Tory Burch’s New Fragrance Smells Like Vintage Handbags and Confidence

Now that “demure” has made its way back into our lexicon, there’s another, arguably better word I’d like you to consider integrating into regular conversation. A classic since the middle ages and entirely poetic, “sublime” as an adjective is defined as “belonging to or designating the highest sphere of thought, existence, or human activity” by the Oxford English Dictionary. Isn’t that cutesy?

And honestly, it’s so easy to use. Try “you look positively sublime.” Or perhaps an even better compliment: “Is that Sublime by Tory Burch you’re wearing?”

Launching August 19, Sublime by Tory Burch is a new fragrance that encompasses everything its name stands for. Created alongside Givaudan Master Perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, perfumer Christine Hassan, and Shiseido, it’s grounded by hints of ivy, patchouli, and magnolia with base notes of leather, rose, osmanthus flower, earthy vetiver, and bright mandarin to reflect how Burch sees women today: “They want the perfect balance of sensuality and strength.”

To mark the launch, the brand collaborated on a global campaign with the one and only Kendall Jenner. In a video set to a cover of Edwyn Collins’s 1994 track “A Girl Like You,” the model holds a giant sculpture of the scent’s (refillable!) curvilinear bottle and gives off some impressively grand, elevated, superb, wonderful (also all definitions for sublime, mind you) energy.

Ahead, the iconic designer shares her inspiration for the new scent, her decision to have Jenner be its face, and her current beauty favorites.

What was the inspiration for the new fragrance? 

“Sublime has always been one of my favorite words. To me, it is the ultimate way you want to feel: confident, sensual, and strong. 

“When I was at our home in Antigua, I found this vintage leather handbag in my mother’s closet. The scent was intoxicating, and it became our starting point for Sublime. I wanted to create tension by mixing leather with unexpected notes: osmanthus, vetiver, rose, a slight touch of mandarin…The juxtaposition makes it addictive.”

Do you have any favorite notes in the new fragrance? 

“Vetiver always reminds me of my father; he wore Vétiver by Guerlain every day. Osmanthus is a beautiful flower, and in many cultures it is a symbol of good luck. It only blooms for a few days, so it is quite precious.”

If Sublime was an outfit, what would it be? Or what would you pair it with from the current Tory Burch collection?

“Our Pierced Mule.”

You have several fragrances already, did you approach this one any differently?

“I loved working on Essence of Dreams, which was a true collection. Sublime was a different approach; we spent a lot of time thinking about longevity and creating a fragrance that was beautiful and unexpected, something people will want to wear for years. I wasn’t thinking about ‘femininity’ or ‘masculinity’ at all—I wanted to crash the idea of it being just for women.”

Why was Kendall Jenner the perfect muse for Sublime?

“There are so many things I admire about Kendall: her confidence, her strength, her fearlessness. She has a quiet power and she isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. We met on a shoot in 2016, and I have been intrigued [by her] ever since. She was the first person I thought of when I started working on Sublime.”

What’s your first scent memory? 

“My mother’s organic garden on our farm in Valley Forge. I grew up surrounded by flowers, vegetables, and an abundance of beautiful scents.”

What are some of your other beauty favorites?

“Olaplex shampoo, Westman Atelier highlighter, Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum, and I am extremely diligent about sunscreen. Shiseido’s has been my favorite for years.”

What’s inspiring you right now?

“I think about individuality above everything.”