When Guerlain launched La Petite Robe Noire in 2012, everyone fell head over heels in love with this little black dress, at times sweet, at times smoky, but never too sultry or over the top. Like a true little black dress! This Spring, Guerlain decided to create a little sidekick to the original, a lighter, airier and greener flanker to the original, et voila: La Petite Robe Noire Eau Fraîche/Ma Robe Pétales*.

Developed by legendary Thierry Wasser, La Petite Robe Noire Eau Fraîche/Ma Robe Pétales* fully focuses on the fresh green floral tones reminiscent of Spring, fresh air, the first flowers peeking through and blossoms colouring the streets a pale pink. With notes such as bergamot, mandarin, rose, freesia, jasmine, pistachio, almond, tonka bean, white musk and patchouli, there is a clear mix of the green-ish, clean and flowery notes. The white florals create a buzz right after that first spritz, a little fresh hum with a just a hint of vanilla,  before heading into a somewhat warmer, more gourmand finish. The pistachio does not come across very clearly in combination with my own skin, the powdery tonka bean and almond touch unfolds far stronger without being too heady.

With a name such as “Ma Robe Petals”, you’d expect it to be a fully fledged floral scent, such as Chanel No°19, but this is more “almond croissant in the Jardin de Luxembourg” than a crisp white sheet in a field of lilies. Keeping in line with the rest of the La Petite Robe Noire, the bottle is the classic Guerlain silhouette tarted up with the little-black-dress illustration, with the soft green of liquid radiating from within.

A little spring to my step? Check! A little black dress? Check! A new fragrance for those lighter, sunnier days? Double check!!