fragrance notes: flower by kenzo

It might seem a little strange to be talking about a summer perfume, given that up here in Canada, we just had our latest blast of winter snow and ice (in the first week of spring, no less!), but I'm thinking that visions of balmy days will help get me through the day. So I'm spritzing on a little of this new summer scent by Kenzo, Flower by Kenzo. I've never tried any of Kenzo's perfumes, but I've always been in awe of their immensely gorgeous, minimalist packaging, and this one, with it's leaning-tower bottle and artfully abstract red-poppy motif, certainly fits that bill - it's lovely, no? The scent is termed a floral-oriental - it's a powdery-floral fragrance, but it feels anything but "granny". I think it has to do with its genius layering of different notes woven in that hit you when you least expect it: hints of musk and vanilla emerge amidst the the floral fields of violet and Bulgarian rose. The powder note, meanwhile, give it a clean feel, which makes it feel modern and not old and dusty. This is a decidedly feminine scent, but one that's light, with an urban edge.