New Niche Perfume Review: Irene Neuwirth Sol 2 for Barney’s New York + Early Summer Draw

A visit to Rocky Neck State Park in the middle of winter. Can be shot anytime Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Basically whatever the

Photo by Stephen Dunn

Much of the United States is covered in snow. People are posting Facebook statuses of how many inches of snowfall they got today, and showing pictures of winter wonderlands in their back yards. News sites are showing highway footage of pileups with dozens of cars sliding on the bad roads. Even here in California it is getting increasingly chilly after an odd warm spell. What better time to bring out a scent for summer, right when folks have had enough of the cold?

barneys new york irene neuwirth bottle cafleurebon

Jewelry Designer Irene Neuwirth

Perfumer Ralf Schweiger has been working on a series of fragrances under the auspices of Barneys New York, working with fashion designer L'Wren Scott in 2012, actor, artist, and fashion designer Greg Lauren in 2013, and most recently with jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth, launching the eponymously-named fragrance this February. Subtitled Sol 2, although that does not appear on the packaging, it is Mr. Schweiger’s interpretation of Ms. Neuwirth’s memories of spending summer at the beach as a girl.

barneys new york irene neuwirth vanderhoek cafleurebon

Seaside Pedestrians by Kin VanDerHoek

Beachy scents are rather plentiful in the perfume universe, so I was interested to see how Mr. Schweiger would be able to avoid creating yet another suntan lotion fragrance and come up with something new, because I know he is talented enough to offer a twist on the genre. I am not disappointed, and Irene Neuwirth is really great to wear. The fragrance opens with a rather earthy neroli and sweet orange blossom, and it is the neroli that offers a new spin. I love a bit of dirt in neroli; it adds character to the prettiness. As the coconut heart of the scent appears, the floral notes keep the composition from straying too far into the tropics. I am enjoying that this is a California beach aroma, since I grew up going to Zuma, Laguna, and Newport beaches, and have lived on the coast for decades. The simple drydown is perfection, with just a hint of musky vanilla simmering on the skin. I tested this on a pretty chilly day. I was wearing layers, and had to turn on the heater. To put me in a summer mood, I ate a very out-of-season melon for lunch. Basking in the flowery coconut of Irene Neuwirth made my day seem just that much brighter.  I will definitely want to wear this when it is warm outside, because I think it will bloom deliciously on skin.                                               

Notes: neroli, orange flower, jasminum sambac, rose, coconut, vanilla and musk

I received my sample from Barneys NY in San Francisco. Irene Neuwirth for Barneys New York Eau de Parfume is a limited edition of 3,000 bottles priced at $195 for 3.4 oz. It is available online and in-store.

Tama Blough, Deputy Editor

barneys new york irene neuwirth sample cafleurebon

Thanks to the generosity of Barneys New York, we have a carded sample to send to any reader living in the US. To enter, tell us any scent memories you have of the beach, and that you live in the US. Draw ends February 10, 2014.

barneys new york irene neuwirth alexander skarsgard cafleurebon

Gratuitous shot of Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman in True Blood

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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34 comments

  • ringthing says:

    I have a crush on neroli at the moment and this sounds lovely. My early beach memories are of the sand dunes on Lake Michigan – hot sand, cold water, pine trees. Thanks for the draw!

  • DavidK says:

    I live in frigid Philadelphia now, but I went to college in Santa Barbara/Goleta and winters like this make me miss that place even more. Many of the beaches up there are not cleaned so you get the salty ocean water, the various vegetation that washes up and bakes in the sun, the various sea creatures decomposing (including, on occasion, dolphins) and depending on the direction of the breeze you can smell the lagoon on campus.

  • lana says:

    My memories are similar to David K’s. My parents had a place on the Jersey Shore, and I remember August as being a particularly pungent time, when the ocean water would heat up, and the beach smelled quite piquant! Like a summer stew. Thanks for the draw!

  • HeatherP says:

    My scent memories of the beach involve salt, seaweed, bodies, and wafts of exhaust; those aren’t really where this scent is going, but I’d LOVE to try it anyway! 🙂 I’m in the US…thanks for the draw!

  • Michele M says:

    We vacation at the Maryland sea shore every year. The smell of the hot sand, the briny sea, the scent of coconutty suntan lotion on the ocean breeze. Paradise!!!!
    I live in Pennsylvania, USA

  • Angie says:

    I don’t recall having any scent memories of the beach as a child. As an adult in Mexico it was just nice salty air. I crave the sun and sand and smells.

