Stella Peony

I have a tester of this. For Stella lovers, this is basically what we know and love about our beloved Stella, but without the rose and the underlying sweetness of the amber. The peony is at the forefront (obviously), whereas with Stella original, the peony is definitely there, but the rose is way more prominent. Peony also has more of the pepperiness, and cedar and patchouli as the base. It's definitely a different vibe, but still with the Stella DNA. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. I think I'll have to test this some more and in warmer weather to make a determination. The longevity, projection, and sillage is a joke though. After about 3 hours it's almost gone on me, just a faint remnant of a skin scent. I would consider the exorbitant prices that Stella original is going for right now because I just love it so much, but I'm not sure if I would do that for Peony. EDIT: July 4, 2023 Ok I purchased a 100ml bottle of this, as well as the rollerball and love it. I can see what people mean by the plasticky smell, but that fades away like 10-15 seconds after spraying. What settles is this spicy yet sweet peony scent. This is the spiciest of Stella's creations. To me, Stella original is beautiful, flowing, sensual, and romantic. I reach for Peony when I'm feeling spicy and more action-oriented. It's definitely the other side of the same Stella coin since it's very similar to the signature Stella scent, just with the peony cranked up and a lot of pepper sprinkled on top. A must have for Stella lovers who are looking for a different vibe but with the same Stella DNA. See also my review of her In Two Peony creation for a comparison.

A very beautiful spicy floral. It smells simultaneously fresh, yet also slightly warm and sweet (although I cannot pinpoint what kind of sweet note it is...) It is more herbaceous and woody, rather than a floral bouquet...but the flower is there, like 1 or 2 pink peonies set in the center of a zen forest garden. I think this could work in all seasons. I am currently wearing it on a very cold day, and the cedar/patchouli/pepper seems appropriately festive--reminds me of Christmas pines and spiced drinks--yet the freesia and peony could probably also do well in warm spring or hot summer days, too. There is not much development as the first hour reflects what I will smell on my clothes the next day...but there is a depth that I keep enjoying when I catch the scent. Makes me feel casually sophisticated and energized. It is most suitable as a day fragrance. I could wear this to work, but I can also see myself spritzing it before/after a workout due to its transparency.

The original Stella was my signature for a long time, until recently, when for some reason it started to project like crazy on me and was overpowering my nose (no doubt hormonal). So, I’d relegated it to a winter evening fragrance. The EDT is a go-to Summer scent for me, but I needed my old Stella back, the one that I could wear to work year round, the one that was “me” Well, along comes Stella Peony. YES. This is the Goldilocks version: just right. The peony tempers the Rose-and-amber-combo tendency to lend a sort of soapy, masculine tinge to the fragrance (which was what was popping out on me big time and giving me headaches) while retaining the classic aura of the Stella we all know and love. Over the course of the day it blooms and the rose comes through more and more. I never tried Stella In Two and I’ve heard a lot of comparisons to that one, but I will say that as far as I’m concerned, this is my new favorite Stella.

Oh I spent years trying to find this new edition of Stella’s Peony! I was so curious whether or not it would be similar to the Peony in two and guys...it’s pretty much the same scent!!! Which made me very happy...except one tiny detail: now it feels super synthetic. I will be honest with you last time I wore Peony in two was ten years ago, so I don’t know for sure if they changed the ingredients for cheaper synthetic ones or maybe it’s just that I smelled so much more other fragrances (including niches brands and boutique lines), so that my nose is more demanding now. But the scent itself hasn’t changed and I’m keeping my bottle for sure! ;) reminds me of my youth😊

This smells like the original Stella McCartney to me. I have an OLD bottle of Stella, and Peony and that liquid smell remarkably similar. Yes, there is more rose in Stella and more Peony (and geranium) in Peony, but the base is very much the same. Peony does not have the tenacity of Stella, but, like I said, I have an old bottle of Stella...before reformulations. It's the rich, gorgeous rose that launched me into fragrance-love...the One that started it all. I take out the gorgeous amethyst bottle every once in awhile to treasure the liquid, which still smells exquisite. I may buy Peony because I enjoy it very much, but it is not as special as Stella, to me.