Betrothal

Betrothal was first made in 1893 for a royal engagement and brought back in 2011 around another royal wedding. The 2011 version was composed afresh rather than copied from an old formula, and it reads as a bright, modern take on an English floral, not a museum piece. It opens with a lively burst of bergamot and neroli, fresh and a little bitter rather than sharp, and the citrus does not hang around. The heart is rose and jasmine in a creamy, powdery bouquet, with ylang-ylang adding a humid, silky sweetness that makes the flowers feel fuller. Wearers pick up a soft powdery haze and, for some, a faint animalic warmth under the petals. The base is where many wearers fall for it. Vanilla leads, with sandalwood and cedarwood, a soft musk, and a little vetiver and patchouli to keep the sweetness grounded. Reports of staying power are strong, from most of a day to ten hours or more, and the projection is moderate and polite. A few wearers find the Eau de Parfum fades faster on their skin. It leans towards spring but holds up in autumn, and its natural homes are weddings, dinners and dressed-up days rather than the gym or a hot afternoon. Some wearers are reminded of classic powdery florals such as Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere. At GBP 230 for 50 ml it is priced as a luxury perfume, and most wearers who rate the price call it steep, so sample it first.