Finding just one word to describe Oscar de la Renta’s legendary body of work, but if we were pressed to do so, “extraordinary” seems appropriate—the term was one used regularly by the designer in his studio, so it’s only fitting that the last scent he worked on before his death in October should share the superlative.
“Oscar would come in in the morning and say the opera last night was ‘extraordinary,” the label’s chief executive officer Alex Bolen told WWD. “We thought it would be a good name for a fragrance.” Extraordinary’s lively blend of cherry blossom, peony, neroli, with wood and amber notes only emphasizes its namesake, and is housed in a gorgeous star-shaped bottle designed by Mr. de la Renta himself.
RELATED: Will You Accept This Rose? The Best Rose-Based Fragrances
Drawing upon elements of both classic and modern origins, the designer used Nina Ricci’s first fragrance Coeur Joie as a reference and gave the unique silhouette his own twist, then merged it with trendy rose gold accents. Second to his knowledge of crafting flattering ensembles seen on stars like Kerry Washington, Audrey Hepburn, Sarah Jessica Parker, and many more, the personal connection to scent was one that de la Renta knew very well. “There is always an emotional element to everything I make, especially when it comes to creating fragrances,” he said in a press release. “There has to be. Fragrance, after all, is all about emotions.”
This scent in particular holds a special place in our hearts—it was the designer’s last and most-personal beauty endeavor before passing, and next to incorporating his couture gowns into our wardrobes, it’s a way to infuse a touch of the extraordinary into the everyday.
Pick up a piece of fragrance history for $92 now at macys.com.PHOTOS: The 12 Prettiest Spring Fragrances to Try Now