Merit Just Made the Perfect Warm, Spicy Scent (And It’s Under $100)

Courtesy of MERIT

Chilly weather calls for a warm, cozy fragrance—and Merit answered with a sophisticated and classy take. Two years after the success of its debut scent, the chic beauty brand just launched a second one.

Merit's New Wave is a bright and radiant floral fragrance with a sensual woody and musky warmth base that's both fresh and spicy. It's perfect for a cold winter day (that's just around the corner). 

New Wave opens with a fresh pink pepper (that second-skin smell everyone loves) and angelica seed. It's followed by a light floral and solar heart of orange flower, ylang-ylang, and a honey floral accord. Once it fully dries on your skin, the base is a complex blend of patchouli heart, ambroxan, musk, vetiver, tobacco accord, cedarwood heart, oakwood, vanilla bean, tonka bean, and more. 

Created in collaboration with master perfumer Dominique Ropion and perfumer Meabh McCurtin, this scent is inspired by a visit to the Musée Picasso in Paris and the spirit of surrealist art. It's designed to be bright and complicated, where the more you wear (and smell), the more layers you discover.

And because the brand is beloved for its minimalistic and chic take on beauty, it's safe to say this scent will become an autumnal and winter staple in our fragrance collection.  

• Merit launched New Wave, the second scent in the brand's perfume collection and its first fall/winter fragrance.
• It features fresh, floral, solar, and spicy scent notes like pink pepper, orange flower, ylang-ylang, woods, resins, and musk.
• The fragrance is available in a full size ($92) and a handy travel size ($34) on Merit's website and Sephora. 

Sell-Out Risk

MERIT New Wave L’EXTRAIT DE PARFUM

Available in a full-size 1oz and a travel spray, Merit's new scent perfectly blends sophistication and warmth for the colder months ahead. Plus, you can get it monogrammed on the brand's website for an additional $8!

What Reviewers Are Saying About MERIT's "New Wave" Perfume:

"I typically gravitate toward fresher, lighter fragrances, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! The pink pepper note really stood out to me at first, adding a subtle spiciness that I didn't expect to love as much as I did. As it settled on my skin, it softened into a much warmer, cozier scent that felt really inviting without being too heavy or overpowering. I love how the fragrance develops over time and has a nice balance of freshness and warmth. It's definitely a little different from what I would normally reach for, but I think that's what makes it such a nice addition to my collection! I'm really looking forward to reaching for this one throughout the fall and winter. It's such a lovely, cozy fragrance for cooler weather!"

"New Wave smells powdery, feminine, yet delicate and classy!"

"This fragrance has a little bit of everything: soft florals, a pinch of sweetness, lots of warmth, and some musk. As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of smoky scents, I did notice the tobacco accord note hit instantly. That said, I think this is a great fragrance for someone who is looking to start getting into warmer or smokier scents. For something so warm, it is well balanced."

"This new fragrance strikes the perfect balance between soft, elegant florals and a rich, bold scent that truly makes a statement. Another plus, the scent lingers beautifully throughout the day without being overpowering. Lovely scent!"

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