Juliet: A Literary Inspired Perfume Celebrating the Joy of First Love

Valentine's Day is near, which means it is Romeo & Juliet season. And while I especially love this fragrance around Valentine’s Day, the truth is that my Shakespearean-inspired clean perfume, Juliet, is one that I (and many of my customers) wear year round.

This is a sparkling, joyful, and deeply beautiful scent with a rose and orange opening, followed by an undercurrent of warm, grounded notes like sandalwood, amber, and patchouli. Launched last year for Valentine's Day, this perfume was inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

However, this perfume's inspiration doesn't come from the tragedy of the love story's ending. Instead, it was inspired by the pure joy, innocence and hope of first love. The fragrance notes, particularly those of orange and rose, are uplifting and romantic and hopeful, the way that the beginning of a love story should feel. As a child of the 1990s, I picture the iconic scene from Baz Luhrmann's William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet , when the youth and beauty of a knightly Leo DiCaprio and an angelic Claire Danes won over our hearts with their pure and immediate connection.

That sense of abundant hope and joy is what I wanted Juliet to capture.

Rose and Orange: A Naturally Joyful Pairing

As a literary inspired perfume, the fragrance notes of Juliet support the story in more ways than one. Both orange and rose oils have long been used for their mood-boosting properties, which evokes the joyful optimism and romance of this fragrance.

Orange and lemon are associated with brightness and emotional lift. In aromatherapy, citrus oils are often used to encourage feelings of happiness, warmth, and clarity. They are fresh and energizing without being sharp, making them especially wearable in both warm and cold weather.

Rose brings depth and balance to that brightness. Traditionally linked to the heart and emotions, rose fragrances have been used for centuries to promote calm, comfort, and emotional well-being. It also softens a fragrance and adds depth, elegance, and a sense of quiet romance. Rose is one of my favorite fragrance notes, and I use it in my Juliet, Nocturne and Rose Drop perfumes.

Together, rose and orange feel joyful but deeply romantic. In an oil-based roller ball perfume with the additions of amber, sandalwood, patchouli and spices, these are long-lasting and present, without being overly strong.

A Literary Inspired Perfume Rooted in the Renaissance

If you've been a Bloom regular for any length of time, you know that my love of literature is key to these fragrance designs. I love to create fragrances inspired by literature, and part of that is always linking the fragrance notes to that story in some meaningful way. In the case of Juliet as a scent-story, this means that the notes in Juliet aren't only reflective of the innocence and optimism of the character, but are also historically accurate to the favored fragrances of the Renaissance.

In Shakespeare’s time, fragrance was entirely botanical. Perfumes were created using flowers, citrus peels, woods, and resins. Rose and rosewater was extremely popular, both for personal fragrance and for the home. Citrus, especially orange and bergamot, was prized for its freshness and was often used dried or preserved.

Warm base notes like amber and sandalwood helped natural fragrances linger longer on the skin.

Juliet reflects the traditions of perfumery in Shakespeare's time, blending bright florals and citrus with deeper, resinous notes like sandalwood, patchouli, and amber to create a scent that feels connected to both literature and history, while still being completely wearable today.

A Valentine’s Gift and a Year Round Favorite

Because of it's inspirational text, Juliet makes a beautiful Valentine’s Day gift. However, it is not a seasonal perfume. In fact, it is part of our permanent line because it is so versatile and wearable, year round.

Juliet wears really well in cold or warm weather. In colder months, the amber, sandalwood, and patchouli feel cozy and grounding. In warmer weather, the rose and orange keep the scent light, fresh, and luminous. It adapts beautifully to the skin, and - like all perfumes- is slightly different on everyone!

Juliet is not overpowering, but it is quite present and long lasting for a clean roller perfume. It is romantic, timeless, warm, and luminous (like its namesake!) I hope that you'll give this beautiful, literary fragrance a try and that it fills you with an uplifting sense of joy, love and hopefulness! This one is a perfect pick-me-up for yourself, for your True Love, or for anyone who appreciates clean fragrance with story, history, and heart.

Juliet: Rose, Orange, Sandalwood Clean Perfume

$20.00

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FAQs

What does Juliet smell like?

A joyful blend of rose and orange with grounding amber and sandalwood.

Is Juliet wearable year-round?

Yes! Warm in winter and fresh in spring and summer.