Reviewing Vivienne Westwood’s iconic, newly reformulated Boudoir perfume.
In between all the fashion month festivities, Vivienne Westwood quietly launched a new, reformulated version of its iconic Boudoir perfume which originally debuted in 1998. Vivienne Westwood’s spring 2026 show in Paris was even named “Boudoir” in honor of the launch; full of a smattering of mixed prints in unconventional shapes and some really covetable punk Bridgerton gowns with robust Regency-era sleeves.
Vivienne Westwood’s new Boudoir perfume is a very big deal, although it hasn’t yet been heavily publicized by the brand. So far, it’s only available at the physical Vivienne Westwood stores in Europe. Understandably, Vivienne Westwood isn’t the kind of label that goes crazy with marketing–they’ve always been more low-key. However, this is the first Vivienne Westwood beauty launch in years. New Boudoir’s pink bottle, perfectly sculpted orb stopper and powdery, antique inspired scent are all inspired by the Versailles Osmothèque, which Vivienne Westwood held as a source of inspiration. The Osmothèque is currently the world’s largest scent archive and serves as a research center.
Vivienne Westwood’s new Boudoir perfume maintains the powder-y, light, feminine allure of the original scent, but with a softer, less cloying power. It’s approachable while still being unique, interesting and a little surprising. It’s not a traditional floral or gourmand scent that you might get from your usual designer brand. Think of Vivienne Westwood’s new Boudoir as a mix of Marie Antoinette’s bedroom, antique lace, vintage lipsticks and face powders, old empty glass bottles, cotton candy and hand-written letters. It is warm, girlish and youthful without being too precious, overly sweet or obscene. The synthetic element gives it a surreal, not-too-old-world feel. Notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Orange Blossom, Damask Rose and Carnation with a base of Vanilla and Tobacco Leaf with a hint of Sandalwood.
But why relaunch a classic? The perfume stopped being stocked a few years ago, likely due to ingredient regulations changing. The Vivienne Westwood’s new Boudoir emphasizes sustainable extraction techniques using natural resources, such as carbon dioxide extraction methods that require no heat or harsh solvents. Perfumer Cristian Calabro is the nose behind the new scent. “The fragrance is elegant and commanding – full of contrasts,” Westwood communicated in a press statement. “Rooted in a conscious approach to both nature and innovation, the formula embraces a new generation of raw materials and extraction techniques.”
The new Vivienne Westwood New Boudoir bottle is also more hyper-feminine than the original, coquette-coded in all of its pink rococo gilded glory. Vivienne Westwood has one of the most amazing beauty histories when it comes to legacy fashion brands; we can’t wait to see what’s next.
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