Michael Kors goes for gold

Michael Kors names his new fragrance collection after gold: white gold, 24K gold and rose gold.

The three eau de parfum in The Gold Collection share a fruity-floral theme - White Luminous Gold is fruitier, 24K Brilliant Gold has a woody touch and Rose Radiant Gold has a musky finish. Each costs from $80 for 30ml and are available at Michael Kors boutiques and selected department stores.

In an e-mail interview, the fashion designer shares his thoughts on the collection and the allure of perfumes.

Why did you choose gold as the inspiration for the collection?

I've always loved gold and it has been a part of my designs since forever. To me, there is nothing more opulent.

I am a big believer in everyday glamour and I think with these fragrances, we have made it easer to feel glamorous.

How tricky was it to capture the scent of gold, a metal, in a perfume?

We looked at it like this: each type of gold has a different attitude and you wear them for different occasions. So that was the approach we took for the fragrance.

The White Gold is powerful with hints of pear, jasmine and amber. The Rose Gold is a little more flirty with charming florals and musks. The 24K Gold is over-the-top glamorous with florals and woodiness.

How should a woman wear fragrance?

It's a personal choice. I think she can wear it almost all the time - the fragrance should just change based on where she's going and what her mood is. There's a time and a place for every fragrance.

What are your first memories of perfume?

The scents my mother and grandmother wore when I was a kid. My mom was sporty, so she always wore Aliage by Estee Lauder.

My grandmother was always fabulous and she wore Joy by Jean Patou.

Beyond that, my favourite scent memory is jasmine - it reminds me of that moment when I step off a plane and into a tropical place.

What kind of notes do you love on men and on women?

I'll always love jasmine on women, but lately, I also love the deeper woody, vanilla and amber scents.

On men, you want something that smells masculine, but also crisp and light - notes such as bergamot, sage and patchouli. It should not be overwhelming.

This article was first published on Aug 27, 2015.
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