’s a genuine feel of a musk oil or unguent that makes it extremely sensual. Years later, and appreciating it far more than when it was released, I find it beautiful and engulfing. Sillage is high and if it sticks to clothes, it has to be washed of. The current, while still beautiful, is more fleeting, I find I become anosmic to it faster, and the musk feels sharper and ‘colder’, thus it makes everything smell different. It’s still creamy but that gorgeous floral sweetness is diminished. It’s rougher and woodier, less floral and more ambery. I love both but now I feel as if I have two different fragrances, a flanker of sorts. As info, first versions do have a transparent bottom, and the black glass, while still painted from the inside, looks like 4 different pieces instead of one. First bottles don’t have the inner pouch but I can guarantee they are original (got mine from a friend who worked Narciso Rodriguez and had stashed away sealed bottles). Of course, as always, fakes exist and can make someone doubt. For this review, a limited edition signed bottle, 100ml.