Displaying your perfume is hardly a new concept, but never before has there been such a beautiful bottle for the task. Would you expect anything less from lavish Marchesa? Parfum D’Extase’s bottle (a decoration for your vanity if nothing else) is the perfect presentation of what the brand is all about – luxury, decadence, femininity, and goddess-like beauty. The tassel and the crystal top resemble the signature details on their bags (see mine in the background!). But there’s even more meaning to it than that. The bottle is shaped like a large crystal, which is believed to bring about positive energy and healing. If that’s not enough for you, the girls created the Awards Season Couture Edition in a limited release of just 150, all of which are now sold out. The special item came to me with a square mirrored box (the bottle is sitting on it in the photo), and inside, carefully protected by a foam cutout, was the perfume.

And as we know, the inside is just as important as the outside, so I’m pleased to report that the scent itself is as intoxicating as the packaging. Floral and feminine, ever so soft and pretty, it opens up like a flower to reveal depth in different layers. Freesia and iris are the top notes with lingering jasmine, the sweetness of orange blossoms, and the sensual essence of rose also playing supporting roles. Georgina and Karen have made this scent into a full-blown experience from sight to smell and even to suggestion, offering us ideas of how to wear it. My favorite is to spray the perfume on a cashmere scarf. Now every time I wrap it around myself I’m engulfed in this gorgeous scent. I’ve even sprayed it on my favorite throw for when I want to read in bed or watch TV. With a glass of wine after a long day, it’s a truly sweet indulgence! Available at Sephora for $60 (1 oz.) and $85 (1.7 oz.).