Stella

Update: Oct 19, 2023 I've finally gotten around to comparing this with the reformulated version side-by-side and have included my full review under the reformulated version's page. Version Comparison TLDR; This version is lighter, softer in scent, longevity is way shorter. Re-formulated version has a darker, woodsier, slightest perceptible hint of soapiness, which tips that version towards the direction of Rose Absolute, whereas this version is fresher and leans more towards the lightness of the Sheer flankers. Original Review: Stella, oh Stella, my one true love. She first came into my life sometime between 2012-2013 (thankfully, right before the reformulation), and I remember going through a few bottles of the 100ml within this timeframe. I loved it so much, I still remember saying to myself that I want to bathe in it. I was working in the beauty industry at that time, so I was surrounded by all of the latest and most popular fragrances. Yet, nothing compared to my dear Stella. Whenever I have Stella on, I feel beautiful, feminine, sensual, mysterious, slightly distant, yet sweet and warm at the same time. Embedded into this fragrance is my first foray into the exploration of my own womanhood. I feel like what we deem as our signature scent ought to reflect the totality of our entire selves, even the parts of ourselves that have yet to be discovered. Stella is this for me. She is all that I am, and I am all that she is, even down to the design of the bottle. Full-spectrum, from light (crystal clear) to dark (amethyst). Simple, yet structured, all shrouded in an air of mystery. To even attempt to reduce my relationship with Stella down to words feels so utterly crude, but here we find ourselves on this platform, to share our experiences with each other, right? Now, why do I love Stella so? Firstly, when I wear fragrances, I want to feel beautiful. I want to feel sensual. I want to bask in, be surrounded by, and be reminded of my femininity whenever I get a whiff of her. It's that simple. I do not want to smell delicious, like a breezy tropical drink, or like a complex conundrum. It is because of this reason that I do not like fragrances that are overtly sweet or delicious-smelling. Perhaps you can call me a gourmand non-lover, but this dislike for sweetness also translates to florals. With Stella, the sweetness is always in the background, never overt (thank you amber basenote; side note--my skin loves amber). As a matter of fact, none of the notes are overt on me. @cstands, in her review from 2016 perfectly described the interplay of the notes: "I admire perfumes that manage to take a few simple notes and blend them so masterfully that, while they each portray a lead role, neither can be detected in isolation. The entire perfume would falter if one note went amiss - it seems that the strength of each individual note is enhanced by the support of the others. The romantic femininity of the rose, the lighter, greener, uplifting peony note, the fresh, sweet hint of mandarin and the sensual base of amber" The longevity, projection, and sillage of this original formulation is shorter on me compared to the reformulated version. I think I can classify the reformulated edition as beast. However, I still get about 5-6 hours of this fresh yet mysterious rose/peony interplay, then it begins its fade into a skin scent with the amber coming to the forefront for the rest of the day, so a total of around 10-11 hours with one spray on each pulse point. Not bad. All hail the Queen.

Beautiful dewy rose with a hint of something more lingering beneath. The combo of rose and peony juxtaposed against amber and just a dash of pepper is pretty clever, which I think is what made this perfume so iconic. It is such a shame that it went the way of the buffalo, because it really was unique and likely ahead of its time. I think a lot of people remember this as only a rose perfume, but it really does have more nuance than that. Rose is the thing that stands out certainly, but the amber in the base is what makes it linger unlike any other rose-forward fragrance of its day. I tried this yesterday just after smelling Miss Charming from JHAG, and the rose oil/rose note is the same, but the base is completely different. The analogy I would make is that Stella is a lovely rose-printed spring dress from a bespoke boutique and Miss Charming is a similarly printed frock off the rack from Macy's. I think the staying power of Stella is ultimately what makes it so much better than Miss Charming. Diptyque also uses the same rose scent in Eau Rose and Eau Captiale, and for my buck those two are much more similar to the original 2003 Stella than Miss Charming. I went through several bottles in the early 00s and I still have a rollerball that is from no later than 2010, so I feel like I have a good frame of reference. If you want something that will remind you of Stella, by all means go for Miss Charming. If you want something to actually replace Stella, go with Eau Rose in the EDT. If you want an even more luxurious Stella experience, choose Eau Rose EDP. If you are, like me, a little more sophisticated in your scent choices now and want Stella that has also grown up gracefully, go with Eau Capitale. Miss Charming is just going to leave you wanting.

Rose is the kind of note that drives fragrance lovers like me a little nutty. Always searching for a new and better rose scent although there's already a number of rose perfumes in one's collection ... and yet there's always room for one more. In the hope of scoring the perfect rose scent I purchased S. and now my formerly drab life is brightened and enriched. Hallelujah the search is over! Imagine warm Old Dutch Masters light upon the elegant flacon as I anoint myself with the blessed liquid ... but seriously, S. is lovely! Original S. is a very beautiful rose perfume, rich with rose oil and free of rose water soapiness. Expertly blended, the other notes enhance the rose without overshadowing it. Sillage is modest, longevity is good. S. stays close to the body, making it work safe. This is an ageless feminine scent without frills or sugar. The flacon is also lovely, a stretched octogon. Understated and chic, just like the perfume. This is the first Stella McCartney fragrance for me, and I'm pleasantly surprised by its elegant, understated beauty: a welcome addition to my ever growing collection of rose frags. Still, the search for that perfect rose perfume continues ... I know it's out there.

Rose is a favourite note for me and in Stella it is done very well. It is a much loved fragrance for a reason. I have a slight preference for deep, rich rose fragrances, but I can enjoy a light fresh rose when done well. Stella straddles that line perfectly for me. The rose is deep, red and velvety and has a lush fragrance, but everything aroud it is light and fresh. I don't get any green notes in this fragrance like I do with a lot of other fresher rose fragrances, just those deep red rose petals. Stella makes a perfect signature scent. That light freshness keeps it from becoming overwhelming in the heat. While the darkness of the rose helps it stand out in colder weather. This also helps it suit both days and night. If you are a one fragrance kind of person and a rose lover this just might be the fragrance for you. My bottle is around 5 years old, so I don't know where that lands in the reformulations, it may be the more current as it smelled just like the couple of samples I have gotten since then. The performance is fine, about 5-6 hours with light to moderate projection most of that time. I think this is a rose that can suit any age, especially if they are already a rose lover.

Contemporary Classic ROSE. Velvety lush rose scent opening with a floral burst of rose with citrus touches from mandarin, that deepens into a rosy heart with velvety, whipped, & balsamic touches, resting on an amber base The rose is slightly MiddleEastern, and has a fluffy, whipped quality with body, and maybe a faint trace of spice & patchouli (not listed). Overall I get a Tea-rose/Taif-rose blend with a velvety whipped quality and a slight shampoo vibe in the drydown, with pencil shavings on the skin. Above average performance. Contrast to Oscar Rose Oscar de la Renta: These are different but I can see why they have been compared. With Stella I get a Tea-rose/Taif-rose leaning more shampoo-like and with Oscar Rose I get a Taif-rose leaning luxury whipped body cream. With Stella, in the drydown I also get soapiness and a faint pencil shaving note on the skin that I don't smell in Oscar Rose. Overall: Absolutely beautiful & versatile scent profile with above average performance, this is the perfect scent to wear for a modern classic vibe. It's a love for me. Enjoy!