The house of Narciso Rodriguez is a fantastic fragrance house known for its clean, powdery and musky fragrances. However, they blend in many other gorgeous fragrance notes to ensure each scent is unique. So, which ones are the best for women?
The House Of Narciso Rodriguez And Its Fragrances
The house of Narciso Rodriguez is an American fragrance house founded in 1997. Before setting up his company, Rodriguez worked as a freelancer for big names in New York such as Calvin Klein. He has won awards such as Best New Designer and Designer of the Year. He has designed dresses for many popular figures, including Michelle Obama, which she wore in her first public appearance with Barack Obama.
In 2003, Rodriguez branched out and released his first fragrance, which was a resounding success. He then proceeded to release nearly 50 fragrances for both men and women. Rodriguez works in collaboration with many of the best perfumers in the world to create stunning fragrances with high-quality ingredients.
Many of the scents have a clean musky and powdery floral aroma, however, they blend other notes to retain their individuality. They are definitely worth a try but if you’re not sure which one would suit you best, take a look below at the best and most popular fragrances.
1. Narciso Poudree
Narciso Poudree is a woody floral musk released in 2016 and made by perfumer Aurelien Guichard. This fragrance radiates sensuality with its delicate, feminine notes and woody undertones.
- Top Notes: Jasmine, Bulgarian Rose and Orange
- Middle Notes: Musk
- Base Notes: Coumarin, Cedar, Vetiver and Patchouli
What Does Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Poudree Smell Like?
The fragrance opens with an array of sweet white florals combined with the clean, powdery scent of the Bulgarian rose, which is particularly prominent in the opening. These make for a delicate and overtly feminine opening that is just stunning. The musk quickly begins to make an appearance as it creates a thick, warm and powdery blanket, which lays over the florals giving the fragrance a seductive feel.
As we move into the dry down, we begin to experience the deep, woody base notes. They are not overpowering, keeping this fragrance feeling light and feminine, but instead, they act as an elegant foundation adding some mystery into the scent.
The coumarin injects a sweet nuttiness into the mix, which is warm and supports the woody base notes wonderfully. The musk is still present and remains noticeable for hours keeping it warm with lots of character, which is why this makes a great fragrance for slightly cooler weather.
This is a beautiful scent with lots of mystery as the light florals intertwine with the musk and woody base notes. This is perfect for almost all year round but due to the warm notes, it’s best in the cooler months. It can be worn for any occasion, casual or formal, and during the day or evening so it’s a great fragrance to have in your collection.
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring, Winter and Fall
- Occasions: Casual and Formal
- Time of day: Daytime and Evening
- Longevity: 5-7 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
2. Narciso
This wonderful perfume, made by Aurelien Guichard and released in 2014 is comprised of florals, musk along with powerfully rich, woody base notes. This is an intoxicatingly sexy fragrance that is sure to turn heads and is best worn for formal occasions.
- Top Notes: Gardenia and White Rose
- Middle Notes: Musk
- Base Notes: Cedar, White Cedar Extract and Vetiver
What Does Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Smell Like?
We are greeted with delicately soft and sweet floral notes that have an intense aroma, particularly the gardenia. We also get hints of earthy and green undertones, which are particularly highlighted by the earthy base notes. We also have a clean, fresh scent, much like soap as the rose comes into its own in the opening creating a romantic and sensual aura.
As the fragrance develops, the musk gradually becomes more noticeable, which provides us with a textured and powdery scent. This is a seductive fragrance note, which is paired so well with the light florals. The base notes are powerfully rich, earthy and woody and only gain in strength as the fragrance progresses. There are strong green nuances residing in the base notes along with a natural freshness that lingers on your skin for hours.
Although this fragrance follows the same structure and progression as Narciso Poudree, the result is a very different scent and this individuality is what sets Narciso Rodriguez apart from other fragrance houses. Many of their fragrances follow a similar baseline, but all of them smell quite different from each other. I guess we can call this the classic Narciso Rodriguez DNA.
Narciso can be worn all year round but it better suited to the cooler months. This is because of the emphasis on the musk and the earthy notes, which are a bit heavier in their scent. During the cooler months, this perfume is great for casual wear, but will also be amazing in a formal setting such as the office.
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring, Winter and Fall
- Occasions: Casual and Formal
- Time of day: Daytime and Evening
- Longevity: 7-8 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
3. For Her l’Absolu
This floral woody musk for women has been outstandingly popular, not only for its gorgeous scent but for the beautifully designed bottle. The deep purple bottle expresses the seductive and passionate scent that lies within. Made by Aurelien Guichard, this perfume was launched in 2015.
- Top Notes: Tuberose and Jasmine
- Middle Notes: Musk
- Base Notes: Patchouli, Amber, and Sandalwood
What Does Narciso Rodriguez For Her l’Absolu Smell Like?
The opening is made up of intense white floral notes; the tuberose is particularly noticeable with its sweet creaminess and green nuances. The musk becomes prominent early on and is very powerful creating an air of mystery. Musk often has a very clean quality to it, which can be found back in this perfume.
