Description
Stella McCartney is relaunching her first fragrance, Stella, from 2003, whose composition remains unchanged while changes occurred in flacon design and new sizes that will be available on the market. The fragrance will be promoted/launched today exclusively at Harrods, accompanied with a new advertising campaign featuring Lara Stone.
Photos of the new advertising campaign were taken in London, and are signed by famous photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The advertising campaign is accompanied by a video clip with background music by female band Warpaint.
“Stella is a celebration of women, and Lara is the perfect representation. She brings the ideas of the fragrance alive, in an honest way. She is a modern woman who is approachable and sensual at the same time,” stated Stella McCartney.
The first edition of Stella was launched in 2003 and created in collaboration with YSL Beauty. Top notes of the composition accentuate essences of roses blended with peony and mandarin shades, while the heart of the composition is based on intense notes of rose absolute. Base notes were composed of woodsy notes and amber. The perfume was signed by perfumer Jacques Cavallier.
The fragrance is available as 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum and 200 ml body lotion. By August 1, 2014 Harrods will have the exclusive sales right and after that date the fragrance will be sold in perfumeries worldwide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOTp-uwIdr4&rel=0
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svaytosa – :
A beautiful, sweet, jammy rose.
It stays close to the skin but it is clear and strong and is well-blended. I usually don’t like rose scents and I actually dislike Chloe Absolu, but this one is the right kind of rose for me.
mb999 – :
I bought this blind with absolute confidence I would love it after reading all of the reviews here.
As expected it smells like the original. Maybe a bit better maybe not but who cares? It is beautiful and I can’t wait to spray it on. I’m ignoring all other scents at the moment!!!
nico – :
The scent of late summer: blackberries, sun baked woods, and velvety overripe red roses.
I had been worried about this re-edition, as to how much the original formulation had been changed. My old bottle or original Stella is long gone, hence I can only compare to my memory, which may be deceiving.
Stella 2014 has still the Stella vibe, the essence of above mentioned impressions and still wears best in Autumn and Winter. It is a lovely deep, red rose scent, without any rose soap associations, but rather reminiscent of wine and red berries, borderline jammy. What I do feel to be changed, is the wood notes. They seem initially more dominant, musky, like they switched to a new aromachemical. Side effect is, that Stella smells more blurry from short distance and better from afar as in “Don’t rub your nose in it, give it an arm’s length and it’s perfect”.
Lasting power is better, Sillage is rather on the softer side.
irun4ika – :
Basic….
it reminds me of eaudemoiselle de givenchy, I used to have eaudemoiselle and stella gets the same treatment eaudemoiselle got. I only wear it to bed or If I want to throw something on, sometimes I layer it with miss dior le parfum to make it more interesting. I regret buying it.
gerich49 – :
A few years ago when I started my obsessive fragrant purchasing this is one of the first items that I purchased. I got it from a perfume store through eBay. I was so happy when I received it and it was exactly as beautiful as I was hoping it would be but equally is disappointed that it only lasted about a half an hour. I have never had this happen with a perfume over $10. I tried it three or four times and everytime same result. Gone completely between 30 and 45 minutes. Since that time I realize that one of my old favorite notes is peony. I went ahead even though I had one jevity issues with this one and purchase Stella peony. That perfume is such a masterpiece and last at least 4 hours. That leads me to believe that the perfume here that I purchased on eBay may have possibly Ben fake? I’m going to read through all these reviews and if no one is saying that it only last 30 minutes I’m going to have to repurchase this and try again. I wouldn’t normally do something like that but for the fact that everything I’ve smelled of hers is unbelievably beautiful to me. Since now I’ve tried three others by Stella and they all have longevity it’s highly unlikely this one last 30 minutes. I think I got ripped off. Last thing I want to say is that ever since I started using Chloe by Chloe and Chloe new I’ve been chasing that smell. Chloe doesn’t even last that long for me for some reason and I’m always looking for things that smell similar. To my no Stella perfumes are much like the different Chloe perfumes and some way. Very similar to me.
