For those who are unfamiliar with Agent Provocateur, it is a luxury London originated lingerie brand with designs that are not only elegant and sexy, but playful and empowering. Who wouldn’t feel good knowing you have that kind of sex appeal underneath all those layers! Although we don’t get them here in SA we now have access to their fragrances. It’s basically the equivalent to a victoria’s secret.

AGENT PROVOCATEUR SIGNATURE

This is the first scent. Encased in a wonderfully pink ostrich egg shaped bottle in a frame type box.

Note wise we have:

Top: Indian Saffron, Russian Coriander

Mid: Moroccan Rose, Egyptian Jasmine, French Magnolia, Ylang,

White Gardenia

Base: Haitian Vetiver, Amber, Musk

The scent defiately oozes seduction, pleasure and the provocation of the senses. I would classify this as an oriental. Heavy, boozy, strong and spicy almost masculine and I definitely a man could get away with wearing this. Use sparingly as it is very strong and lasts the whole day the scent won’t change much during the day. Deep, edgy, dark and alluring more suited as an evening scent not something I would wear during the day… Not for the faint hearted I see more for attention seeking, adventurous dare devils wearing this. This is a really dark, floral-spicy and complex scent, and needs to be experienced. There’s nothing girlish or sweet or coquettish about it – it’s bold and aggressively sensual and a bit filthy. I think this one has the makings of a very long term “scarlet-woman” classic, and it’s in mighty fine company. Paper-y woody note of amber and vetiver combined with warm musks, but it is the saffron along with the upbeat coriander that bring a rather animalic and weirdly “dirty” quality to the fragrance making it the olfactory equivalent of an aged Hollywood star the morning after she has had a rampant night out. I would describe the heart as a smoky, resinous, floral, amber with a touch of powder. As befits a lingerie manufacturer this is a scent with a distinct tang of the boudoir. To best describe it is powdery and spicy at the same time kind of like incense most likely from saffron. This is more aimed at more mature woman the reason I say this is because they haven’t incorporated any fruity notes in it which is associate with playfulness. You can see that they were trying to make a classical timeless scent like a YSL opium or Chanel no. 5 and when I smell it kind of smells like a combination of the 2.

Available at selected Stuttafords Retail price: R1095 (100ml) | R795 (50ml) |R545 (30ml)

AGENT PROVOCATEUR FATALE EDP

The fatale collection definitely seems to be more youthful and more like your usual scents on the markets the box kind of reminds me of a leather like feel. The bottle is quite pretty too reminds me of a crystal. A sleek, multi- faceted bottle with a fishnet pattern on the cap and the famous logo.

The fragrance gains inspiration from the 1940’s Hollywood femme fatale – an incredibly mysterious, seductive, and charming woman with an aura that can’t help but draw you in. It speaks to the modern day woman who goes to work during the day time, but still has the time and energy to be free whether it’s going out with friends, on a date, or heading home and taking care of a family.

Note wise we have:

TOP: Pink Pepper, Mango, Blackcurrant

MID: Gardenia, Orris, and Patchouli

BASE: Musk, Vanilla Orchid, Chocolate, Labdanum

Mango- juicy and ripe, in a bed of vanilla, and chocolate, hinting at seduction but not as sultry and distinctive as expected. Pink pepper fizzes with the mango. Blackcurrant, tart with a dollop of cream. Patchouli? I’d say a touch candy floss in there too. Musk and orris come out to play after 30 minutes or so.

Referred to as a “floriental” or ‘Fruitchouli’ (known in the fragrance world as a spicy floral that transitions to a heavier base), Fatale, is just the right amount of sweet and spicy! Fatale is sweet and floral at first, but as time passes and the scent settles into your skin, you can begin to smell the mid and base notes that are heavier and muskier. Lasting power of 4 hours.

It’s fun, I suppose it’s sexy, but not in the way Agent Provocateur’s first fragrances were- they were naughty and daring. Agent Provocateur has stepped into mainstream terrain. Within an hour I am reminded of Coco Mademoiselle somehow it nods in that direction… fresh, fruit and sweet. Fatale is seductive, sweet, addictive, and charming. It is fun and playful that I can wear it any time of the day.

Available at selected Stuttafords Retail price: R1095 (100ml) | R795 (50ml) | R545 (30ml)

AGENT PROVOCATEUR FATALE PINK EDP

Note wise:

Top: Tangerine, pear blossom, yuzu, whipped cream

Heart: Datura flower, white camellia, pink lotus

Base: Bamboo, musk, black saffron

This fragrance was released for the Asian market which is why they most likely chose these notes Pear blossom, yuzu, camellia, lotus and bamboo are all notes which are popularly found in Asia.

I would wear this on a hot humid day, it’s watery and light. The most prominent notes are the pear and the musky. The other notes give a pretty, white cream floral and fresh blur. Tangerine gives soft citrus. Hours later there is a surprising sudden floral peak. There is a “thinness”- I think pink lotus has that effect, but with cream, and interesting sounding notes like saffron and datura I would expect a denser scent. Enigmatic and glamorous could describe this, but seductive? Introverted, innocent seduction- a hugely new direction for this usually racy brand.

Available at selected Stuttafords Retail price: R1095 (100ml) | R795 (50ml) | R545 (30ml)