We want to smell like lipstick The perfumes with cosmetic notes for beauty enthusiasts
We all have that very specific scent in mind, even if we don’t know how to name it. It’s that slightly powdery, slightly chemical, vaguely sweet smell that would fill the air when, as kids, we would sneak into our mom’s makeup: opening a palette like it was forbidden treasure, clumsily applying lipstick, running our fingers over countless eye and lip pencils. An innocent, slightly clandestine ritual, where the bathroom became a small secret place to decode our own femininity. Today, that olfactory memory is still imprinted in our minds, and more and more fragrances are trying to bring it back. Scents that smell like powder, lipstick, and face powders. In short, fragrances that don’t aim to imitate nature, but vanity. Here are five perfumes with cosmetic notes, or that evoke that exact world.
The cosmetic-inspired perfumes we love
Burlesque by Maria Candida Gentile
Burlesque is a fragrance that recalls loose face powder. It opens with citrus notes, quickly evolving into a powdery heart with iris and rose, a duo that echoes vintage powders from the past. The base warms up with incense and patchouli, creating a soft, enveloping trail.
Lipstick Rose by Frederic Malle
Lipstick Rose is the portrait of a Hollywood star at her vanity table, fully immersed in her makeup routine. The opening notes feature grapefruit and violet; the heart blends rose, iris, and raspberry in a sweet, powdery mix. The base of vanilla and white musk makes the fragrance even softer and more glamorous.
Just A Kiss by Victoria's Secret
In Just A Kiss, the notes are more innocent and playful, telling the story of a first approach to makeup, done quickly in front of the mirror before catching the bus to middle school. The opening is all about lip gloss, sugary and sweet. The heart features peony for a light floral touch, while the base of pink pepper adds a lively twist.
Kimono by d'Annam
Kimono is an extremely tactile and sensory interpretation of traditional Japanese cosmetics. It features powdery notes, magnolia, lipstick, rice powder, and silk, recreating the exact sensation of powder lifting into the air when touched.
Promise Her The Moon by Devertere
Promise Her The Moon is a fragrance that evokes nostalgic childhood memories, but what’s interesting is that its opening notes include nail polish, followed by warm plastic, galbanum, ylang-ylang, lemon, and orange peel. The heart unfolds with balloons, pear, and dragon fruit, alongside basil, sambac jasmine, and fig milk. The base features musk, tuberose, vanilla, oud, and powdered sugar.