jff202Diobtetty – :
This is what made me finally like a rose fragrance. And funny enough, this really is a true rose fragrance – a clean, sharp, cold rose that stays pretty much the same during wear time ( I like clean linear fragrances that don’t change a lot while I’m wearing them). This to me feels modern and minimalist, quite casual and not cloying or overbearing, a good daytime fragrance. This one also gets a lot of compliments! Stella is not sweet or dainty, it’s straight to the point, sharp and clean (but not laundry detergent or soap kinda clean)…
This fragrance isn’t “me”, as I prefer sweet Oriental and gourmand fragrances, but I really enjoy it and this is what got me to look into rose fragrances more.
sunda86 – :
This is a simple green rose scent. Not sweet at all. No mystery or drama behind but it’s intense enough to be noticeable. To me it’s a smell of innocence. I find it almost identical to Paul Smith Rose.
serii017 – :
When this was launched I lusted after it, but we were in the middle of a major house renovation and I was on super economy mode, no perfume purchases. I never did get to buying Stella, but I sprayed myself every time I got near a store tester.
I don’t think the current version has the same elegance. It’s nice and no more. Try Eau de Protection from ELDO (Rossy de Palma)
DlackBlood – :
One of my Holy Grail fragrances. So exquisite. Imagine you are in a rose garden on an early summer morning, and the roses are just past full bloom and heavy with dew. This is Stella. Beautiful and uncomplicated.
Rich, romantic, clean yet sexy. Suitable for all occasions, day or night.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
deniss81 – :
OMG, this is beautiful! I was aware of the fame Stella has among the rose lovers, but I haven’t found it available in any shop where I live. Then today I was at the city to buy other stuff and wasn’t even going to check out perfume. A strong rain started falling and where was I? In front of a perfume shop. I “had” to enter to wait for the rain to stop and started just for fun to check out perfumes I’ve never tried before, when suddenly I turn to the side and there it is: Stella McCartney, hidden in the corner of the lowest shelf, in the back of the shop, for half of the price! I tested both EDP and EDT:
EDP: Rose jam. I get some “red berries”, but very subtle, it is definitely not fruity. I get also a patchouli vibe, but I don’t believe there is any patchouli in it, otherwise I would hate it. If there is, it’s hidden to my nose. It’s a modern rose, has a grown up style. Nothing like vintage roses (which can also be nice, but it’s not Stella). Surprisingly, the EDT has more longevity it on my skin than the EDP.
EDT: At first I liked it more than the EDP, and the reason is: freesia. I just love this note! Unfortunately it fades very quickly, and the dry down is much sweeter than the EDP, IMO. Also, the EDT had violet leaf, which makes it slightly powdery, but not too much.
Two adorable scents! I might have bought them both…
krasjvskiy_88 – :
Stella is a gorgeous and classy rose perfume. You simply need to try it if you are a fan of rose notes in your fragrances. Plain and simple.
When I first spray this on, the dominant notes are the rose and the wood notes on my skin. This is a very pretty combination that smells floral and earthy. A few minutes after spraying it on, though, the citrus comes out to give the perfume some freshness and a subtle sweetness. Later on, the amber comes out more on my skin to blend everything together, resulting in a beautiful rosey, earthy, wet, and soft scent. The image of the morning dew on a rose bush is what comes to mind here.
This is a feminine fragrance through and through, if you ask me. I also think that it can be pulled off almost all year round since it’s not too sweet or heavy for Summer, nor is it too watery or light for the Winter. It just smells “classic” to me. Roses are a type of floral that I don’t mind smelling all year round, personally.
I know that people have been complaining about the reformulation of Stella. Personally, for whatever reason, I never tried the original (so I have no basis of comparison). I do think that the reformulation smells lovely, though.
FeemIrrarne – :
Rose and jam. Very soft and warm. This is a muted, soft, blurred rose.
This isn’t as good of a rose scent as Jo Malone London’s Poppy & Barley, which is better quality and less generic.
simplepoker – :
i always get complimented on this scent. it’s a hot one
inigueadure – :
Starts with citrus, then wood joins, then slowly peony and last rose. More later it seems slightly fruity. Orange and floral refreshing, warmed with bit scratchy wood and soft amber. Due to wood notes can be bit heavy or seem slightly unisex for some. With time becomes more like real rose.
Woman who wears this is in fashion/art industry. She have her opinion and can be leader, yet she is feminine. She isn’t bold, but rather inspirational, artistic figure. Prefers city movement. Her color off course as perfume bottle violet-purple with brown undertone. Age 25+. She isn’t childish, nor ‘doll’ unless she herself decides to be like that for moment.
