In need of a new perfume? Freshen up your scent with the latest luxury fragrance by none other than Stella McCartney. The stellar supermom who is best known for her work on the runway— and most recently for designing team Great Britain’s uniforms for the 2012 Olympics— released her first scent back in 2003. “Stella” was an instant hit and several limited edition versions of the bottle were released— but McCartney had her heart set on creating this fragrance, “L.I.L.Y.,” long before her first bottle’s success.
The designer’s new scent has a very personal touch. Inspired by memories of her childhood and the countryside estate that she grew up in, it’s no surprise that the appropriately-named “L.I.L.Y” is an earthly scent. But while the fragrance contains lily of the valley as a main ingredient, the name behind the bottle has a much deeper meaning. “L.I.L.Y.,” which is an acronym for “Linda I Love You,” was her famous rock star dad’s nickname for her late mother, who passed away in 1998. Obviously a perfume that is close to her heart, it’s also an ode to Stella's (and her mother’s) favorite flower, lily of the valley, which was even part of the designer’s bridal bouquet.
Though the flower is delicate, feminine, and innocent, the perfume is anything but contemporary. “I also wanted to explore its darker, more masculine side,” McCartney said of the flower to WWD. “It’s a woodland flower and I wanted to capture the roots and earthy side of it.” So she included unusual notes of truffle on top and oak moss at the base, which add a sexy and sinister contrast to the main ingredient that lies right at the heart of the perfume.
Sold in an Art Deco-style crystal bottle, “L.I.L.Y.” is available in 30, 50 and 75-ml Eau de Parfums for $60-$100, as well as a 10-ml roll-on tube for $25.
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