Stephen Jones Millinery was launched for Fashion Week London 2008 by avant-garde fashion line Comme des Garçons.

It opens with a shock of intense violet and cold aldehydes. The violet is soft, powdery and sweet; it smells like those little French violet candies to my nose. As the aldehydes fade, it’s replaced with a spicy warmth from a note of clove that brings forward the smell of bright, floral carnation and opulent, sensuous rose. As they bloom, lush jasmine joins the carnation and rose; it smells sweet and fresh. Violet appears again but is more pronounced; its powdery aspect is bolstered by heliotrope. On me, there is also the smell of something smouldering or burning. It comes from Guaiac wood, giving the fragrance interest and depth as a curl of smoke swirls around the flowers –the perfect foil for their powderiness. At the base, amber adds warmth and sweetness alongside earthy, woody vetiver. Black cumin is warm and animalic, harmonizing the amber and floral notes.

The drydown is floral, elegant and romantic. Stephen Jones Millinery is also unique, otherworldly and gorgeous.

There's nothing more words can say; this beauty has to be smelled.

Notes: violet, aldehydes, clove, carnation, rose, jasmine, violet heliotrope, Guaiac wood, magma, vetiver, black cumin, amber.

In addition to decants, I am selling two bottles here  – a partial bottle and a full bottle.