Stella (2003)
by Stella McCartney

I have tried many times with this one---it smells stale to me with I swear a whiff of old cigarettes. I liked 2007's Sheer better.

I love Stella. That's a beautiful and gothic fragrance . A blend of Amber and White Roses, tabacco ??? . I love it.

I was originally drawn to Stella because I adore the scent of rose, but also impressed with the McCartney stance on cruelty-free cosmetics. The scent seems like the simple simple mingling of rose and amber. The scent is long-lasting and has excellent sillage. It is very elegant and unique, and the bottle--heavy faceted glass with deep violet ombre colour--and very contemporary. I use this as both a day and evening scent in the warmer months when my nose craves the scent of flowers. It comes in a range of small purse-sized roll-on vials and also a 1.0 oz spray of EDP. I also have the 3.3 oz as well. Not a young girl's "candy scented" fragrance at all, as if projects an aura of mature sensuality.

I usually don't like rose, but I love Stella. When it dries it has such a nice earthy and organic smell, and is still really pretty and not boring like a typical rose perfume for an old lady maybe. Lasting power is really good.

This smells pretty and romantic. I gave minis to my bridesmaids to wear for my wedding while I was ostentatious in Pure Poison.  (But that's sort of the point, right?)  One of my sisters loved it and bought the full size.  I had a mini left over so I wore it to work and was complimented on it.  It is uncomplicated and subtle, pretty, best worn when feeling demure.  I don't feel demure very often.

(I have the Absolute version.)

Many people have said it before, but it bears repeating: this is a modern rose perfume. It's light enough to be wearable during the day, but complex enough to be taken out at night. Not groundbreaking by any means, but if you're a 21st century girl with a latent romantic streak, you should try this. It is straightforward rather than flirty.