The name of the scent may conjure up images of a bouquet of flowers or a lush garden, but part of the magic of Balenciaga’s Florabotanica is that the scent itself effectively subverts this notion. The complex fragrance rejects the romantic idea of what a rose scent should be and delivers a clean, gender-ambiguous offering that veers more dangerous and sensual than flirty and fun. Upon first spritz, it opens with a fresh mint note that eventually mingles with Turkish rose essence, carnation and hemp leaves for an herbaceous blend. It dries down with notes of grassy vetiver roots and white amber for a slightly spicy, grassy concoction. The bold mix of fresh blooms and earthy woods makes this a worthy transitional option as we usher in the summer months [Balenciaga Florabotanica, $84.99/3.7 oz; fragrance.net]. –Angela Bobo
(June 2015)