I could suggest this perfume for those who are tired of modern sweetish, romantic, girly, teen perfumes and want to ‘grow up’ a bit. This perfume rather say ‘woman’, yet she is still young enough.
Is this classic scent? I’m not sure, if it is then it can be called ‘timeless’, it will fit in most time lines.
I was thinking in what season this could fit best and didn’t get definite answer, I only could think of rainy summer.
velmon – :
every time I wear it someone asks me what I’m wearing even though I can’t smell it on myself even If I bring my wrist so close to my nose and sniff the hell out of it. It’s a beautiful floral scent I just wish It was more powerful so I could enjoy it too
Gertyol – :
A relative of mine has this version and I love it. After looking at the reviews here, I decided to track down the original in order to both have a bottle of this lovely perfume and to compare the two versions. I can now say as someone who is relatively new to Stella perfumes and has both versions side by side, the two versions are very similar. The newer version has a brighter, slightly fruitier aura. The old version has a bit more “body” if that makes sense. In seasonal terms, I would say the original is more fall/winter and the new one is more spring/summer. Without having them side by side or being extremely familiar with the original formula, one can be forgiven for not even noticing there’s been a change at all. They’re both gorgeous non-traditional rose perfumes that are a joy to the nose and immediately elevate my mood upon application. I hope this helps someone!
Rakiguica – :
This is a pretty fragrance that reminds me of how drawer sachets sold in Victoriana gift shops smell. Agree with other commenters who have noted that this smells like the idea of a rose, rather than an actual rose. This fragrance doesn’t particularly connect with me, but it’s one I’d enjoy smelling on other people. I prefer the Chloe version of a rose, which to my nose smells more natural.
Edit: I have found myself reaching for this sample more than I anticipated. It’s really grown on me and I’m now feeling like it’s full bottle worthy!
Edit 2: Full bottle obtained! Oh, how time with a frag can change one’s opinion of it 😉
Vakiwap – :
There is nothing wrong or inoffensive about Stella, but it lacks the wow factor I wanted. I too am disappointed in having bought this without testing it first. I hadn’t been able to find it in Australia (although another reviewer did) or I would have tested it on myself and realised that it is very soft, with almost no silage on me. I think I’ll need to layer it over rose body wash or cream to amp it up enough to register. I much prefer Yardley’s roses or Tea Rose by The Perfumer’s Workshop (yep, I know it’s really really strong) which are both much more reasonably priced. My thumbs down review is harsher than I mean but there’s no “OK, but not great” imogi offered. As so many of you have noted, the exquisite bottle is far more stylish and intriguing than this fragrance. Pity.
Eageseagodema – :
Beautiful. True to nature, soft rose absolute note. Wonderfully light and fresh, perfect for hot days. Its beauty is all in its simplicity.
sr44 – :
After reading and listening to so many rave reviews about Stella, I’d been wanting to try it out for more than a year. Finally I purchased a sample and am… disappointed. I thought it would be really special and intriguing. I didn’t expected it to be just a simple and flat soapy rose. It’s still very beautiful, I like it for an everyday fragrance but the bottle is more exciting than the scent itself.
ivkhakim – :
Sweet and pretty, not very long lasting though, and I would also add deal breakers for me, like “safe, office friendly, non-offensive” = a little bit boring to me and not worthy of a full bottle.
vetonitlr – :
I mean…. I smell zero traces of any rose here. Just orange, its a a sharp scent, maybe around the dry down, the rose starts to blossom, but the sharpness of the orange is annoying.
يمكن مع نوع معين من الدخون ريحنه تتحسن بس مش ذاك الزود
карапіцький – :
After reading rave reviews of Stella, finally I hunted down the perfume in Australia, where it’s not readily available in the department stores…. and I must say I am unimpressed and disappointed. The scent is mild, a pretty rose floral, but not extraordinary. It has no lasting power or projection. I have to spray double the amount on myself to get a decent amount of wear out of it. The price is just not justifiable for this sort of poor performance. May be the older original version is better than this new reformulation, I haven’t tried that.
ReddydaceReOt – :
My absolute favorite perfume. I need another bottle…now#!!! My boyfriend even loves it and he is quite hard to please when it comes to perfume.
ujl485bedyWelty – :
I thought I would like this, so I blind bought this. But it smells like pepperminty rose to me.
