Marchesa Parfume d’Extase Review
December 21, 2012 | Fragrance
I have a confession to make – I watch Gossip Girl. There. I did it. For those of you who live in a cave and have no idea why that’s a confession and not just a regular statement, Gossip Girl is a teen drama that’s about, as my best friend accurately puts it, “rich people being mean to each other.” I’m probably on the upper end of the show’s age demographic, if I’m still even in it at all. Most of the audience that watches Gossip Girl is lusting after Serena and Blaire’s fabulous wardrobe. I, on the other hand, am more interested in what Serena’s mother, Lily Van Der Woodsen is wearing. She’s a fantastic style icon for women who are no longer in their 20s. Sometimes, when I’m on the fence about whether something I like is fashionable and age-appropriate, I ask myself, “Would Lily Van Der Woodsen wear this?”
Waving is for plebeians, so she’s not very good at it. (Still shot from Gossip Girl.)
Weird pose. Great dress. (Still shot from Gossip Girl. )
Her maid is calling in sick. Look how disappointed she is. (Still shot from Gossip Girl.)
When I had my first encounter with Marchesa Parfume d’Extase, my immediate thought was, “I want to pin this beautiful bottle to my chest and wear it as a spectacularly gigantic broach!” My second thought was, “This smells amazing!” but my third thought was definitely, “Lily Van Der Woodsen would absolutely wear this perfume.”
Don’t worry. You don’t have to watch Gossip Girl to appreciate this fragrance, which I would describe as a deep, woody floral. You just have to love iris, because that’s what Marchesa is all about. The iris is prominent from the top all the way down to the basenotes. The accompanying notes on the journey are not distinguishable on their own, but do add to the overall complexity and provide a richness that would be missed with an iris soliflore. Iris perfumes are often peppery, but not this one. Marchesa actually smells the way indigo velvet looks – smooth, deep, rich, cozy.
It bears striking similarities to some of my other favorite iris perfumes, namely Acqua Di Parma Iris Nobile EdT and Crabtree & Evelyn Iris EdT. In fact, when I bought it, there was no Marchesa lotion available so I purchased a bottle of C & E’s Iris lotion. It layered with Marchesa perfectly.
Marchesa is definitely a cool weather scent, as it’s much too heavy for summer. It’s also probably not for women in their teens or early 20s. However, Lily Van Der Woodsen fans on a chilly day can’t go wrong with this.
Skin & Tonics Rating: A+
PERFUME HOUSE: Marchesa
YEAR: 2012
PERFUMER: Annie Buzantian (Dot, Pleasures, Tommy)
OLFACTIVE FAMILY:
Floral
CONCENTRATION:
Eau de Parfum
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