Better known for her opulent evening clutches and handbags, usually seen adorning the arms of A-listers, designer Judith Leiber has launched her first fragrance – which echoes the same high-octane opulence as one of her crystal minaudières.
This is no ordinary fragrance – More is More! (£95) has an innovative design, which means that you can experience up to seven different scents all from the same bottle. It’s a maximalist’s heaven! Inspired by the brand’s iconic heritage and playful spirit, More is More! was created in partnership with leading fragrance company, Viviana London and is the first of its kind.
First of all is the lavish bottle – giving a nod to New York’s iconic Chrysler building – fittingly, it has all the sparkle and razzmatazz as one of Judith Leiber’s jewel-encrusted bags. Made of rose gold chambers with sliders, that open and close and are adorned with crystals, it is a design innovation allowing customisation of the three different scents inside. You can build your own signature fragrance by selecting one, two or all three scents by toggling the crystal sliders open or close.
Inside the bottle, are three different and complementary fragrances, created by master nose Jerome Di Marino. The artisan perfumer graduated from the perfume school founded by Guerlain in 2010, and was then mentored by legendary perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. He went on to win the coveted FIFI award in 2015 and is the ‘nose’ behind other famous creations, such as Kenzo’s World Power and Burberry’s Her London Dream.
For More is More! the first fragrance is More Gourmand! – an indulgent, rich, sweet scent. It opens with notes of blackcurrant absolute and mandarin. Rich gingerbread and rose petals create a sensual heart, while vanilla and cashmere woods give it a sweet, buttery aroma.
More Zest! is a bright citrus that is rich yet sparkling. It has top notes of grapefruit, fresh lemongrass and sunny green bergamot. After a while, orris, originating from the iris flower root and peony, emerges. While the base is made of notes of sandalwood and cedarwood. It’s the perfect every day scent.
More Floral! meanwhile has notes of fresh pink pepper and mandarin, which then gives way to a bloom of flowers. Ylang ylang and orchid carry the heart of this bouquet composition. Coconut wood adds creaminess, while patchouli gives strength, which helps the floral notes last longer.
The different scents can be spritzed individually or blended together – or in pairs to create a different scent for every day of the week!
Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, creative director of Judith Leiber, says: “Novelty is in Judith Leiber’s brand DNA. We select our bags to match our mood, so why not our fragrance? Find your signature scent. Make a statement and have fun with it!”
While it may have a bit of an 80s ‘Dynasty’ vibe going on, the perfume has a forward-thinking approach for a modern-day consumer. Next year, the brand intends to launch refills for the bottle – so you won’t be throwing this away. And will also be introducing new fragrances so you can have endless combinations to play with and customise.
More is More!, a fragrance by Judith Leiber Couture, comes in a 75ml (25ml refills x3) bottle, which retails for £95.
*This review is based on a press sample