Zinger – :
unimpressive, reminds me of Givency’s Hot Couture minus the intrigue. lacks femininity for something so rose dominant. does not last past ONE DEAD SEC
REVISIT late fall:
better, but still unspectacular
lvov98 – :
Beautiful, very realistic rose. This smells almost exactly like those little bush roses we call “roses of St. Therese”. Leafy, vaguely sweet, but also greenish and juicy.
This would be the perfect rose scent for me, if only it lasted longer. It’s a real shame, but this lasts 30 min-1 hour on me. A beautiful hour, but only one hour.
I own a sample and now want to try the famous older formulation which apparently lasts longer. This is so beautiful
Ciccoppynix – :
Finally got to try the 2014 version of Stella.
I originally saw the comments regarding the fragrance change and tried to be open minded. Unfortunately, the comments are right. I have had the original Stella fragrance since it first came out and to me this version seems to lack the strength and depth of the original. After an hour on my skin the fragrance almost disappears and no longer works well with my chemistry. I have tested both fragrances on card to compare. The 2014 version to my nose seems like a toilette version of the original and the old version has a richer amber, Rose middle and base which doesn’t change so quickly. If you can get a hold of the old version do it is more interesting than the new version.
private – :
* These are my personal experiences/thoughts with this fragrance. Yours/others may differ. *
Initial – rose + peony
Drydown – rose + amber + musk
Duration – 6 hours
Projection – 1st hour moderate, soft afterwards
Experiences – Beautiful rose scent that is perfect for cooler temperatures due to the warm amber note. Very clean without being soapy.
Quick Thoughts – rosy, dainty, clean, fresh
markmerloni – :
I had no idea I liked rose perfumes until I tried this one. Absolutely magical. That said, the fragrance is gone (with just a hint of sweetness) after about two hours of wear. I’ve never been one to love a fragrance with poor longevity, but this is amazing while it lasts and promoted me to buy the 3+ oz bottle so I could spray to my hearts content. Beautiful.
BasykBlack – :
I might be alone here, but this reminds me of a softer version of Narciso Rodriguez without the headache. I get a very powdery rose, more pleasant and fresh than some others, it’s not green or jammy to me at all. I like it, but I can’t decide if I like it enough.
PeelayGythila – :
Drydown: a jammy, winey, a tad bit warmed up by the amber, ROSE. Proper amount of sweetness. A very typical lemony opening and a rather mih meh stage of development, but wait until the total drydown, where the scent is worth it.
Longevity seems good and it has a soft sillage. Works on its own and is wonderful layered as well. If you like roses don’t miss this one. Doesn’t smell dated to me. Not particularly heavy and neither too light. I would like a denser juice, cannot lie, but even what I have sprayed on, has a sufficient intensity for an EDP
KORISH15 – :
I never stop finding it fascinating how different people perceive perfumes! This is FAR from being “just rose water”, a pure rose or merely soapy. I don´t find it jammy either and not fruity in the regular floral-fruity way. To me this one is a fresh, but not white soap style fresh. It´s crisp, slightly green and stemmy and what I adore most about it is that it is metallic and almost iridescent. Someone below said it´s salty and I thoroughly agree! Rosy, metallic, and with a salty, dry amber. It also has an almost tobacco-ish note in the same way as Byredo´s Rose Noir. Both these two are magnificent. But it could and should definitely last longer.
niknok – :
People say this is a fresh rose, but it is not. Roses de Chloe is a fresh rose. I agree with those who call this jammy. This jam has some blackberries and raspberries mixed in, but most of all, rose. If you’re not a huge fan of rose, this perfume likely won’t change your mind. Where are you peony? I thought the peony would brighten it up and make it lighter like Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet (which I actually somewhat like), but that didn’t happen. This to me is what I think of when someone says “rose perfume.” It’s not bad, I’m just not a fan of rose perfumes unless the rose is blended beyond recognition (like in Miss Dior Edp).
Bant – :
Sweet soapy rose, elegant and a little bit dark. I wear it in cold days or summer nights.
unreal – :
I changed my mind….
I wore this scent for a few days in a row now and to me it is very rosy but like a fruity juicy type of rose.
It feels clean and pleasant. It hangs in the air without disturbing my thoughts.
