Pantone® announced the color of 2014, Radiant Orchid. Pantone describes it as“an enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones” that “inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health.” Personally, I think this will be a great “cosmetic” color and I partially think this is why it was chosen (licensing agreements). Being a Pantone pick, we’re going to see it in everything from throw pillows to tea towels to bathing suits to lipstick. If purple with pink undertones is your color, 2014 is the year for you.

I’ve put together my perfume picks for Radiant Orchid. These are perfumes that I think about when I see this shade – from packaging to scent. These are the perfumes that I feel mirror the “great joy, love and health” of the color of 2014.

Joy 

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP – What’s more joyous than an explosion of floral petals? The bottle of this now cult-favorite is campy and fun. Flowerbomb is a rose-y floral over patchouli. Retails for $115 at Sephora.

Olympic Orchids Osafume EDP – It would be just wrong to have a guide of perfumes inspired by Radiant Orchid without any of the perfumes by Olympic Orchids. This is a perfume line that KNOWS orchids. There are many to choose from but I think Osafume fits the best with the shade. This is a light, airy anise-heliotrope orchid. It’s flirty and fun. Retails for $65 at Olympic Orchids.

Patou Joy EDP – I’m being so literal here but I do think it’s fitting. Joy is a huge “fictional” floral that I feel works with this feminine shade of purple. Radiant Orchid is a shade inspired by flowers and Joy is a perfume inspired by that as well. Retails for $155 at Nordstrom.

Love 

Cacharel Promesse EDP – Promesse is the follow-up to Amor Amor. It’s meant to follow “the passion” and represent love and marriage. This effervescent fruity blackberry floral is much easier to find in Europe. You can occasionally find it at discount stores in the US.

Caron Aimez-Moi EDT – This means “love me” in French. Despite the desperate name, Aimez-Moi is one of my favorite Carons. I love this spiced violet. Retails for $110 at Nordstrom.

Beckham Signature for Women EDT – OK, this fruity-candy musk wasn’t one of my favorite scents but the bottle is sooo Radiant Orchid that I couldn’t omit it. It’s not a bad fragrance; it’s just a “young” scent. I included it in this category because the bottle is perfect for “Radiant Orchid”. Oh, it’s inspired by a couple that appear to be happily in love. Full review. Retails for $21 at drugstore.com.

Health

Lollia Relax EDP – Stress kills. So relax. Lollia relax is a calming lavender-vanilla with orchid. It’s light and pretty. Retails for $50 at Lollia.

Borsari Violetta di Parma EDT – Violets contain anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant found in foods like blueberries, cranberries and açai berries. So violets are like the superfoods of flowers. Go eat some candied violets 🙂 Or at least smell like candied violets with Violetta di Parma. Retails for about $30 at Perfume.com. 

Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste EDP – I’m really trying hard in this category. I included this one because of the bottle which represents an infinity symbol. The bottle represents balance and harmony. The fragrance is no original Omnia (one of my personal favorites) but it’s still nice. It’s a pretty dewy iris spring-like floral. Retails for $64 at Sephora.

What do you think of Pantone’s color of the year, Radiant Orchid? When you see this shade, which fragrances do you think of? In 2014, perfume notes like rose and berry are predicted to be popular (haven’t they been popular for 10+ years now?). CNN Money feels these notes are a reflection of Pantone’s color of the year. I feel they are reflection of things that are approachable to the mainstream market (and probably a result of some cheaper than ever aromachemicals) but hey, what do I know?

Here’s last year’s Pantone & Perfume – Emerald. 

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*Pantone swatch from fashion.telegraph.co.uk. Sephora, Nordstrom and Perfume.com all contain affiliate links. Thanks!