So you've grown out of Princess (and its many spawn, from Flower Princess to Preppy Princess) but you're not ready for one of the signature (read: wedding-appropriate conservative floral) fragrances from Vera Wang, what to do? Vera Wang would like you to consider their new Lovestruck, fronted by actress Leighton Meester. The theme, as you might have deduced from the balcony scene in the ad: a modern twist on Romeo and Juliet.
Lovestruck is a musky floral with your standard fruit bomb opening (tart guava jam and citrus), a cheerful middle-weight fresh floral heart (allegedly tuberose and lotus blossom, and there are vague suggestions of both) and a pale woody-musky dry down (something that could stand in for sandalwood, a little drop of creamy vanilla, plenty of clean musk).
It's wearable, and it's not overly sweet or fruity once the top notes fade. It isn't as boring as the resolutely faceless Look, but it isn't exactly what I'd call distinctive either — landing, as it does, in a sea of same-y young-but-not-too-young pink floral fragrances with fruity accents. I suspect it will sell, or not, based on consumer reaction to the frou frou bottle with the faux nail polish font, which aims for, but in my humble opinion, doesn't quite reach, the same sort of tongue-in-cheek fun as Marc Jacobs Daisy or Lola. So far, it has reasonably good reviews at consumer sites like Sephora and MakeupAlley, if that sways you. I did not mind wearing it, but I'll have mostly forgotten it by this time next week.
Vera Wang Lovestruck is available in 30, 50 and 100 ml ($48-78) Eau de Parfum. The lasting power is so-so. Lovestruck was developed by perfumer Stephen Nilsen; the notes include guava, angelica, tuberose, lotus blossom, woods and musk.
I enjoy Vera Wang as a fashion house. I particularly love her more-affordable Kohl’s lines. It’s just weird to me that her fragrances, for the most part, are so youth-oriented when her brand is really not.
Ah well. I have a sample of this from a nice Macy’s associate that I have yet to try.
Her original fragrances really weren’t youth-oriented at all, but given how well Princess has done, it’s not surprising that she wants to cover all parts of that market. Would not be surprised if Princess has outsold Vera Wang Signature (her first and best known before Princess) by a mile.
I’m assuming the final phrase in that last sentence is a misplaced modifier.
Yeah, I’ve been doing alot of editing work lately.
LOL — yes, you have! No fair holding comments to that standard, esp. when we don’t have any sort of editing function
Only joking! I’m the queen of typos, myself. OTOH, I’m sure there’s someone interested in trying a nice Macy’s associate – especially if s/he smells lovestruck!
I am a frou frou bottle fangirl from way back, and this one doesn’t thrill me at all. I suspect my dislike is rooted in the fake flowers, since I don’t like the Lola or Daisy bottles, either. Apparently, my bottle lust is triggered by dangling charms, rather than artificial flowers. (I will even admit to rather liking the tulle)
I plead guilty to owning Princess, Flower Princess, and Rock Princess, based solely on the heart shaped bottles and the little rings that can be worn separately. (I am wearing the black Rock Princess ring on my thumb, even as I type.)
And yes, I am 47 years old, why do you ask?
The cap on this really is laughable. I reserved judgement until I actually saw it in person and, yep, it’s worse. Wheras Marc Jacobs plastic/rubber flowers are cute and don’t even attempt to look real, these are cheap fake flowers, hollow fake flowers even. I really like Vera Wang’s style esthetic even if I don’t like her fragrances. But all of the bottles have been ok to me until this one. This is just atrocious.
I have not yet seen it in person, but sure don’t love it in pictures. And some people didn’t like the font, but I kind of do — I think by itself, that would look kind of fun. It’s just buried in all that tulle.
Yes, agree, the font on its own is rather cute, though surely younger than the demo we think they’re after?
So they need to lose the flowers, keep the font, add a heart shaped top to tie in to the Princess line, and I still think it needs a charm, damn it.
Gosh — if it has a heart shaped top and a charm, can that font really be too young?? (Like I’d know, LOL)
I have been walking around all day knowing I mis-spelled/mis-used a word somewhere and now I remember: aesthetic not esthetic. Not like Vera Wang is a monk who deprives herself. lol Sorry. For the last week hardly anything looks spelled right.
Hey, I do NOT throw stones! I know I make a mistake here nearly every day, and people only tell me about 5% of them.
LOL — I did NOT ask! I love the Daisy bottle, and I love many of the Harajuku Lovers bottles. I refuse to admit that taste in flacons is indicative of age or maturity
Bless you, dear lady.
Jolie, as one of the older readers of NST, I can assure you that age has absolutely nothing to do with maturity.
Hear, hear. 39 going on 13.
Know what I thought of when I saw the picture? Not Romeo and Juliet, but Pretty Woman!
Me too! And I’d far rather Richard Gere be climbing up as well!
Oh yeah, surprised I didn’t think of that!
Vera Wang is actually one of my least favorite mainstream perfume lines because she so clearly does not give a damn about the contents of that awful bottle. I hate that they think that all a perfume needs to succeed is “Vera Wang” on the bottle, and I hate that they’re probably right about that.