It is a nice everyday-type of scent.
Very nice indeed.
Longevity is medium and sillage is medium on me.
kodzuno – :
to my humble senses this is an elegant, ladylike, airy, dewy pink rose. I do not detect anything dark or mysterious. It is neither sweet nor bitter. It is a high end, sophisticated rose water. thank God I love it because it was a pricey blind buy. I will enjoy it. 🙂
7776666 – :
I had had both versions and I like this better! It’s a nice, sweet and floral for the summer!
Stacy – :
Nice rosy scent, but quite sour. If you look for non sweet rose fragrance, try it. I like it, however, my heart does not beat faster when I smell it.
irkabeba – :
This is the most basic rose fragrance every created. Incredibly one noted and boring. You’re better off getting Loman and Murray’s Rose cologne water. I guess what you’re paying for here is staying-power because you smell like just rose, but you smell like just rose all day. ALL DAY.
There are no top notes, there is just rose. There are no base notes, there is just rose. There is no drydown, there is just rose. Very blah.
I could say, “Oh this isn’t an aged rose! It’s a youthful rose!” But it really doesn’t matter. It’s all the same.
There are no hints of mandarin or peony, there are no shades of wood or amber, there are just hints and shades of rose. Zzzzzzz…..
NinaEpa – :
I will first say that, at this point, I have not found a primarily rose scent that I love. This comes across as too fresh and sharp, one dimensional…like spray air-freshener. I’m not picking up any sweetness or warmth.
nikatinonozavisimost – :
A classic. I’d worn this in the past before discarding it in the worry that it was too citric and tangy on my skin – then I rediscovered rose as a note and went hunting for the perfect, sweet but not too sweet, jammy but not too syrupy, fresh, wet, dark-smelling, clean, watery, dark yet somehow clear rose. Of course with these requirements, I found very few to my satisfaction – many interpretations I love, but aren’t as organically lovely on my skin as this. I went back to this old mainstay, and found what I had wanted was under my nose all along. This is like a natural forest pool of huge, rich, crimson roses falling into a clear, cold brook – or a giant bowl of tart, sour raspberries mixed and mashed with the most gorgeous velvety ruby jelly and rose petals to create a brilliant scarlet filling for French macarons – layered on the soft skin of a chic woman wearing a silk blouse. Vicki Vale from Batman comes to mind, when I smell this – a breath of gorgeous simplicity in a film full of camp.
This scent is a celebration of rose! It is very similar to the perfumes concocted for Elizabeth I, a famous Tudor rose herself (and “Stella” was the beautiful name invented by Sir Philip Sidney who brightened the firmament of Elizabeth’s artistic sphere). And even further back, it is the scent of Anne Boleyn reading letters from Henry VIII at Hever Castle in the unparalleled rose gardens…but perhaps, olfactorily, resurfacing many years later on the collarbones of a gorgeous Eartha Kitt running to grab a coffee with James Dean. A perfume that makes you feel what sophistication is about.
Skavicteddict – :
I absolutely don’t like that kind of rose scent. It reminds me of Valentino’s scents that smell old and dusty.
A strong old-fashioned powdery rose scent. I am hoping other versions are better.
neubasuablext – :
My most recent addition and I have worn it a few times. It is very “jammy” and on me I swear it smells like strawberries not roses, but I do also smell rose. I do have some gourmand perfumes and I feel like this is just as sweet, albeit more sophisticated. Maybe my chemistry just turns notes sweeter? I wish there was a little more wood or amber (?) to tone it down, and I noticed when I was using fresh rosemary in the kitchen and wearing Stella, it was a pretty fabulous combination! By the way I scooped this up for $39 on clearance (at Marshall’s) so I kind of “had” to buy it.
TOBICCO – :
I can’t believe I’ve never actually reviewed this fragrance. It is my favorite perfume of all time, my signature, and the reason I got into perfumes in the first place. So, I guess I’m a little biased, but here goes!