The base notes are earthy and woody with the sandalwood standing out with its milky complexity and green top note that lingers for a long time. It is the patchouli that deepens the fragrance making it feel richer and more sensual with its earthiness and sweetness; the sweetness is accentuated by the amber. We also have a distinct warmth running through the base notes along with a strong powdery texture adding to the complexity.
Due to the warm, rich notes, this is best worn in the cooler months. Its perfect for the fall and winter, but even in the spring, this one will be great. That’s primarily because of the floral qualities in this perfume, which tie in beautifully with the season where nature is coming to life.
During these months, this fragrance is actually quite versatile. It is richly seductive and a real head-turner making it the perfect fragrance for an evening out, but it also has a clean and classy aura to it, making it great for the office or a casual day at home.
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring, Winter and Fall
- Occasions: Casual and Formal
- Time of day: Daytime and Evening
- Longevity: 7-8 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
4. Pure Musc
This is another woody floral musk for women but it has a different structure than the fragrances we have seen so far. The musk is cleaner and fresher making this much more appropriate for the summer. Made by Sonia Constant, this perfume was released in 2019.
- Top Notes: Musk
- Middle Notes: Flowers
- Base Notes: Cashmeran
What Does Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc Smell Like?
This time, the musk is the opening fragrance note and it smells clean and fresh with a light powdery texture without being too overwhelming. It’s quickly supported by the floral notes that lie in the heart of the fragrance. This bouquet of florals is sweet and delicate retaining this air of lightness throughout the opening and heart of the scent.
As we move into the dry down, we experience the cashmeran, which is an uncommon fragrance note. It has an aroma of sweet musk, very similar to amber; it also has woody undertones giving this fragrance a nice depth. This leaves you with a clean and slightly warm scent of musk, paired with a beautiful flowery undertone.
This perfume has very few fragrance notes but it doesn’t need any more; it has been incredibly popular and it’s easy to see why; it’s light and fresh with a subtle sophistication making it the perfect casual fragrance for day-to-day. The light and airy feel definitely makes this a great summertime choice, but even in the spring and fall, this will be a wonderful perfume to wear.
Even though this perfume has a very casual feel to it, it can also be worn formally as well. It’s light and subdued, so it won’t be overpowering, making it great for the office. However, the laid-back feeling that comes with this perfume does make it more appropriate in a casual setting.
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring, Summer and Fall
- Occasions: Casual and Formal
- Time of day: Daytime
- Longevity: 6-7 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
5. Narciso Rouge
This vibrant fragrance, made by Sonia Constant and Nadege Le Garlantezec, is another incredibly popular scent for women, which was launched in 2018. This is a floral woody musk with strong powdery nuances and a spicy warmth making this another fragrance to wear in the cooler months.
- Top Notes: Iris and Bulgarian Rose
- Middle Notes: Musk, Tuberose and Orange Blossom
- Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Vanilla, White Cedar Extract, Cedar, Sandalwood and Vetiver
What Does Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Rouge Smell Like?
The fragrance opens with two floral notes which both have strong powdery nuances as well as a fresh, clean scent similar to soap. The rose is also sweet and romantic whereas the iris has deep earthy undertones, therefore, they balance perfectly.
The heart of the fragrance is dominated by the musk, which is propped up by the intense white floral notes. This creates a fresh and clean musk with an underlying sweetness, which supports the opening notes wonderfully. There is a greenness running through the heart of the fragrance into the dry down adding a gorgeous natural scent like freshly cut grass.
In the dry down we experience an array of rich woody base notes grounding the fragrance. There is also a nutty sweetness and spice hovering in the background, which complements the woody notes beautifully. This leaves you with a wonderful composition that’s true to its name.
Overall, this is stunning with an amazing development – it is perfect for the cooler months and a great day-to-day scent. This could be an amazing signature scent as it’s extremely easy to wear and will fit in pretty much anywhere. Whether you’re having a relaxed day at home or you’re having a fun day with friends, this perfume will fit you nicely.
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring, Winter and Fall
- Occasions: Casual
- Time of day: Daytime and Evening
- Longevity: 5-6 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
6. Narciso For Her
This floral woody was released in 2003 and was an instant hit; it emulates freedom and sensuality whilst capturing the essence of femininity. This is an award-winning fragrance, made by perfumers Christine Nagel and Francis Kurkdjian, so we can see why it’s so popular.
- Top Notes: African Orange Flower, Bergamot and Osmanthus
- Middle Notes: Musk and Amber
- Base Notes: Vetiver, Vanilla and Patchouli
What Does Narciso Rodriguez For Her Smell Like?
The opening of this fragrance balances sweet florals and sour citrus notes with a residual hint of spice lingering in the background. The osmanthus is an uncommon note and is bursting with fruitiness, which is similar to the scent of apricot. It also has woody and leathery undertones giving the fragrance an immediate depth and richness.
