Stella Eau de Toilette

An underestimated yet beautiful EDT fragrance! I am in my early 20s and recently have been exploring unique floral scents. I have been on the hunt in finding a rosey scent that doesn't smell simply like roses dipped in powder or scents for the more mature age spectrum. I really like the potential in Stella McCartney's Stella EDP (purple bottle) BUT find its intensity TOO much - especially for my age group. I therefore LOVE this EDT (light pink bottle) as it's a more subtle version of the EDP. My only concern was it's sillage and longevity standards. So.. I finally went to a store and sprayed the EDT on my skin today to test it. One spray on my left hand. It's been over 4.5 hours later, (having spent a few hours outside in the cold and a few hours inside in the warmth) and I'm STILL getting whiffs: of a luxurious bouquet of creamy rose petals on a wooden bed. Due to it being more subtle, it smells more creamier than the EDP (which I find too sharp and just pure rose, leaving a frown on my face). I am REALLY impressed with both the sillage and longevity of this EDT - especially having eaten and washed my hands with hand gel several times and STILL getting the creamy rose with slight woodyness coming through! Others have reviewed this fragrance suitable for the spring/summer. I am currently testing this in Mid-January, where it's been extremely colder than previous years in the UK and I'm still getting a great level of smell from this fragrance. I bought the 50ml EDT gift set and can't wait to use it as potentially my new signature fragrance - as it's a distinctive rose scent that's subtle enough to be noticed, with lasting power. Plus, the body lotion is said to increase the sillage (for those who still think that a watered down version is hopeless). My conclusion is that I think expensive and well-known branded Eau De Toilette's are quite good in terms of lasting power. They might be more subtle than an EDP but it still lasts the same amount of time, (on both skin and clothes) in my opinion. Do test it before shunning away from it. There's no harm in giving it a chance!

I’m really enjoying reading the reviews about this fragrance since the language is so romantic, and I can definitely feel the longing and gratefulness for owning a bottle of it. I’m feeling those feelings myself. @Mangaetteok, I agree about possessing a piece of history. I’m holding a used 30ml in my hands, and I paid a hefty amount for it, but it was all worth it. Sniffing it for the first time, I want to treasure this delicate balance of creamy and powdery citrus and floral notes. It’s so yummy, yet it’s not gourmand. It’s a light and clean scent. It’s sophisticated and the epitome of femininity, buoyant and ethereal in nature. In the beginning, when I sniffed the bottle cap, it gave me Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely’s dry down. I then felt apprehensive about spraying it because I’m sad to say that I don’t like Lovely—it smells like someone had dunked my nose in rubbing alcohol—but when I sprayed Stella, I got a soft lemon and rose accord, which made me breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t find this offensive at all. If anything, the next person might find it too citrusy, but I don’t think to the point where you would get a migraine. If you want that experience, try MFK’s À la Rose (sorry for the shade). This is all just to say that I don’t know how this was received during its initial release, if it was seen as a groundbreaking scent...I’m not getting that. I’m just getting a simple and easy-to-reach fragrance that could be dismissed as run-of-the-mill...only it’s not. There’s something special about it. It’s the girl-next-door that definitely leaves a lasting impression, and if you don’t pursue her and make her yours, she becomes “the one that got away”.

I purchased this perfume in an attempt to re-carry a Bath and Body Works scent by the name of Rose Water and Ivy. (Which word on the street is, has been ruthlessly discontinued by cooperate America.) Amongst its reviews on this site, were strong scent connections with Stella by several perfume connoisseurs. And here begins my version of Stella's profile. It has taken me a few days to even begin to attempt a review, and I think there are a couple reasons for this. The main one being the severity this perfume presents itself as on paper. On this medium, it is acidic, more like stomach acid than citrus, and has a strange connection to dime store rose bouquets in the form of room sprays and body powders. I was downright concerned, having just spent $40 on the disappointment, and further fear upon wearing it. But, alas, I summoned the courage, and what a reward that was! On the skin, the opening is luscious, lemon sunshine kissing a spring garden! Further development reveals peony and a petite tea rose aroma - the peony plays gently with the a fore mentioned rose in a way which makes the rose...well, rosier. Its light and optimistic, and oh so bright! And as the sun sets on our quaint little garden corner, and we are left to linger in the twilight of the dry down, the airiest violet emerges, and amber takes lead as the sunset. Light is low, but the ground is still warm from the incandescence of the day. It is truly delightful in its simplicity. Unfortunately, longevity performs very much like the Bath and Body Works body spray, which makes justifying the cost very difficult. She's a fleeting beauty, but oh so pretty!

I am now nearly finishing this bottle, all the listed notes the citrus, the rose, the amber are all present. Now I'm taking into consideration my age, and hormones, temperature outside and what I eat whilst wearing this one. Nothing has really changed, the fresh lemon and rose which appears is not strong and would not annoy the rose haters approaching me. It's not old fashioned but I think any age would like this. However for me personally the longevity is so so short, whether that due to osmosis or an aging nose, ( and to be fair I suffered from hay fever and colds a LOT when young which is possibly why with well mixed perfumes I can just smell on some singular notes and others not), which makes me a little sad, as its a favourite rose alongside Jeanne Lanvin one on its last dregs,and neither lasts. But it's a perfume I crave, as its a little sweet. I think when I finish, I'll keep the bottle and make a decision then. In general I think you can blind buy this one. As I think it'll easily gifted if it doesn't suit you.

I have the edp and even though I love it, I don't reach for it outside of winter because it's a little too jammy and heavy on the amber for me. In this version the amber is toned way down, which makes it perfect for warm weather wear. It still smells like Stella, but it's not as heavy or oppressive in the heat. It's brighter and has a citrus fizzy quality from the citrus, freesia, and violet leaf which really compliments and freshens up the Bulgarian rose. At the time I purchased this it was winter, and I thought it was too light, but it really pops in the heat and surrounds me with beautiful, soft silage that lasts until I wash it off. It's bright, cheerful, and just plain pretty. If you want to wear a rose scent that isn't too much on warm days this is a nice one to try. I also found Paul Smith's Rose, Kardashian's Fleur Fatale, and Annick Goutel's Ce Soir Ou Jamais edt perfect for warm weather wear, though different rose varieties are used. But just like the different roses in my garden, I love them all.