I do not find the differences between old formulation vs. new formulation as big a deal as others here do, although I am sure this is a skin chemistry kind of thing that is going to be different for different people. I do agree that the “new” Stella does not have quite the oomph (need more sprays to get the same projection) or staying power (old bottle would go from morning into evening for me, crazy longevity), HOWEVER the things I love about it are still there, and it is still unique to me among rose perfumes. The addition of peony and amber make it well rounded and more modern than many other rose perfumes, yet it is still sophisticated and mature. You can dress up or down in this fragrance, and I wear it almost all year round except for the very sweltering midsummer, when I just switch to the EDT (which I actually wasn’t a huge fan of at first but has grown on me).
Stella will always be my gold standard for an elegant, timeless rose.
TsunaNii – :
This is a beautiful fresh rose scent. I can see rosepetals and green stems.
It dries down to an amber that reminds me of Coco by Chanel.
To me this newer version seems warmer than the old one.
(Stella in newer bottle with golden ring)
aipog – :
I have tried the older version, it’s a very true rose, bright, fresh. But trying a more recent bottle, I find it to be an expensive version of the much, much cheaper Vera Wang Embrace Rosebuds & Vanilla, almost exactly, just less vanilla. If I put each on my wrist, I would surely forget which is which.
den400kg – :
Oh how I wish this were spectacular, but I felt like I’d smelled it elsewhere a hundred times before. The opening notes were nice, with a little citrus to brighten the rose, but that was short-lived and then I was left with plain rose. It was not bright and rich and delicious, so you want to bury your face in your wrist, nor was it dark and dreamy so that you crave it before bed. It was a “middle of the road rose”. It reminded me a little of Kim Kardashian’s “Fleur Fatale” (but Stella had fewer supporting notes to keep my interest) and it had some of the rose notes that I remember from Perfumer’s Workshop’s “Tea Rose”…both of which I have so I really don’t need another. It just wasn’t “special” and I really thought that such an expensive fragrance from a notable celebrity would have a little more pizzazz. The sillage and longevity were minimal. Too bad, so sad. I found this for 50% off (and who doesn’t love a great sale?), but when I returned to my sample, it reminded me that I have many other rose fragrances that more happily “decorate my day”. Back to the store it goes.
filmspro – :
After reading lots of negative reviews about Stella’s 2014 reformulation perfume, I was very hesitant to blind buy the product (I can hardly find any sample tester in the stores here in Australia).
BUT….I’m glad I did it anyway!!! The first sniff of the perfume does reminds me a little of citrus but that very quickly fades away into a love note of rose. It’s not a candy sweet heavy scent perfume which gives me a headache.
Many has reviewed that the longevity of the it is weak but thankfully, on my skin the fragrance lasted for a good 8+ hours and still leaves a faint scent on my skin. When my husband hugged and kissed me goodnight he even commented that my perfume is lovely and ‘enchanting’ (?????). Sillage is moderate. Definitely more a personal perfume than a ‘let the whole world smell it’ perfume.
dDOS – :
Finally got this today.
As a Stella adorer i have had everything ever made in terms of Stella fragrances.
I found every year the batches smelt a little different not talking about the sheers or nude or absolut.
This version is the wonderful 2006 masterpiece.
Its cosy warming and so comfortable.
I hope this formulation lasts i find the older Stellas go rancid after a couple of year’s really loosing the punch.
Lost World – :
I just bought this after sampling it last year and wanting it for months. It smells wonderful when applied – super fresh, clean, peony and soft rose. A shower-fresh scent and feeling, it’s lovely. However I am disappointed in the sillage – and also it only lasts about 3 hours or less on me. For the $$ I paid for this I expected better than that.
vanua9005 – :
Profumo delicato, buonissimo, una rosa splendente che delicatamente sfiora la pelle.
Ottimo, non invadente, primaverile.
<3
sbt015intitytek – :
Such a beautiful perfume! Beautiful notes: rose, citrus and amber. It’s really perfect. Feminine and good mood inducer, makes me feel confident and smile.
brz567InsuffBooni – :
I absolutely loved the older version of this so I decided to give this one a go. I must say that it smells pretty much the same as the old one but slightly fresher in my opinion. It is still a very beautiful fresh, rose scent that can be worn all year round. My biggest disappointment is that this doesn’t last long at all and because of this reason I will not repurchase again. I might splurge a little bit more and get Aerin Lauders Roses De Grasse, which is very similar with great longevity.
