Explaining the inspiration behind the scent, the designer declared: “For me, flowers and fragrance are the perfect expression of love and commitment, and a bouquet symbolises that union. In the hands of a radiant woman, a bouquet can be magical.” (via moodiereport)

the model is wearing a bridal gown, but she looks a bit edgy for Vera Wang, no? It certainly isn't the pretty-in-pink kind of imagery we saw for Vera Wang's last bridal fragrance, Truly Pink. Truly Pink wasn't astoundingly original or anything, but it was nicely done and very wearable (I'd wear it if it fell from the skies), and not quite so conservative as the original Vera Wang fragrance, which strikes me as so overwhelmingly bridal that I'd have a hard time wearing it in anything other than a bridal gown.

Bouquet opens with citrus (rather sharp for a few minutes) and watery fresh notes tinged with green (the notes: dew drops, bergamot, black currant leaves, paperwhite narcissus, honeysuckle, lavender musk, cedar, iris). The heart is blended floral notes, very fresh and crisp and green, and the lavender, while soft, adds a bit of interest (and shades of the au courant "touch of masculine") in the dry down. It gets just slightly powdery at the end — is powder obligatory for brides? — and while it has a more modern, less resolutely bridal feel than the original Vera Wang scent, it doesn't really stray from the Vera Wang "romantic and feminine" comfort zone. It is about the last thing I'd think to put on the bride in the picture, who I can imagine spraying on Guerlain Jicky and then knocking back a few at the reception.

Bouquet is fine and it didn't kill me to wear it for a few days, but as with so many recent mainstream department store offerings, I had the dispiriting feeling that I'd smelled something very like it, and fairly recently. I could have written my first novel in the time I've spent over the past year figuring out what all these new scents smell "just" like, and I've given up — what's the difference? If you're looking for something inoffensive to wear to your wedding, Bouquet will do; if you'd like to wear something romantic and feminine but with a bit more personality, check out Angela's article on Wedding perfumes or just take my advice and wear Ormonde Jayne Frangipani.

Vera Wang Bouquet was developed by perfumer Loc Dong. It is available in 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum and in matching body products.