I know, I know – people might yell at me for this star rating, but… it’s a matter of personal taste, and while I do recognize the quality and artistic value of this fragrance, I just… don’t really like it.
Review
Released in 2003 and composed by perfumers Christine Nagel and Francis Kurkdjian, Narciso Rodriguez For Her was the first fragrance of the brand, and what a fine beginning! Almost 20 years later, it is still widely praised, and by now it has cemented itself as a contemporary classic.
In spite of presenting a note pyramid, I find this a linear, straightforward fragrance – meaning, all its accords come and sing together from the start, and remain consistent from opening to drydown. This very contemporary style of composition matches For Her’s character, which feels distinctly modern.
For Her has a somewhat abstract floral accord of sweet orange blossom and nectary osmanthus, but most of all, it highlights what came to become Narciso Rodriguez’s signature – their intense musk note. Now, while sharing the general clean feel from the musk in the Narciso “cube” line, the musk in For Her feels, to me, notably different as well. It’s even heavier, and instead of dry & smooth, it comes off to my nose as curiously fresh and… glossy! I very much suspect this comes from its combo with amber.
As I’ve mentioned, the drydown doesn’t change much in contrast to the opening-middle, but the sweetness of the florals becomes a bit softer, and I think I can get a bit more of the base’s vetiver and a very earthy-dry whisper of patchouli by this stage (I don’t get vanilla at all). In spite of being an Eau de Toilette, this is an intense fragrance with a respectable sillage for a couple of hours. Lasting power is ok, but not stellar.
Fragrance Impressions
Conclusion
Narciso Rodriguez For Her has well-blended notes melded into an unique, very recognizable scent. It feels floral in a way that’s 100% synthetic, and yet – like with other great, proudly synthetic-centered compositions¹ – its artificial style doesn’t come off at all as of “lesser quality” for not mirroring nature-found scents. Instead, it feels new, modern and interesting.
Now, after all that – why only 3 stars? Well-constructed as For Her may be, I don’t think it works for me. The musk is too thick, and its glossy texture feels challenging to my nose. I personally find it tiring to smell, and when I wear it, I look forward to change into another fragrance. Again, not because this is bad – just because it’s really not my taste.
So, while I’d probably give this a purely “technical” 4 stars quality-wise, in terms of my own personal reaction to the scent itself, and my probability of buying a bottle… that would be a 2-stars, tops. So, I’ve decided to settle in the middle with 3 stars.
Do try it, though, because this is a fascinating fragrance, full of character and, in its way, beautiful!
1 Like the aldehyde-heavy Chanel Nº5 line.
