Elegance Elixir

Elegance Elixir sets out to recreate the quiet intensity of Narciso Rodriguez For Her, a modern classic built around a famously rich, intimate musk. The opening here is a fresh, slightly green blend of bergamot, pear and green apple that stands in reasonably well for the original's rose-and-peach top accord, and jasmine, orange blossom and freesia in the heart provide a comparable soft floral character. Where the two diverge most is the base: For Her is celebrated for a warm, sensual musk that deepens as it develops, changing character with proximity from a clean-linen distance scent to something far more intimate up close. This version's cedarwood-vanilla-musk base is pleasant but noticeably flatter and more one-dimensional, without that same evolving, addictive quality. It's an easy, wearable floral-musk for the office or a first date, but the reason For Her has such a devoted following - its unusually rich, long-lasting musk - isn't fully captured here, and the dupe fades to a light powdery note well before the original's reported 6-8 hours.