From Elizabeth Taylor to the Olsen twins, celebrity scents make us feel that much closer to the famous faces we admire. More than just an A-lister’s name adorning a pretty bottle, these fragrances embody something personal from the celebrities themselves—a favorite ingredient or a scent from a distant memory. Here, we reveal the stories behind the latest scents from some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
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THE SCENT
Jessica Simpson, $65, macys.com
FRAGRANCE TYPE
Floral Gourmand
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE
A sweet dessert with hints of vanilla and fruit
THE INSPIRATION
The seventh scent in Jessica’s collection, this fragrance is inspired by the many paths women travel throughout their lives and captures a piece of Jessica’s own personal journey. “This fragrance is reflective of who I am today, as a woman, a mother and a designer,” she says. “I am spiritual and find meaning in the small things, like a feather floating. Feathers represent a journey and I wanted to bring that to the design. That’s what this scent means to me; it’s the getting there that makes you who you are. I love how a fragrance can make you recall a certain time in your life. As a mother, I want my kids to someday reminisce about what mom smelled like.”
BEHIND THE FORMULA
Givaudan perfumer Marypierre Julien, who worked with Jessica, incorporated vanilla from Madagascar (one of Jessica’s favorites) to add richness without being overly sweet. “Vanilla scents are warm and romantic and are a signature of mine,” says Jessica. To capture Jessica’s warm nature and vibrant personality, Julien married vanilla with white chocolate and “paired it with fruity accords such as clementine and pomegranate for a delicious top note.”
The Colombian Bombshell
THE SCENT
Sofía by Sofía Vergara, $55, hsn.com
FRAGRANCE TYPE
Oriental Floral
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE
Sweet berries and roses with a bit of vanilla
THE INSPIRATION
When creating her first fragrance, Sofía, actress Sofía Vergara channeled inspiration from her native home of Colombia to develop a scent to make all women feel irresistible, no matter their age or ethnicity. “I always loved fragrance,” says Sofía. “I can spend hours in a store trying on perfumes. I know what I like and it was very rewarding to finally find the perfect formula. I chose my favorite flowers from home—Colombian roses and orchids—because they are so exotic and colorful.”
BEHIND THE FORMULA
Sofía wanted to incorporate a bit of who she is and where she’s from into the fragrance, which is why she chose a floral element. International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) perfumer Bruno Jovanovic says the floral blend gives a distinct femininity to the scent. “Sofías energy and curiosity about the olfactive process enhanced the experience. She is confident with her sense of style and sensuality and was keen on capturing those qualities in the bottle. We achieved this by blending woody, creamy notes with natural vanilla to complement the floral notes and create a truly sensual background.”
The One Who Started It All
More than two decades ago, the legendary Elizabeth Taylor debuted her hit fragrance, White Diamonds, or her “diamonds in a bottle,” as she often called it. The fragrance became a way for Elizabeth to share a piece of her opulent lifestyle with women and inspire them to channel their inner glamour. “No other celebrity fragrance has reached such heights and longevity,” says IFF master perfumer Carlos Benaim, who created the scent with Elizabeth.
Since the actress’ death in 2011, her fragrance legacy lives on, and continues to thrive. This latest addition to Elizabeth’s perfume repertoire, White Diamonds Lustre, celebrates the robust spirit she exhibited throughout her life. “The new scent is inspired by Elizabeth’s love of the narcissus flower and all things sparkling,” says Benaim. “Both fragrances share a classic femininity, but Lustre is a fresh, more ethereal interpretation of White Diamonds’ signature floral bouquet.”
THE SCENT
White Diamonds Lustre, $68, macys.com
FRAGRANCE TYPE
Fruity Floral
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE
A blend of jasmine, citrusfruits and musk
BEHIND THE FORMULA
“The narcissus flower is a key note,” says Benaim. “And to give the opulence Elizabeth was always looking for, I added other luxurious florals: jasmine for its ethereal petals, orange flower for its luminosity and orris for its elegance.”
The Sexy Showstopper
THE SCENT
Glowing Goddess, $49, kohls.com
FRAGRANCE TYPE
Woody floral
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE
Citrusy and fresh, accented by notes of white flowers
THE INSPIRATION
Since the launch of her first fragrance, Glow, in 2002, Jennifer Lopez has been a power player in the celebrity scent arena. Her current release, Glowing Goddess, is the 21st fragrance in her portfolio. Inspired by Jennifer’s role as a judge on American Idol, this perfume captures the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. “Glowing Goddess celebrates a glowing moment in the spotlight,” says vice president of global marketing for Coty Prestige Emily Bond, who worked with Jennifer on the scent. “Jennifer’s spirit is infectious. She is wonderful to work with and truly understands the artistry of fragrance. She sees each new scent as an extension of herself.”
BEHIND THE FORMULA
A heart of orange flower and jasmine, two of Jennifer’s favorites, and a base with warm sandalwood, follow top notes of pear and mandarin. “I love the smell of orange flower, jasmine and sandalwood so I wanted to include them,” Jennifer says. “The combination of notes is feminine and fruity, and I love how fresh they smell on your skin.”
The Designer Duo
THE SCENT
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and Nirvana White, $75 each, sephora.com
FRAGRANCE TYPE
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black: Woody
Elizabeth and James Nirvana White: Floral Musk
WHAT THEY SMELL LIKE
Nirvana White is reminiscent of a budding bouquet of flowers;
Nirvana Black is rich with sandalwood and creamy vanilla
THE INSPIRATION
Fashion moguls Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen designed Nirvana White and Nirvana Black to reflect the signature duality of their noted fashion brand, Elizabeth and James. Each unique scent is meant to capture a modern, intimate moment of nirvana—one that makes life more exciting. “Everyone wants to experience their nirvana,” says Mary-Kate.
BEHIND THE FORMULA
“The challenge was to create simple scents using the highestquality ingredients,” says Catherine Gore, general manager of Sephora’s KENDO division, who helped develop the fragrances. “Nirvana Black is mysterious with notes of violet and vanilla, and Nirvana White is more feminine with peony and musk.”