  • SAntonio says:

    I remember a work trip to Maui a few years ago – my first visit to Hawaii. My schedule was packed with meetings and work sessions and I didn’t have time to visit the beach. Finally, one evening, I made my way to the beach, and was suddenly surrounded by the scent of frangipani/plumeria blossoms blown by Maui breezes from a nearby tree. Magic…

    I live in the US.

  • sunnlitt says:

    hi, Tama,
    This sounds lovely. You’ve made me think of childhood summers spent on the beach in Balboa. My mom could not swim, so she took us to the bay side of the peninsula where all the moms and kids played and sunned and read and ran to the ice cream truck when it came down the street. The scent of Coppertone brings it right back!

  • Connie says:

    The best memories I have of the beach are being in Cape May with my cousins- the smell of the ocean, the sand, and fudge!

  • CheninBlanc says:

    Sounds lovely! My scent memories of the beach focus on salty sunbaked seaweed. I grew up by a northern California beach and there was always a lot of it around. I’m in the US.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    my first memory of beach is riding camel by the beach but first memory in the US is from Galveston, TX which is ironically mentioned in one of the classic songs i like..i am in the US

  • Lisa B. says:

    I am in the US and my beach memory involves feeding the seagulls in Florida…and fresh orange juice.

  • Anastasiya Mason says:

    Fresh humid salty air, sand, sun warmed skin remind me of the beach. US reader. Thank you for this giveaway!

  • Mary K says:

    My beach memories are from when I was young and our family visited grandparents that lived near Lake Michigan. I remember the smell of the sand, the water, and Coppertone. I am is the US.

  • Courtney Warren says:

    I have no scent memories from the beach of an ocean. I do have one from the beach of the St. Croix River. The murky, fish like muddy smell is almost a comfort to me because it reminds me of good days as a younger teen. Camping by the river and spending the weekend on the island by the river was fun times and potentially fun times I can share with my son.

  • Kristina says:

    I live in New Jersey and every year, me and my family go to the Jersey shore. It’s funny because I actually hate the smell of the beach or shore. The one scent that reminds me of summer and going to the beach is a fragrance called Sag Harbor by Bond No 9. My sisters are obsessed with it and wear it all summer! I would love to have my own summer signature scent tho! Dying to try this scent out.

  • StaceyW says:

    I grew up on Lake Michigan but the smells I associate with the beach there are more pungent like seaweed, fish, and other detritus. I’d rather smell salty air and suntan lotion! I am in the U.S. Thank you for the draw.

  • Kim Morgan says:

    I’ve lived in Florida my whole life… the beach is part of most of the major highlights of my life. Thanks for the chance to win!

  • Lean S says:

    It’s too hard to follow the instructions when they’re posted right above that shot, but I’ll give it a go. I live in the US and I have too many good beach memories to pick just one, but the first thing that comes to mind at the moment is going kayaking with ocean kayaks while we were in italy. Thanks so much for the chance! ..and for the Skarsgard

  • Ferris says:

    My scent memories of the beach are from my college days during a field trip to Biloxi Bay Mississippi. The smell has forever remained in my mind. The smell of the dry arid sand. So clean and aromatic if that makes sense. A very stark contrast with the saltiness of the ocean. I’m in the US and thanks for the draw!

  • Holly F. says:

    I walk the beach with my dog nearly every day here. These are some of my best memories of living near a beach. Early mornings in the spring smell like the honeysuckle that grow wild by the dunes, combined with the the sea salty air. Just breathtaking. I’m in the U.S. Thanks for the draw!

  • Civet says:

    My beach memory is of rotting seaweed and hot sun on sand and globs of tar in Galveston, TX when i was a little kid. Sounds kinda gross buts it’s a fond memory!

  • Joanne says:

    I live in the US and my memories of the beach are hot skin and Coppertone, with dashes of salt in the mix!

  • Cynthia says:

    My favorite scent memory is from Australia, where eucalyptus mingled with the salt water spray. US

  • ncmyers says:

    I grew up in Florida and remember the windy wildness of the beach in winter when no one else was there. I’m in the US. Thanks for the draw.

  • TerryM says:

    My fondest memories of the beach are sea spray and Coppertone. I am in the US and thank you for the draw!