Narciso Rodiguez captures the 'essence' of femininity

by Danielle Cooper, 04 February 2009

This spring sees a new fragrant offering from Narciso Rodiguez. The third scent from the American designer has been marketed as a celebration of the duality of a women's nature, and as such is dubbed 'Essence'.

Firmenich's Alberto Morillas has taken Rodriguez's signature note, musk, and layered it among rose petals, iris and amber to create a powdery floral. The fragrance is housed in a Ross Lovegrove glass bottle that flows in rounded curves to mirror female contours.

It is the fine female contours of model Catherine MacNeil that feature in the advertising campaign. The designer has said that he was 'drawn to her instinctively' by virtue of her sensuous femininity. Her feminine attributes have been captured by photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

The Essence fragrance is available across a range of products and has been developed and marketed in collaboration with Beaute Prestige International, the Parisian fragrance arm of the Shiseido Cosmetics Corporation. A 3.3oz edp retails at $100, 1.6oz at $78. A 6.7oz scented shower gel and body lotion will retail at $40 and $48 respectively whilst a 3.3oz deoderant will cost $33. The Essence range will be available exclusively at Saks 5th Avenue stores across America from Mid-March 2009.