B.BALENCIAGA

Meet B, the first Balenciaga fragrance created with Alexander Wang at the helm of the French fashion house.

At first, the sophisticated woody fragrance – whose campaign is fronted by model Anna Ewers and shot by photographer Steve Klein – bursts open with the unexpected green note of fresh edamame before lily of the valley quickly follows.

After 15 to 20 minutes, it evolves into its heart (iris root and cedarwood) before drying down into darkness (ambrette seeds and cashmeran woods give it depth for hours).

“This was such an exciting project for me because it’s my first time working on a fragrance,” says Wang. “It was important to capture the woman, the essence, the personality of B.BALENCIAGA.”

Indeed, it was a monumental task for Wang to embark on, as Cristóbal Balenciaga’s own iconic fragrances (remember Cialenga and Prélude, anyone?) have set a high standard.

Still, Wang pays homage to the label’s heritage with a frosted, cracked glass bottle that is reminiscent of the marble tiling of Balenciaga’s original 10 Avenue George V Paris boutique; making this a fragrance, body lotion or shower gel you’d be proud to place on your vanity.

The verdict? We like B.BALENCIAGA because it smells weird —and we mean that in the best way possible. A modern interpretation, this is not a straight up floral fragrance, and it’s not a straight up woody fragrance; the edamame gives it a kind of earthy greenness that is unlike any other commercial perfume we’ve smelled. And then, of course, there’s the fact that wearing it makes us feel like we belong to the designer’s posse of cool kids. Are we right Hanne Gaby Odiele and Vanessa Traina Snow?

Equal parts chic and cool, we think Wang nailed it.

To shop the new B.BALENCIAGA fragrance, click here.

[responsive imageid=’13209′ size1=’0′ size2=’641′ size3=’1024′]

[responsive imageid=’13212′ size1=’0′ size2=’641′ size3=’1024′]