Love it: For Her L’Absolu Eau de Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez

“The idea for l’absolu was to create an extremely special fragrance with an air of mystery that will endure. For Her L’Absolu embodies the ultimate femininity with a pure grace.”

Narciso Rodriguez

A little while ago now, after a very long conversation between designer Narciso Rodriguez and perfumer Aurelien Guichard, they decided to define a new femininity in scent. The end result was the beautiful For Her, which was a modern classic from the minute it hit counters.

Fast forward to 2015 and we have a new incarnation of the scent, and I guarantee that it will be a hit with fans of the original as well as attract many more who like their fragrance on the deeper, more seductive side.

Rich and intense, For Her L’Absolu still has the essential duality of Narciso Rodriguez’s original For Her fragrance, but with a twist. In creating For Her L’Absolu, Rodriguez was reportedly inspired by “modern femininity’s profound evolution and duality”. The goal was to capture a more powerful intensity without being overwhelming. “I’ve always been transfixed by women who project strength with passion and radiate grace and beauty from the inside out,” says the designer.

The campaign image of model Carmen Kass is captivating, echoing both the sensuality and intensity of For Her L’Absolu, and the designer says, “Carmen has always been very special to me since she was so much a part of the original creation of For Her. She has a very pure beauty, innocent yet somehow very sensual—and it is not just a surface beauty; she has real depth and integrity.”

But back to the scent. For Her L’Absolu is raw and yet refined, yet intimate—and flawlessly feminine. Absolute of jasmin transforms the signature heart of musc in a heady olfactive composition. Soft amber notes and smooth woody notes of sandalwood and patchouli then add a rich depth that makes you feel like you’re wrapped in cashmere each time you spray it on. “Today the notion of femininity is in constant flux yet remains simple at its core,” says Rodriguez. “For Her L’Absolu is meant to encapsulate this core femininity with the utmost grace and sensuality.”

The signature bottle for the scent is a deep aubergine, a new colour for the range that definitely stands out on my bedroom window ledge. Apparently aubergine was one of the very first signature colours from the house of Narciso Rodriguez and remains an essential chapter in its ever-evolving story. Originally inspired by ancient Chinese snuff bottles, the bottles in the range are to die for, and this incarnation is no exception.

For Her L’Absolu is available from selected Farmers, Department Stores and Life Pharmacy from

late August 2015, with RRPs as follows:

For Her L’Absolu Eau de Parfum 30 ml: $118.00

For Her L’Absolu Eau de Parfum 50 ml: $170.00

For Her L’Absolu Eau de Parfum 100 ml: $225.00