Tolik009 – :
This is a very beautiful rose and is on my want list. I find it infinitely more wearable than the previous version, it has more citrus and is perhaps sweeter but still has the amber in the drydown, ultra feminine and just all round gorgeous. I am surprised at comments about poor longevity as it lasts until the next day on me. Often rose fragrances go sour on me so I do struggle with finding any I can wear. For reference I love Lanocome Une Mille et Roses and SL Fille de Berlin. I think this will wear even more beautifully in winter.
Reijii – :
Many thanks to @verdigris for this sample!
I enjoyed Stella 2014 by Stella McCartney for the entire two hours it lasted. This is a very straightforward composition with two phases. The opening is bright wet rose. I appreciated the authenticity of the Rose used in Stella.
As an avid Rose gardener and Rose wearer, I am of the opinion that the roses in this fragrance smelled genuine. This is a slightly sweet, fresh, dewy rose on my skin. Stella made me think of the early September mornings just as dawn is yawning over the horizon and I’m out in the back yard in my house coat without shoes. I often have trouble staying asleep as summer yeilds to autumn. I love to sit on the bottom step of the deck with my bare feet in the dewy grass and feel my toes turn numb in the early morning’s chilly, humid air. When I am alone with my roses. I adore the way they smell in cool, damp air. Their scent hovers so close to the ground. It’s almost claustrophobic, especially when I’m sleep deprived and the darkness is still close around me before dawn. I’m talking about 4am roses. Roses growing on bushes, not cut in a vase. Roses that I have not pruned back because summer was too busy. Roses taking over the garden. Roses that are alive and breathing early in the morning, waiting on the sun to find them. I find this so comforting.
This is the smell of Stella- real roses. Then phase two arrives in about a half hour and the roses find Amber. Then, it’s over.
On my body, Stella smells quite lovely for 2-2.5 hours then vanishes. I enjoyed the scent but cannot justify purchasing.
I did experiment with a nice combination of Commodity Gold (White bottle) + Stella. They both feature big Amber so I liked the layering. I hoped this would extend Stella’s longevity. But on my skin, the Stella still dissapeared at 2-2.5 hours as usual and I was left with just Commodity Gold.
If you love garden roses on the stem and have patience enough to reapply ever 2 hours, you might like Stella. I have never reapplied a scent, so I know Stella does not suit my lifestyle.
I am so glad for the memories this fragrance evoked!
Illisio – :
I’ve smelled this a second time after many months, and after smelling many other rose fragrances in the interim, I must say that this doesn’t smell so different to me anymore. I prefer some of the other fruity roses I’ve sniffed, if I want a fruity rose. I wanted this to be a darker rose, like the bottle color – but it’s a little too fresh. The amber only comes through on drydown, and I can’t smell the rose much by that point. The trail of it smells nice, but not too special, I don’t think.
stocoz – :
I wish more people would give an actual separate review of Stella 2014 instead of comparing it to the old one.
Whining about how the old one was better and what it was like doesn’t really help now does it, we can’t get it anymore. What does THIS Stella smell like? And I don’t mean compared to the previous Stella.
Thank you!
kazik9 – :
I think I have to go against the grain here and say I actually prefer this version of Stella to the one in the white packaging. The previous version has a metallic tang to it that did not blend well with my skin ph and that totally ruined it for me. I have the Absolute which is just phenomenal for that reason alone. This 2014 is fresher, I don’t detect too much citrus upright and centre which usually puts me off as I want the rose to take centre stage from the offset. It’s just beautiful. Please do no write this one off as a poor reformulation because it is NOT.
demis48 – :
Now… I’ve read a lot of revies on the trilogy of Stella ( old,new and intense) and I must say that are all very nice but the best one(for me) is the 2014 version! It’s special, fresh but ambery as well and others say they can feel it after hours and they like it!!! They say it is lovely!!!
Deroxswdsb – :
It’s really nice had I not be familiar with the original I would say it was perfect but I have so I can’t. The original was the best but I will settle with this one.
Molpeng – :
Straight-up soft rose. Very Victorian rose garden after the rain. A little too sweet for my taste but not unpleasant.
fear195 – :
This is spicy to me, hits the nose and is strong. Not what I expected given the notes. The other perfume with rose that is peppery in this sort of way is Nina Ricci Ricci Ricci (purple bow type bottle). I have a sample for swap/v cheap if anyone wants it (uk).
Kreisan – :
It’s unfortunate.
I smelled this upon initia