Narciso Rodriguez Fragrances

My collection

I've always had terribly annoying allergies - to shellfish, antibiotics, honeybees, you name it. The most serious non-deadly one is, unfortunately, cats. Like, check out these test results!

An IgE (immunoglobulin E) value over 17.5 is considered a severe allergy. After going over these results with me, my doctor was shocked to discover that I do, indeed, have a cat. Jim! Just look at him. He’s worth it.

This is a longwinded way to say that thanks to nonstop nasal congestion, my sense of smell is pretty fucked up at all times. For this reason, I love a perfume that projects enough for me to really SMELL it, and to my nose most Narciso Rodriguez fragrances have the perfect amount of sillage. Sillage is French for "wake" (like the wake of a ship in water), and refers to the trail a scent leaves behind as it evaporates.

NR fragrances are known for their characteristic musk, which can be found in each of their scents. It's a clean, not-at-all animalic musk that is, frankly, super hard to explain. If you smell even one NR product, though, you'll quickly figure out what I mean.

I picked up all of my NRs either slightly used from Mercari or new from Fragrancenet. Fragrancenet's stock fluctuates (as do their prices) but you can usually find most of these there at a good discount.

And now for a quick breakdown of each of the 12 NR fragrances in my collection, in order of their release!

For Her EDT (2003)

The brand's first fragrance is a clean, gorgeous blend of white flowers, bergamot, patchouli, and musk. Twenty-one years after its launch, it still does not smell dated.

For Her EDP (2006)

This one is what started the ball rolling on my NR obsession and remains my favorite of the bunch. The complete list of notes on Fragrantica is rose, peach, musk, amber, patchouli and sandalwood, and I can actually smell each one, which is pretty rare for me. I will weep when this inevitably gets discontinued.

Narciso (aka the "white cube,” 2014)

Apparently this was taken off the market because one of the ingredients (lilial) was banned in the EU and the UK in 2022. A tragedy! This is a luscious gardenia/woody scent, as elegant as it gets. It's appropriate for any occasion. If you like white florals it's  no-brainer purchase, assuming you can find a bottle someone is willing to part with on Mercari. I snagged the biggest bottle possible.

Poudree (2016)

My eyes roll back in my head just thinking about this one. It's ultra creamy and sweet and STRONG. Lots of people refer to this as "mature", a word that I find very annoying when it comes to fragrance. Just say you think it's for old ladies and move along! But take note, it can get cloying in the heat so it's best for crisp, cool weather.

Fleur Musc for Her (2017)

This one is super pink-peppery - slightly bracing when sprayed, but it mellows out into a bright and beautiful rose. I was a little iffy on this one at first, and said as much in an earlier substack, but it has really grown on me and I reach for it a lot.

Rouge EDP (2018)

The red cube is hyperfeminine and very makeup-y, thanks to a heavy wallop of iris. The base is cedar and sandalwood. I find it to be quite similar to Poudree but less sweet and creamy and a bit louder. Men really seem to like it.

Pure Musc for Her (2019)

This definitely has clean laundry vibes and wearing it almost makes me feel wholesome. The only notes listed are musk, "flowers", and cashmeran. It's an easy dumb reach for when you're not sure what to wear. The white t-shirt of the NR line, really.

Rouge EDT (2019)

The juice in the clear-and-red bottle is very similar to the EDP, with the makeup vibes toned down slightly plus a prominent lily of the valley note that adds some freshness into the mix. This one's very good for hot weather.

Ambree (2020)

This is a gorgeous blend of yellow and white flowers with a cashmeran/vanilla/cedar base (and, of course, a musk middle). It's heady and tropical and smells a bit thick, in a good way. Perfect for summer nights.

Musc Noir for Her (2021)

This has only four notes listed - plum, musk, heliotrope and suede. To me, it's the lightest fragrance of the bunch, despite the suede note. It's very inoffensive and office-friendly. The longevity leaves much to be desired, though, so I overspray this like crazy.

Musc Noir Rose for Her (2022)

This is a plummy, juicy rose scent that went viral on TikTok in 2022. It has an extremely subtle pink pepper note and a touch of vanilla. It's very soft and, like Musc Noir, is more of a skin scent than a projector. It's wearable at any time of year and for any occasion.

For Her Musc Nude (2024)

The newest and, to my nose, least appealing scent of the bunch. Like Pure Musc, it's a laundry-esque scent, with clean white florals that include a hint of orange blossom. Lots of people on Fragrantica claim that this smells like olives, but I don't get that at all. It’s good, just nothing mind-blowing.

And, before I go, I must note that I think the bottles are universally fabulous! Minimalism executed perfectly. Hope you find something here that interests you - if you do, let me know!