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This Is What Proenza Schouler’s First Fragrance Actually Smells Like

According to 6 of our editors.

proenza schouler arizona

Rumors of cool-girl favorite Proenza Schouler’s first fragrance have been swirling throughout the fashion industry for years, and now the eau de parfum, named Arizona, has finally arrived. Inspired by the designer’s post-fashion-week trip through the American Southwest, the debut scent is the result of two and a half years of planning and testing, all to encapsulate the spirit, beauty, and mystery of the desert landscape. Two notes dominate the blend: a rich orris (aka iris flower root) and blooming white cactus flower, in hopes to invoke the wearer’s own adventurous “Arizona state of mind.” As Jack McCollough said to Vogue, “When we finally embraced that feeling, to properly unplug and get back in touch with ourselves in some way, it just felt like the ultimate luxury. We wanted to bring that into this project.” The fragrance is available February 10th exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Want our take? We got our hands on the stunning, hewn glass bottle and eagerly passed it around the office to test. Below, our thoughts.


5 / 6
Hannah Baxter, Assistant Editor: It’s tough to create a floral fragrance that doesn’t read overly girly, but the warmth and sensuality of Arizona really grounds it. Out of the bottle, the top notes are a bit sweet for my taste, but after it settles, the scent is surprisingly soft and tangy. It reminds me of embracing a girlfriend I haven’t seen for a long time and breathing in her signature scent. It’s a fresh approach to femininity, and the longer I wear it, the more I enjoy it.

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