Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.
Kate Moss is a personality that stands out in the sleek and gorgeous model milieu. She was the embodiment of the 1990s and its minimalism. She was the face of Calvin Klein. She took on Chanel as the Coco Mademoiselle cover girl. She had her share of controversies and successes. Her style is the most imitated of all models (and it can now be purchased at Barneys under her new clothing label). For those aspiring to more, there is now a fragrance by Moss, simply called Kate.
In various interviews, Moss has mentioned Penhaligon’s Bluebell and Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue as her favorite fragrances, and one can imagine how she would be able to enjoy their different personalities—from Bluebell’s green sharpness to L’Heure Bleue’s enveloping warmth, from springtime flowers to the lush blooms of late summer. At the same time, Kate the perfume bears not a hint of inspiration from either one of these fragrances. Rather, it looks to the floral musks of the last few years such as J.Lo Glow and Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely. The musky body is livened up by the tea rose.
The shower clean freshness of Kate is at odds not only with my personal expectations, but also with the marketing visuals, which present Kate walking through fields of black roses and thistles. I would instead associate the fragrance with a laundry advertisement—sheets billowing in a sun-lit garden; a girl running through green grass, being chased by cute golden retriever puppies… The pretty ubiquity of the composition simply does not add up to Kate Moss’s image, neither to the polished one of a model, nor to the rock-n-roll edginess of celebrity writ large.
The Kate Moss fragrance includes notes of orange blossom absolute, forget-me-not, pink pepper, lily of the valley, heliotrope, magnolia, peony, rose, patchouli, sandalwood, musk, vetiver and ambrette. Kate is already available in the UK, while the US launch is not taking place until next year.
22 Comments
Robin: Another one bites the dust. October 4, 2007 at 11:15am
Marsi: Sounds very generic in every way; even the bottle design is unoriginal and unmemorable. Doesn’t seem to be a very good mesh for her persona at all. Oh well. Lily of the valley and musk are probably an improvement over what Kate actually smells like, which I’d guess would be a blend of coke, tobacco, and night sweats. October 4, 2007 at 12:52pm
Dusan: What? No! I had such high expectations from Kate. And Kate. 🙂 A dark, goth and/or jammy rose, but a clean one? If she, of all celebrities, couldn’t deliver, what is to be expected from the others? Well, OK, I already know the answer. October 4, 2007 at 2:44pm
Dusan: What? No! I had such high expectations from Kate. And Kate. 🙂 A dark, goth and/or jammy rose, but a clean one? If she, of all celebrities, couldn’t deliver, what is to be expected from the others? Well, OK, I already know the answer. October 4, 2007 at 4:44pm
Joyti: A darker scent would be more suitable to Kate Moss’s persona. Yet, somehow, this scent is not a surprise. It seems that more celebrities than not will do a boring scent for teenagers, no matter what their persona is. I suppose its because it will sell… October 4, 2007 at 4:52pm
Flora: ROTFL – Marsi, I think you hit the nail right on the head! October 4, 2007 at 9:46pm
Paola: Marsi, you can add also alcohol to her actual smell. October 5, 2007 at 5:50am
Boisdejasmin: R, how true! October 7, 2007 at 12:25pm
Boisdejasmin: Marsi, it is definitely not memorable. I was very sad to reach this conclusion. October 7, 2007 at 12:26pm
Boisdejasmin: Dusan, I know, I should have expected… October 7, 2007 at 12:27pm
Boisdejasmin: Joyti, I agree, it is not a surprise–it is a fragrance that would be acceptable to many and moving to few (if any). October 7, 2007 at 12:28pm
Boisdejasmin: Flora, come to think of it, a whiff of tobacco would be not be a bad idea. Not sure about the rest. 🙂 October 7, 2007 at 12:29pm
Boisdejasmin: Paola, that sounds like a different Kate perfume in the making… October 7, 2007 at 12:30pm
Wordbird: I’m in Switzerland and have already tried Kate. It’s ok, not bad, nothing awful in it. But rather bland, I think. Still, I’m sure the marketing department didn’t want anything that might alienate any potential customers, and her brand appeal is broad. So, from a woman who reputedly wears L’Heure Bleue we have a very ordinary, innoffensive rose and amber. It’s fine. But I expected more. (Yes, I”m in marketing, hence the jadedness.)
You know what, I’m with your other commentors – I think a dark rose, with tobacco and civet would be very Kate. Something dirty but beautiful. Now THAT would be worth buying. (And if you know of anything that fits that bill, please tell us BDJ!) October 7, 2007 at 5:39pm
tmp00: reads like someone if trying to live down her image.. October 9, 2007 at 5:25pm
Madame M: The bottle is hideous– looks like nail polish. November 24, 2007 at 9:01pm
Jade: I’ve just bought some for my mum for xmas, I was in a rush,:-p Unfortunately I dont think she’ll like it! but someone recommnede it to me and said they really liked it, so I wont be taking thier advice again! Buyng pefume for other people can be hard as everyone has their own special/personal tastes, I tested some on myself and wasnt that impressed, the bottle design looks cheap and its a bit ”pink smelling” and sickly sweet but I like the smell of the tea rose but nothing else about it I like, dissapointing…Tom Ford’s Black Orchid or Tobbacco Vanille smells much nicer, ricer/darker and expensive, thats more my taste! December 22, 2007 at 11:12am
Maria: i’m from london,23years old. bought Kate during the winter sale.really love the smell.sweet, yet mysterious.really love it.i smell it everyday.seriously addicted to it.hehe. December 29, 2007 at 1:42pm
Tartangirl: Just bought it and love it. It is really addictif. June 24, 2011 at 8:36am
Daphne Marie: For real, Tartangirl! Obviously, I’m living in the dark ages, i.e., I just got it and love it. Not one bad word to say about it. Who cares if the target consumer is teenagers (spending their parents’ money)? What product isn’t? I think it’s an awesome scent. People were trashing it without even smelling it. There’s some fine free thinking.
I’m glad it’s not “dark.” You want dark? Wear that earthy, dirty, disgusting smelling Obsession and you’ll want to kill yourself. I can wear Kate anytime. It’s perfect — just like her. March 31, 2012 at 4:59pm
Tartangirl: Nearly 2 years have gone by since I wrote my comment and I can say that Kate is still my favorite scent, it’s even become my signature scent. The magic still works and I just cannot get enough of it. June 7, 2013 at 2:06am
Tartangirl: Just to say that I also bought Vintage de Kate it’s very different from Kate, much warmer, and really not bad either. June 7, 2013 at 2:22am