Tis not often a mass-market fragrance gets me hot under the collar, but Cacharel's newest offering, Scarlett, completely piqued my interest. Last week I was damning them for the scents of my teenagehood, this week they're my favourite company 4evah. Well, I never pretended to be consistent!
Firstly, my eye was caught by the striking coral-red, white and silver floral box. Then there was the oh-gosh-you're-beautiful bottle. More than a nod to Paul and Joe's Chrysanthemum design is going on with the relief work on the pretty, dreamy lid, which forms the majority of the packaging. The glass base reveals just a wee hint of deep pink scent.
It's the sort of thing that's going to look great on any dressing table as is, and I was composing my post of praise busily in my head when I pulled myself up short: I'd forgotten to smell the frigging thing.
Advertised
So I dutifully sniffed and got another surprise: it's very nice. At first I thought it was maybe not exactly what I'd go directly for, but it grew on me quickly. It's like a more sophisticated, grown-up Anais Anais, and indeed they share a common ingredient: lily.
Aimed, apparently, at the teenage market, it is not one of those grossly sugary fragrances I can't stand, so it might find a more comfortable resting place on the dressing tables of older beauty lovers. Certainly, I ain't its demographic, but I find it very attractive, not to mention wearable.
On counter from July, Scarlett starts at €33 for a 30ml EDT, and goes up to €49.50 for an 80ml EDT.