The musk lies in the heart providing the thick powdery texture we love from Narciso Rodriguez’s fragrances. The amber provides a rich sweetness that warms the fragrance and goes great with the powdery feel. This leaves you with a typically Narciso Rodriguez perfume, that’s also distinguishable from the others.
The warm sweetness continues as we move into the dry down and we begin to feel the presence of the dark, woody base notes. They balance against the sweetness perfectly. Overall, this has such a gorgeous range of fragrance notes to provide a complex and stunning scent.
Interested in perfumes similar to Narciso Rodriguez For Her? You can read this article here!
It can be worn during the day or evening and is best suited for casual wear. The powdery, musky, and ambery scent is great for a relaxed day at home or when you’re spending the day hanging out with friends. It can also work formally, but it really leans more towards the casual side. Wear this one either during the colder months or during the spring and you’ve got yourself a wonderful, laid-back perfume.
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring, Winter and Fall
- Occasions: Casual
- Time of day: Daytime and Evening
- Longevity: 6-7 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
7. Narciso Eau De Toilette
This is a beautiful fragrance, launched in 2015, made up of pink floral notes, musk, and rich woody notes. This follows the same structure as many other Narciso Rodriguez’s fragrances, but here, all notes seem to mingle immediately. This means we don’t have to wait for the base notes to round out the scent, they appear almost immediately.
- Top Notes: Bulgarian Rose and Peony
- Middle Notes: Musk
- Base Notes: White Cedar Extract, Cedar and Vetiver
What Does Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Eau De Toilette Smell Like?
The opening of this fragrance shows off the sophisticated nature of the pink floral notes with their fresh soapy scent. These notes also have slightly fruity nuances giving it a sweet playfulness. The florals are quickly supported by the dense musk and woody base notes. The musk and base notes appear almost immediately as all notes intertwine without much progression; they are perfectly balanced from the get-go.
The woody base notes are rich and earthy with strong green nuances providing a strong, natural support to the airy top notes. This all blends together to create a wonderful, fresh, and airy scent that smells amazingly good. It’s fresh, a little playful, a little sweet, and overall just very pleasant.
It’s sexy and addictive best worn during the change in seasons like the spring and fall. It can be worn during the day or evening and could easily turn into a signature scent. Due to the playfulness, it might not be your best ‘formal fragrance’ choice, but in any casual setting, this perfume excels.
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring and Fall
- Occasions: Casual
- Time of day: Daytime
- Longevity: 6-7 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
8. Fleur Musc
Fleur Musc was made with the intention of creating a musky perfume backed by a bouquet of warm floral notes. This perfume, launched in 2017, was made by Sonia Constant and Calice Becker and it definitely embodies what they were set out to create.
- Top Notes: Pink Pepper
- Middle Notes: Rose, Musk, and Peony
- Base Notes: Patchouli, Violet, and Amber
What Does Narciso Rodriguez Fleur Musc Smell Like?
Fleur Musc opens with a sweet and flowery scent of pink pepper and rose. These two notes are most prominent in the opening, but it doesn’t take long for the note of musk to announce itself. The musk is clean and smooth, just as we know and love a Narciso Rodriguez musk note, and works great with the pink pepper and rose.
Not long thereafter, hints of other floral notes start to appear. There’s the note of peony and the note of violet and both add a nice freshness to the mix. From here, the pink pepper starts to become a bit softer, leaving you with a scent of clean and smooth musk, fresh and classy rose, and slightly powdery violet.
As the perfume starts to dry down, you can pick up hints of amber. Amber is a warm fragrance note and it perfectly ties together this perfume. The amber is never overpowering and always leaves room for the floral notes and musk to shine. It just adds a warm and elegant undertone to the perfume that makes it even better than it already was.
Due to the combination of fresh and smooth musk, fresh florals, and a slight undertone of warm amber, you can actually wear this fragrance almost all throughout the year. The only season where this perfume might be a bit too soft for would be the winter, but the fall, spring, and summer are great. You can wear this one either formally or casually, and thanks to the amber, this one works great on a warm summer night as well!
If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can find it here on Amazon!
- Best seasons to wear: Spring, Summer and Fall
- Occasions: Casual and Formal
- Time of day: Daytime
- Longevity: 6-7 Hours
- Projection: Moderate
- Price Range ($-$$$): $$
Are Narciso Rodriguez Fragrances Worth It?
The house of Narciso Rodriguez produces stunning scents comprised of florals, woody base notes, and musk. They all have roughly the same structure but each scent is unique due to the addition of other notes and how they are expertly blended together. This combination produces stunning scents time and time again so we can see why they stick with this construct.
Their fragrances are elegant, sophisticated and sensual; they are easy to wear and not abrasive making them versatile and loveable. These would make a great addition to any collection and they are definitely worth purchasing, especially if you love light, feminine scents. Most can be worn almost all year round for most occasions and you will be sure to turn heads wearing these.