Last December, I posted about the release of Stella McCartney‘s Stella Peony. I got the fragrance later on, and I will be sharing my thoughts on it today. (I will also be comparing it with Stella Eau de Parfum and Stella Eau de Toilette.)
Stella McCartney Stella Peony (eau de toilette, 30ml £42, 50ml £57, 100ml £71) was released in the UK in late 2017. According to Stella McCartney’s official website, it is a re-release of Stella in Two Peony. (Stella in Two Peony was released in 2006 and it was part of the Stella in Two duo (along with Stella in Two Amber).)
According to the brand’s official website, the fragrance notes of Stella Peony include pink peony, black pepper, patchouli and amber. According to this post from Now Smell This, they also include mandarin, freesia, lotus flower and geranium.
I would categorize Stella Peony as a fruity herbaceous floral. The opening is fruity with a hint of greenness. Then, very quickly, the floral notes arrive and they radiate quite a lot of sweetness. This sweetness is brightened and sharpened by black pepper and patchouli, and I think it is this brightened sweetness that defines the character of this fragrance. The drydown is also fairly sweet but considerably more mellow. The fragrance has a good lasting power.
Stella Peony is sweeter, sharper and more herbaceous than both Stella EDP and Stella EDT. Also, Stella Peony’s floral composition is more layered and complex. In comparison, Stella EDP is deeper, more mellow, slightly drier and slightly smokier, and Stella EDT is lighter and fruiter at the beginning and slightly deeper later on. Both Stella EDP and Stella EDT develop more through the course of wear while Stella Peony is more linear.
The drydown is my favorite part of the fragrance. The sharpness is mostly gone, and what I get is a mellow sweetness that is pleasantly comforting with a hint of bounciness.
The shapes of the three bottles of Stella Peony (in the three sizes) are the same as those of Stella EDP and Stella EDT. I think the bright coral shade used for parts of the bottles does reflect the character of the fragrance. Also, compared with the mostly transparent bottles of Stella EDP and Stella EDT, the mostly opaque bottles of Stella Peony seem to reflect the richness and the density of the floral notes.
While Stella Peony is, by and large, in keeping with the essence of the Stella fragrance family, it is more vibrant and less subtle. Also, as mentioned above, it is more layered but more linear. On the whole, I do like it (particularly its drydown) but personally I prefer Stella EDP and Stella EDT. I find them to be less angular, and I like how they develop over the course of wear.
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