I’ve covetted Byredo fragrances since I discovered them at Nordstrom in Vancouver. It was 2016, we’d just moved downtown (and thus, dangerously close to Nordstrom.) The amount of rent we were paying for a shoebox-sized apartment was appalling and my shopping budget was small. While Byredo’s minimal packaging immediately drew me in, I could never quite land on a scent I really loved…
This spring, after years of considering and reconsidering, I ordered a bottle of Rose of No Man’s Land. I wanted a scent similar to Diptyque’s Othoniel Rosa, which I absolutely love but can’t find anywhere in North America. The notes in Rose of No Man’s Land are similar enough that I thought it might fit the bill.
I was totally wrong. Where Othoniel Rosa is spicy, Rose of No Man’s Land is heavily floral. Where Diptyque makes roses seem exotic, Byredo reminds you that they are exactly what they are – very conventional flowers. And while I love them, I am not a fan of the Byredo scent.
Even so, there’s a lot to love about Byredo’s perfumes. Acknowledging that, I wanted to share the positives about their Rose of No Man’s Land eau de parfum, too, because I know many people who love it. Some of you might love it, too.
What it is: A rose- and pink-pepper based fragrance from Swedish cult fragrance brand Byredo. Notes of raspberry blossom, papyrus and white amber round out the middle and base of the scent, which is made in France. The brand describes Rose of No Man’s Land as a tribute to the nurses (often referred to by soldiers as “Rose of No-Man’s Land”) who saved thousands of lives on the front lines of WWI.
What to do with it: Spritz lightly but liberally!
What it costs: $257 CAD for a 50 ml bottle of eau de parfum at Holt Renfrew.
Why it’s fabulous (even though this specific scent isn’t for me): I will freely admit that I don’t love the scent of Rose of No Man’s Land, I can’t dispute the quality of Byredo frgrances. One spritz in my bedroom and the delicate rose scent lasts for two days. Beyond that, if you love attention to detail in the form of beautiful packaging, very few brands can hold a candle to Byredo. From the box to the tissue to the perfectly cylindrical glass bottle, every detail is an aesthete’s dream. That said, if I were doing it over, I’d start with a candle as a test, since the brand isn’t available in stores where I live. Byredo fragrances are a luxury, and you want to make sure you get a scent you truly love.
I am always on the lookout for high-quality perfumes to try – every so often I like to take a bit of a break from what I see as my two “signature” scents, Angel and Chanel No 5, and throw something new into the mix. Or even just make a room smell achingly lovely for a bit.
Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines