This year marks the 20^th anniversary of for her, a fragrance with such unique and timeless appeal that two decades after its launch, its devoted following only continues to grow. Instantly recognizable and completely inimitable, for her has become a modern classic and a true icon in the world of perfumery. Conceived by Narciso Rodriguez as a tribute to the grace and elegance of women, for her tells a story of eternal femininity that endures and evolves. It remains as powerfully relevant today as it was 20 years ago, when its creation changed the landscape of modern fragrance forever.  

The making of an icon

for her is a creation born from the passion and vision of a designer with a unique aesthetic for timeless elegance and purity. One of the most acclaimed American fashion designers of the 21^st century, Narciso Rodriguez is renowned for his architectural, yet feminine style. His work has always been inspired by women – their beauty, their strength and their grace – so translating this vision from fashion to fragrance was an intuitive progression.

“Creating the fragrance was a dream of mine and I was passionate about bringing this idea to life. Both fragrance and fashion contribute so much to the way a woman is perceived, so it’s only logical that both should be conceived from the same aesthetic and the same process. I wanted to make a fragrance that was addictive, sensual and eternally beautiful.” – Narciso Rodriguez

The designer was as personally involved in creating the for her fragrance as each and every piece of his fashion collections.  From the very essence of the fragrance, to the lacquer of the bottle and the shape of its cap, every detail received his precise and meticulous attention. 

“I wasn’t looking for someone to create a fragrance for me that I could just put my name on at the end of the process. for her is as much a part of me and my work as any dress that has ever come off my mannequins or any shoe that I have ever sculpted.” – Narciso Rodriguez.

The power of musc

The story of for her all started with musc. Several years earlier, the designer had been given a vial of rare Egyptian musc oil which had become his personal signature – an olfactory autograph, worn like a talisman. He became fascinated by the unique, expressive power of musc and its remarkable ability to reflect and reveal the nature of its wearer. This powerful and intimate connection with musc meant that when it came time to create his own fragrance, musc had to be at its heart.

“I couldn’t imagine creating a fragrance without musc. It lends such an air of individuality, and it’s like an addiction. Musc’s raw power is very seductive and lends itself to unique permutations for each woman who wears it, which is quite magical.” – Narciso Rodriguez

After sharing a vial of his rare musc oil with renowned perfumers – Christine Nagel and Francis Kurkdijan –this precious musc became the foundation of a fragrance that would come to define an entirely new olfactory territory and inspire a revolution in modern fragrance.

A fragrance like no other

For two prodigious perfumers to collaborate on the creation of a new fragrance was an unusual approach, but the creative exchange between them – and Narciso Rodriguez – led to a scent that is now viewed as a virtuosic achievement in perfumery.

The process began with a most addictive yet subtle note – a modern white musc accord that paid homage to Narciso Rodriguez’s original inspiration, and would become the iconic signature of for her. The goal was both simple and bold: to develop a luminous floral fragrance from this rare heart of musc.

While musc is undeniably its defining note, the true magic of for her lies also in the unique alchemy of accords that surround it. As the perfumers transformed the signature heart of musc with floral facets of orange blossom and osmanthus, soft amber and hints of tactile woods, an exquisite synthesis emerged.  A modern, transparent version of a chypre fragrance – a fragrance destined to become a classic.

for her opened a new chapter in the history of fragrance by introducing an entirely new style of chypre, the modern chypre musk. A true olfactory work of art, the importance of its contribution to perfumery is only matched by its significance to women around the world, who find in its unique grace and elegance their life-long signature.

“A fragrance is a primal signature; it immediately reflects what a woman is about and how she sees herself. A woman identifies with her fragrance; it becomes part of her persona and her life.” – Narciso Rodriguez

An enduring aesthetic

Just as Narciso Rodriguez’s own rare Egyptian musc oil had been the starting point of for her’s unique olfactive signature, the bottle also took shape from the designer’s own inspiration.

“The idea for the for her bottle was to design something very precious. I was after a particular illusion of multi-layered transparency, inspired by a Chinese snuff bottle. I’d collected these snuff bottles from the time I took my first trip to Asia when I was 23.” – Narciso Rodriguez

This small snuff bottle, painted black from within, inspired the designer to create a bottle that would capture the enigmatic mystery of his new fragrance.

Pure and succinct, the for her flacon is an object of art: a black rectangle suspended within translucent glass, like a bottle within a bottle. This design broke the codes of the industry, since at the time transparency was expected for feminine fragrances, while black was generally associated with masculine scents.

The design also stretched the limits of current technology, and it was only after many iterations – driven by the designer’s perfectionism and passion – that his vision for the bottle was finally realized. The design, with its black interior lacquer, the first of its kind in the world of fragrance, would become an icon in its own right – a sheer rectilinear form.

“The bottle is this pure object of beauty, yet it’s not clear what’s on the inside; you have to experience it, fall in love with it. Like the fragrance, it has an air of mystery, a sense of duality.” – Narciso Rodriguez

A color combination emblematic of the fashion house, the bottle was enclosed in a pale pink box, juxtaposing the black flacon with a touch of delicate grace and beauty.

A defining portrait

The iconic portrait of Carmen Kass, the original muse of for her, transcended fashion and fragrance to become an enduring symbol of the house of Narciso Rodriguez. Captured by legendary photographer duo Inez and Vinoodh, the portrait of Carmen – her shoulders bare and her hair framing her face in a soft Grecian braid – embodied an eternal femininity and a quiet yet powerful grace. The tilt of her head and the strength of her gaze created a vision of a woman almost goddess-like in her beauty and yet somehow accessible.

This iconic image was in fact originally intended for the fashion collection, and existed long before the fragrance was even conceived. But the designer recognized that this pure black and white portrait perfectly captured the spirit of for her, with a timeless grace and an intimate, ethereal quality.

This singular, unforgettable image not only played a role in the phenomenal success of for her; it has also endured as one of the most iconic images in fragrance history.

A new muse, a new era

In 2021, for her embraced a new era with a new muse, Lola Nicon. With a startlingly fresh beauty that is both raw and refined, Lola’s bold and enigmatic presence continues the timeless tradition of for her, while reflecting the evolution of its story.

The new campaign, also shot by Inez and Vinoodh, captures the most private and most powerful facets of a woman’s femininity. The campaign, filmed in pure natural light, with an exquisite interplay between light and shadow, has an ethereal, dream-like quality composed of fragmented memories and intriguing, hypnotic moments. Its black and white palette recalls the iconic portrait of for her’s original muse, while accents of pink bring a fresh expression to the enduring enigma of modern femininity. 

From an icon to a collection

The creation of for her eau de toilette not only marked the emergence of a modern classic, it became the seed from which an entire collection would develop. Every fragrance in the for her collection centers on a unique expression of the exquisite heart of musc, and highlights a different facet of the for her woman.

for her eau de toilette

The iconic original, for her eau de toilette celebrates her grace, the refined heart of musc enhanced by a synthesis of orange blossom and delicate floral osmanthus, combined with soft amber notes, patchouli and hints of warm woods. Elegant and sophisticated, it is a timeless scent of eternal femininity.

for her eau de parfum

The second chapter in the for her story, for her eau de parfum expresses her beauty, the musc made more sensual by a weave of pink floral notes with hints of rose, peach pulp, soft amber and patchouli. The original bottle’s black interior is replaced by a delicate pink lacquer, equally emblematic of the house and expressing the deeper sensuality of this new incarnation of for her.

for her PURE MUSC

The very quintessence of musc, for her PURE MUSC is the purest version of the for her signature. The delicate scent spotlights the purest facets of musc embraced by a white floral bouquet of orange blossom, jasmine, ylang ylang, and the comforting warmth of cashmere woods. While PURE MUSC can be worn alone as a purely addictive scent, it was specifically created as the perfect base to layer beneath any fragrance in the for her collection. Each of its notes has been carefully calibrated to complement each for her fragrance, allowing you to create a scent that is uniquely your own.

for her MUSC NOIR

for her MUSC NOIR opens a new era, reinterpreting the deep mystery and eloquence of the iconic for her scent. Featuring a darker, more intense musc, MUSC NOIR conveys the strength of the for her woman, its mysterious quality complemented by rich leather suede accords, heliotrope, white cedar, rose and luscious plum. A tribute to the powerful mystique of a woman’s inner beauty and her innate sensuality, MUSC NOIR is presented in a completely translucent bottle, for the first time revealing the mystery within.

for her MUSC NOIR ROSE

The most recent addition to the iconic for her collection, for her MUSC NOIR ROSE captures a new mood of intimacy. More sensual and less mysterious than for her MUSC NOIR, MUSC NOIR ROSE blooms with a voluptuous bouquet of intense tuberose, its solar facets fusing with the signature heart of musc and a hint of luscious plum. Highlights of bergamot and pink peppercorn contrast with an addictive base of oriental vanilla, amplified by rich leather suede accords and the soft earthiness of patchouli.

Since the creation of his very first fragrance 20 years ago, Narciso Rodriguez’s aim has been to reveal and enhance the inner beauty and inner self of each and every woman. Now, to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of for her and narciso rodriguez parfums, the house unveils a new fragrance in this timeless love story: for her forever.

A powerful tribute to the iconic for her collection, for her forever continues the legacy of the narciso rodriguez musc with a luminous new interpretation of the inimitable olfactive signature.

An olfactory tribute

An ode to for her’s eternal femininity, for her forever highlights the most radiant facet of the iconic narciso rodriguez musc, while reinterpreting the floral chypre facets of for her.

Sonia Constant, the renowned perfumer behind many of for her’s most celebrated scents, crafted for her forever as a deliberate homage to the iconic eau de toilette, bringing a new light and radiance to the composition.

“for her forever is a tribute to for her – composed like an immaculate bouquet, a caress of petals warmed by the rays of the sun, soft and dense like a silky cream of flowers, and illuminated with an electrifying vibration.” – Sonia Constant

Exotic frangipani and heady gardenia mingle with tuberose and jasmine to create an intoxicating bouquet of radiant white flowers, interwoven with the same creamy osmanthus blossom as the original for her eau de toilette. The familiar softness of rich, woody patchouli grounds the fragrance with for her’s distinctively addictive base, creating a sublime scent that at once recalls and reinvents the timeless original.

Forever in a bottle

For the first time ever, the for her forever bottle creates a fusion of the delicate pink and enigmatic black facets of for her’s iconic palette. With the signature architectural silhouette of the for her collection, the flacon is now reimagined with a dramatic gradient of black, fading to reveal a pure pink transparency beneath. Housed in a blush pink box bound with an elegant rose band, the for her forever bottle celebrates the timeless aesthetic of for her.

The icons of tomorrow

The 20^th anniversary of for her not only celebrates two decades of narciso rodriguez parfums, it also marks the beginning of the next chapter for the fragrance house. Established in 2003, narciso rodriguez parfums has demonstrated a remarkable ability to evolve and renew, while remaining unerringly true to the philosophy and vision that inspired the designer’s very first creation. The enduring appeal of for her is a testament to that unique power, and presages the bold new future to come.