Mother of Pearl

Mother of Pearl is named for the prismatic, opalescent beauty of the shell, and it tries to recreate those fine, shifting particles of colour in scent. The brand calls it intricate, opalescent and rare, and a fruity gourmand made with the perfumer Julie Lerendu. It opens with a tropical burst of juicy mango and passionfruit, glistening with mandarin and pear, with ginger, bergamot and pink pepper in support. Gardenia and jasmine weave through a cool, plush coconut heart. The base warms it with vanilla and amber, with musk, sandalwood and Peru balsam. Wearers describe an uplifting start that turns gourmand and then ambery, floral, creamy and balsamic. A few find the woody-amber dry down synthetic or slightly too sweet. It is an eau de parfum at 20 percent, and the reports are of long wear, from nearly six hours to all day, with a good sillage that is strong yet unobtrusive. It is a spring pick first, with every other season close, and an easy daytime scent that dresses up for evening. The brand sells the 100 ml bottle at 195 pounds, in a flacon with iridescent fluting where no two bottles are the same. It suits wearers who like sweet, creamy, tropical florals and want a scent that is noticed.