Our take
What does Madly Kenzo smell like?
Madly Kenzo came out in 2011 in a teardrop bottle by Ron Arad that fades from purple to nearly clear. Aurélien Guichard of Givaudan composed it in collaboration with François Demachy. The opening pairs orange blossom with oleander, a fairly sweet floral duo. The heart shows what sets Madly apart. A rose sits on incense, joined by heliotrope that smells of almond paste. That clash of smoke and sweetness is the whole appeal. The base softens with vanilla, cedar and white musks. A fruitier eau de toilette followed in 2012, built around pear and lychee. Compared with Flower by Kenzo, which is powdery and well-behaved, Madly takes risks. They are measured risks, but they are real. It is a pity it stayed in the shadow of its older poppy-bottled sister.
When to wear it
A floral oriental for cold evenings, sprayed on a sweater or scarf. Two sprays are enough because the incense and vanilla last.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. Madly Kenzo is one of 17 creations by Kenzo in our encyclopedia.
