Italian lingerie brand La Perla has launched In Rosa, a new fruity chypre fragrance for women:
LA PERLA IN ROSA is the new sparkling and feminine fragrance for all the girls with a free spirit personality and a fresh and spontaneous sensuality. Vivid and vibrant, the top notes celebrate the joy of life with a fruity sweetness of raspberry and pear, enlivened by a tiny bit of spicy pink pepper. The heart of the fragrance is a bouquet of roses, cyclamen and violets. In the dry-down the warmth of patchouli, amber and sandal wood expose its sensuality.
La Perla In Rosa is available in 30, 50 and 80 ml Eau de Toilette.
(quote via laperla, additional information via perfumeholding)
That doesn’t sound very chypre-y to me. Does anything with patchouli pass as a chypre these days?
YES.
Bonbori is right — yes.
But now back to clarify…it is a certain, dry-ish style. That is, a fruity floral or a citrus or a floral is not usually called a chypre just because it has patchouli. To my mind, it is more of an overlap with the oriental or “dry woods” or “mossy woods” catagory.
I love chypre perfumes, and have a bottle of the original from 1987-a beautiful spicy rose over a patchouli/oakmoss base. It is quite femme and seductive (think beautiful lingerie, fishnet hosiery and stilletto heels).
When I hear fruity/chypres, Amazone, Ananas Fizz and Colony, comes to mind. This sounds like it may be a bit creamy (sandalwood) or sweet (amber).
I love chypres too. Don’t know the original La Perla though.