Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely Perfume

Most perfumes leave me itching, sneezing, or wrinkling my nose in disdain. In fact, I avoid perfume counters like the plague. I'm not one for heavy or strong fragrances, even if they're considered sexy or wildly popular. I'd rather just skip the perfuming ritual all together and hope whatever scent I'm radiating is benign enough. But I'm always keeping an eye out for a brand that will offer something light and appealing without overpowering. I want to smell like myself, only better!

I had been hearing good things about Sarah Jessica Parker's scent, Lovely, created with perfumers Laurent Le Guernec and Clement Gavarry. It actually turned me off that it was associated with a celebrity. I really don't see how their fame makes them experts at creating a scent while chemists and perfume designers typically need years to perfect new scents. The whole idea of celebrity designed perfume just makes me assume someone else created it in its entirety and a celebrity signed off to have their name stamped on a bottle. I'm also just not really into branding myself with pop culture references, nor wear high-end couture or anything overly trendy.

But because of reviews that the perfume offers a lighter alternative to stronger perfumes, I picked up a bottle of Lovely from Sephora in Union Square, New York for just over $35 for a 1 ounce bottle . When I got home, I gave it a good spritz, then walked into the spray. I rarely douse perfume directly onto my skin unless I'm positive I'll love it.

My first reaction was pleasant surprise and intrigue. It smelled soft and clean with a trace of exotic layering. I kept wanting to inhale it again and again to figure out what those layers were all about. Touches of lavender? A hint of apple? An underlying scent of musk I want to chase down with my nose and hold? Turns out all those ingredients are wrapped up inside of Lovely along with bergamot, mandarin, apple martini, patchouli, cedar, paper whites, orchid, rosewood, white amber, and woods.

The scent isn't overpowering or intense. It's a very soft and somewhat subtle smell, perfect for everyday wear. It's probably not for someone who wants a distinctive signature smell that everyone will notice upon entering a room. I also wouldn't describe it as flirty or sexy. It's a soft, feminine, and intriguing scent for someone who isn't too fussy and wants a light and clean smell.

I also appreciated the design of the bottle itself. So many celebrities top their perfumes with hideous plastic bows, balls, garish design, loud colors, and ornate detailing. Lovely features a simple curved design to let the pink spray show through. I really enjoy looking at on my bathroom shelf. I'm also a fan of the price. I use it a few times a week and the bottle can easily last me up to six months. Though I picked it up at Sephora for around $35, I found it on Amazon.com recently for just $20.