Marchesa's New Fragrance

Photo by Kyle Ericksen

Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig plan to launch their first scent, Marchesa Parfume d’Extase, in September.

“Eveningwear evokes an emotion, and this scent does the same thing,” said Chapman, the label’s designer, who cofounded the line with business partner Craig in 2004. Much like the duo’s red carpet gowns, the bottle features plenty of detail and sparkle. Craig and Chapman worked with Malin Ericson of Vanessa Stevens + Company to create a clear faceted bottle that evokes raw quartz crystal banded with hand-set crystal accents resembling a bow. “We looked at our handbags and the signature crystals they have, and we really wanted to incorporate that element,” said Chapman.

“One of our main goals is to provide our clients with access to the hottest and most current trends and brands, and Marchesa fits into this category effortlessly,” said Michael McGeever, senior vice president and general manager of Sephora Strategic Partnerships. “With Marchesa, we are able to provide a universal experience that exudes the femininity, individuality and grace that the brand embodies.”

The scent, which Chapman and Craig created with Firmenich’s master perfumer Annie Buzantian, has top notes of iris, freesia and young violet leaves; a heart of night-blooming jasmine, and a drydown of iris root, ambrox and musk. “We didn’t want anything too sweet,” said Craig. “Georgina and I don’t like perfumes that can smell sort of sickly, so that was very important when we were going through the process.”

Eaux de parfum in two sizes, 30 ml. for $60 and 50 ml. for $85, will be sold, as will a $25 rollerball.

The scent is a Sephora exclusive and will be available in Sephora’s 320 freestanding stores and 370 Sephora-inside-J.C. Penney doors in September, and on sephora.com on Aug. 24. Sephora plans a presale for its VIB loyalty-card holders, which will begin Monday.