There are a lot of things to say about Elizabeth Arden’s ALWAYS RED Femme, but the first thing that comes to mind is that a woman who wears red is not a shrinking violet.
The color red has been known to make pulses race. Red is the color of romance, love, and heat. And for those who know the Red Door of Elizabeth Arden, it’s permanently connected to the Elizabeth Arden Brand.
The Fragrance:
Eliizabeth Arden’s ALWAYS RED Femme is a flanker to the 2015 Always RED – a continued celebration of the New York woman who is confident and “lights up the town.” ALWAYS RED Femme is: “inspired by the intriguing and dynamic woman with a sexy, feminine sway in her step.”
We say it’s a trendy fragrance that pays homage to the woman who lives an urban lifestyle and reflects the trends in fragrance for a modern vibe: “the trendsetter who is always on the move and sets the pace of the city. Through her black silhouette with accents of leather and lace, this city girl is unabashedly feminine and boldly takes an all-or-nothing approach to life. She’s ready for everything the city has to offer – and more.”
Designed by Perfumer Celine Barel of IFF, the idea was to balance “fearless femininity and strength with grace.”
The Scent:
We think this was accomplished admirably with a scent that is clearly not for teens, or for those who just want another fruited floral. It’s a fragrance for a modern young woman who wants something fresh and new, but also understandable.
Always Red Femme starts with top notes of Black currant bud, Pear and Lemon, but these blend into the heart of Davana LMR1, Muguet, Jasmine and Beach Blossom and by the time you get to the Base of Vanilla, Moss, Cedarwood and Patchouli you find a sensual soft floriental where the spice shines lightly through the floral heart.
— strong and confident, but also sensual and feminine…that to us is the epitome of the modern urban woman.
Packaging:
To further emphasize that the woman who wears ALWAYS RED Femme has these qualities, the packaging features feminine accents of big metallic red floral blossoms on matte black box. The outer carton is slightly embossed with the same design in red metallic that is on the bottle.
The Elizabeth Arden ALWAYS RED Femme bottle is heavy black glass. One side has the red metallic floral design label, the other, a depiction of the famous “Elizabeth Arden Red Door” in black. The topper is one sleek bar of shiny black plastic. You can’t see how much fragrance is left in the bottle, but it’s probably not going to be a huge issue for most consumers.
Price:
ALWAYS RED FEMME Eau de Toilette Spray (1.7 fl. oz. /50 ml) $50.00
ALWAYS RED FEMME Eau de Toilette Spray (1.0 fl. oz. /30 ml) $34.00
We didn’t check the price before testing this so as not to be biased. It was a lovely surprise to discover that Elizabeth Arden ALWAYS RED Femme is very affordable. Fragrance choice is so subjective and cost shouldn’t be a factor in choosing a favorite. Modestly prices fragrances often have to skimp on the notes and can smell that way. This one smells doesn’t.
If you like ALWAYS RED you will also like ALWAYS RED Femme. If you haven’t tried an Elizabeth Arden fragrance for a while or ever, this is the one to get!
Once a fragrance is on your skin, no knows how much or how little your fragrance cost. All that matters is that it smells nice on you.
Availability
Now at Elizabeth Arden counters nationwide and ElizabethArden.com.
