Mainstream Monday: Sniffing a Popular Perfume
When Miu Miu was launched, I didn’t want to try it. Why? Because I loved the bottle and ad campaign so much and I didn’t want to be disappointed by the actual product inside the bottle. Reviews started to be published and the opinions were really lukewarm. With so many launches and so little time, I didn’t go out of my way to try Miu Miu.
One day MTA actually ran smoothly and I arrived at a dinner reservation too early. I dodged into a Sephora to kill some time. There it was, Miu Miu. The bottle, so pretty and appealing in one of my favorite color combos, I sprayed it on and was so surprised. For years I’ve been waiting for a lily of the valley revival¹. Could Miu Miu be it?
Miu Miu opens like a peppery green floral. It almost smells like freshly cut grass…and an old school lily of the valley perfume. It quickly becomes a big ‘ole clean white floral. Yet, it’s still peppery and green while being a “virginal” white floral. This peppery green reminds me very vaguely of green tea leaves. Miu Miu dries down to a dry, peppery woods and blades of dried grass.
Miu Miu isn’t an exceptionally unique fragrance; however, it’s a pleasant surprise. It’s one of those that is right on the edge. It’s on the edge of smelling clean/soapy, but doesn’t. It’s on the edge of smelling woodsy, but it never completely “goes there”. It’s on the edge of being green, but it stays balanced by spices and florals.
As far as being a designer perfume for a designer brand, I think Miu Miu is an accurate olfactory extension of the brand². It’s vintage-y without being a vintage period piece. It has different things going on (like the updated “remixes” that Miu Miu plays with on classic forms) but it’s balanced (like the shapes and patterns that Miu Miu likes to mix). They could have went bolder, but let’s be real. Designer perfumes rarely do that because they’re selling perfume to the masses. If they’re trying to come across as youthful, funky and “modern retro”, Miu Miu did that with this masculine/feminine – old/new perfume.
Notes listed include lily of the valley, rose, jasmine, green notes and Akigalawood. Launched in 2015. PERFUMER – Daniela Andrier
Give Miu Miu a try if you like lily of the valley perfumes or green florals. Or perfumes like Jessica McClintock, Eric Buterbaugh FLORALS Apollo, Van Cleef & Arpels Muguet Blanc, Krigler Charming California 215 and/or Grandiflora Magnolia Grandiflora Michel.
Miu Miu is available in a few sizes with the 1.7 oz retailing for $90 at Sephora and Nordstrom. It can occasionally be found at discounters like Perfume.com.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Peppery lily-of-the-valley. It’s a nice surprise. I don’t need a bottle (despite the bottle being really pretty), but if I ended up with one, I wouldn’t be mad.
¹I think we will have a lily-of-the-valley revival in the next few years thanks to some new synthetics and IFRA mandated reformulations. We shall see…
² If you aren’t familiar with the brand, check out their site.
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Hi Victoria! I agree it’s a pretty scent, and much to my surprise I liked the flanker “l’eau” much better. it’s lighter with more sparkle and transparency. try it if you get a chance!
Oh, that sounds good! I actually have a sample that I just got with a purchase. I need to try it ASAP 🙂
I totally agree! I absolutely love the flamker.
I need to try that flanker!