Charlotte Tilbury has built one heck of a brand. The packaging, the colors, and even the product descriptions lure you into the magical world that she’s created. She’s gone beyond being one of the world’s most iconic makeup artists and blossomed into a bonafide magician. Look no further than the content built around her first fragrance, Scent Of A Dream, for proof.
Luxury brands love to tell elaborate stories to serve as the inspiration behind any product, and Charlotte Tilbury’s eponymous creations are no exception. Every facet of Scent Of A Dream is masterfully woven together to create an enticing story that I’d like to imagine myself playing a starring role in. However, as much as I love to appreciate excellent marketing and snappy copywriting, there’s only one true motivation for spending your hard-earned money: the fragrance.
Confession time: when I first smelled the perfume, admittedly straight from the bottle as I was passing by her counter in Selfridges, I didn’t think much of it. Perhaps it had more to do with where I was emotionally or how overwhelmed I was by the entire Selfridges experience, but I didn’t give Scent Of A Dream a second thought until it arrived in a holiday pr mailing right before Christmas. It was in a period of transition when I only had the remnants of what fragrance was left from my six months in England and before my belongings arrived from New York, so to say that I was open to finding a new scent would be an understatement.
There’s no doubt that Scent Of A Dream is a seductive fragrance, but it isn’t as obvious as Tom Ford Black Orchid or Narciso Rodriguez For Her, both of which I love for different reasons. Scent Of A Dream is more of what I would call a “skin scent”, meaning that it’s most potent effects occur when someone is close enough that they can smell it on your skin. Within my collection, it smells most similarly to Tom Ford White Patchouli and Elie Saab Le Parfum, though at most I would describe them as distant cousins.
Officially described as a floral-chypre, Scent Of A Dream is grounded by woody notes, citrus and amber, opening into more floral notes of rose, patchouli, and muguet, and finishing with black pepper, peach, and bergamot. This combination is unlike anything I’ve ever smelled before, and much like my favorite women, the notes continue to unfold the longer you wear it. Speaking of wear, I’ve found it to be surprisingly long-lasting and on par with the quality of fragrances from Tom Ford, Chanel, Guerlain, and other luxury houses.
Although there are many scents that I enjoy, the fragrances I reach for most are the ones that enhance or alter my mood. Scent Of A Dream has become a daily fragrance for me, not only because of the sensual notes I mentioned above but also because it bolsters my confidence and makes me feel powerful. Since it’s not as overt as Black Orchid, the feelings that it stirs up seem more like covert secrets than a shared experience.
If you’re interested in trying Charlotte Tilbury’s first fragrance, I highly recommend getting a sample first as opposed to smelling it in passing as I did. Once you’re able to experience how Scent Of A Dream develops on your skin, I think your appreciation for it will completely change. It’s available in 30ml ($67.12), 50ml ($93.15), and 100ml ($131.15) bottles, and I’m crossing my fingers hoping for a rollerball soon.