The original Vera Wang was well done if not spectacularly original, and a perfect fit with the bridal line. Don’t think they’ve ever done anything that good again. Look struck me as particularly cynical — it was so darned bland, right down to the advertising and the packaging, and IIRC, it was supposed to represent her couture business.
And I really doubt Look sold, so they need more than the name!
Lol, Look was cynical, indeed. The name itself is tired, bored advertising: “Just Look will you. Look at it. Look! There. Now buy it.”
LOL!
I loved Sheer Veil and Bouquet – the younger Princess ranges don’t make me screw up my nose in disgust, but I think they’re just a little simple. You know, BAM HERE’S THE FRAGRANCE NOW NOTHING ELSE WILL HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT SIX HOURS, whereas the others have layers and elements of interest that come and go as they dry down. I’m guessing this one will come somewhere in the middle. I’m not expecting to love it, but I don’t think I’ll completely hate it either (I wouldn’t buy it for myself, but if it was a gift I’m sure I could find opportunity to wear it). Either way, it won’t be available down here in Aust til February next year – have to keep reminding myself that patience is a virtue…
Yes, and I liked the original and Truly Pink well enough for wallpaper/office type scents. They all go kind of musky on me after awhile, but then I just slap on something else.
I don’t think I’ve ever tried Truly Pink – I just remember that the Sheer Veil in particular struck me as a perfect “wedding” fragrance (though, given my prior knowledge of Vera Wang was limited to flipping through the wedding dresses on her website and sighing, I probably had a bias going on there).
That’s about right — in the middle, maybe skewed a bit towards Princess. Look, presumably, would be the missing link between this and the Signature line, but I bet Look is a goner.
I know the company I work for has discontinued Look – I didn’t mind it at first, but got really bored of it after a couple of wears.
I have a friend that is absolutely hanging for Lovestruck – she’s a massive fan of this Leighton girl (who I am woefully unfamiliar with – I hope I’ve spelt her name correctly!), so it’s a perfect example of how celebrity endorsement works.
Welcome back! Hope you had a great vaycay.
This sounds perfectly ignorable. Will do. Although, I do worry now because I swear I remember a commentor saying they were going to off themselves if one more bottle with cheap flowers on the cap was released… and these sound cheaper than ever.
Wonderful time away, thanks! Cut a bit short by Irene, but it could be worse.
This bottle is not worth dying over, LOL…better to ignore it.
Ah Robin, clearly you are back from your holiday refreshed and in top form. You turn daming with faint praise into an art. Great reveiw!
Aw shucks
LOVE the colour of the dress. Got to smell this briefly whilst in Sephora in NYC. It got dismissed on first sniff as very nothing!
“Very nothing” is a good summary.
Thanks
WOW! i finally agree with the masses on here… did Jurgen Prochnow Snap that last seal!?!?!?! I smelled this just a few days ago and was not impressed at all… to vanillic and candied to with no backbone to it for it to be successful…. so another one in VW’s stable of Silly Willy-Nilly Fragrances ( i mean those AWFUL Princess Fragrances, EVERY ONE OF ‘EM! HATE THEM ALL!)
of Look… Well… it didn’t set the world ablaze, but in my nose’s humble opinion… it was much more interesting than this little bonbon… I liked Look… I admit i liked it quite a bit… not that it was revolutionary, but it had a certain sophistication that i enjoyed… just it came out at the wrong time… it was the time of the beginning of the Candied/Fruity/Sticky/Goopy Over Caramelized Under Floralized fragrances that are now LEGION! (DAMN YOU ORIGINAL MISS DIOR CHERIE! LMAO!) if you really want a Vera Wang MASTERPIECE, seek out Bouquet… that is love in a bottle i tell ya! SO WELL DONE, So Feminine and Pretty and Romantic…
alrighty then… The Nose has Spoken!
Look wasn’t terrible. It was like that first L scent from Gwen Stefani — just too clean & fresh to be memorable.
Well… Vera Wang for Men wasn’t that bad. Funny she didn’t attempt to produce anything else for the male audience. It would be completely hilarious. Can you imagine the line Prince? Cute Prince? Hunky Prince? Just the idea make me crack!
Oh, that would be funny!!
Everyone has a word that damns with faint praise and for fragrance it’s got to be “wearable”
Bottle looks repulsive, and since I did not like any of her fragrances, even those in better looking bottles, I won’t be going out of my way to try this one.
Since new releases look more and more like last year’s releases, maybe all mainstream houses would merge and they will produce one fragrance in one flacon, called EAU D’EAU, and consumers can pick the color and accessories – cap with flower, lace, silk, flacon glove etc.
Something like a McFragrance
Ha!
So many times here, I’ve seen perfumes that are referred to as “bridal fragrances”. What would be the definition of a “bridal fragrance”?
A conservative, somewhat old fashioned, romantic floral -> Estee Lauder Beautiful, the first Vera Wang. By definition, these kinds of fragrances (to me, mind you!) go with pearls better than they go with jeans. They have some sillage, plus they last most of the day. They have some richness & depth, but they’re not overly animalic or sexy.
its is lovely- for five minutes, until it disappears from view with a tiny goodbye wave. a real rip-off. what a shame.
Did anyone else who smelled this get a weird nail polish note at the very beginning? I sniffed it on a tester card and it just smelled so harshly chemical to me.