Fragrance Of The Month: Merit Retrospect L’ Extrait de Parfum 

We spritz and love a lot of perfumes. All the time. More than we can count. Each eau is a new expression or in some instances, personality, that we can pair with an outfit or use to elevate who we want to be and how we want to feel. With Merit’s Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum, though, we wear it as an extension of ourselves. 

If you’ve been paying attention to the rise of minimalist beauty, you know the brand. Founded by Katherine Power, Merit has built its reputation on streamlined, edited essentials designed to simplify our routine without sacrificing impact. Maybe that’s why Retrospect feels like it’s a part of us, so effortless, so aligned.

Warm, subtle and intimate, the eau smells like clean skin with undertones of soft florals and musky depth. Fresh notes of bergamot and pear open the fragrance, wafting a bright, soft sweetness that mingle with aldehydes’ airy quality. Ambrette follows, adding a gentle, skin-like warmth that is absorbed into a sultry, delicate and slightly powdery bouquet of jasmine, rose, violet and orris blooms. Notes of rosemary with vanilla, moss and musk provide an earthy, second skin-like groundedness that feels sensual and familiar. 

The overall effect is private, known and understated. It wears close, shifts throughout the day and feels like just another part of you, which is as comforting as it is intoxicating. Because if we could have mix-mastered a scent to represent us, this would be it. Merit simply did it first.

Merit Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum, $46 for 9.5ml, $125 for 30 ml and $188 for 50 ml, available at Sephora and online at www.meritbeauty.com.