se*y perfumes have similar talking points: animalic notes to mimic humid skin and gourmand notes like vanilla to make you smell good enough to eat. Eilish No. 3, the third fragrance instalment from singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, skips all of these predictable smells in favour of spice, wood and heat – and oof it’s good.
“Our inspiration [Billie and Linda’s] for Eilish No. 3 was all about creating a state of mind,” says Linda Chinery, senior perfumer at Takasago International, who fine tuned the limited edition fragrance, which launches today exclusively at Superdrug. “As the bottle shows, this one is red and se*y! The mood was flirtatious and sensuous and red in feeling.”
Interestingly, the colour red is integral to Eilish No. 3 as well as being the shade of its bust-like bottle. Billie has frequently spoken about having synesthesia, a condition that allows her to visualise smell. So we can only imagine that for her, se*y smells crimson – but in a cool, rather than cartoonish love hearts way.
When I read the press release, my interest was immediately piqued by the idea that Eilish No. 3 disrupts the usual perfume ‘pyramid’ reveal of fresh top, floral middle and deep base notes. Yes, the typical top notes of zippy grapefruit and pink peppercorn still exist. But they’re joined by only a brief flash of jasmine, allowing creamy woods, entwined with spicy saffron and warm, velvety amber, to take centre stage.
“In a traditional fragrance structure, the woods would be part of the dry down,” Linda notes. “The decision to disrupt the traditional fragrance pyramid was a deliberate and thoughtful choice aimed at capturing the essence of Billie’s unconventional and boundary-pushing style. I wanted the fragrance to tell that story as well.”
Admittedly, when I first sprayed Eilish No. 3 I had to sit with it for a while. It’s unusual for a floral note to evaporate so quickly and for woods and spices to suddenly hit you square in the nose. In that way, Eilish No. 3 echoes the tenacity of ‘80s perfumes like Christian Dior’s Poison.
I didn’t exactly drive dogs wild whenever I wore Eilish No. 3, but I did get a constant stream of compliments.
I normally wear soapy skin scents so Eilish No. 3 was a big departure genre-wise. Its first outing was at a birthday party. Both my male and female friends couldn’t resist going in for a second sniff every time we ordered another round of drinks. The taxi driver on the way home wanted to know its name so he could buy it for his wife. And when I wore it to work, a stranger asked me what perfume I was wearing in the lift – then purred that it smelt really good.
I didn’t exactly drive dogs wild whenever I wore Eilish No. 3 but I did get a constant stream of compliments. Without knowing it, I also chose heels over trainers on the mornings that I spritzed it on, so I was definitely channeling a different hot girl/boss woman energy.
The final verdict
Like all the Eilish iterations, No. 3 is unisex, vegan and certified as cruelty-free. It has also been created with Gen Z in mind as it resonates with the desire for self-expression and breaking away from the norm, Linda notes.
If I had to pinpoint exactly why it’s so alluring, I’d have to say its ability to make you stand out from the typical citrus or floral crowd. Eilish No. 3 is so unusual, it’s hard to put your finger on what you’re actually smelling. It’s not soft and pretty; it’s also less saccharine and romantic than Eilish and Eilish No. 2, so there’s no ‘come hither’ sexiness about it.
Put simply, Eilish No. 3 has lustiness written all over it, making it the perfume equivalent of wearing a sheer dress while draped across a red velvet chaise longue in a smoky French jazz bar.
Will it go viral in the same way as the vanilla and gourmand-based Eilish? Perhaps. But what I can say with conviction is that if you’re looking for a fragrance that genuinely surprises, or you don’t want to be peddling traditional perfume tropes for Valentine’s Day, then Eilish No. 3 could be just the ticket.
The limited edition Eilish No. 3 will be available exclusively at Superdrug from 31st January 2024 for a limited time, while stocks last.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR’s Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
News
Why The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare Only Made $9M At The Box Office, But Isn’t A Bomb
Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare did not make waves at the box office during its premiere weekend, but it still isn’t a failure. Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare did not make waves at the box…
Rumor: Games Workshop Introduced Female Adeptus Custodes For Amazon’s Upcoming Warhammer 40K Series With Henry Cavill
A new rumor claims that Games Workshop introduced female Adeptus Custodes in order to pave the way for Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming Warhammer 40K series that is being helmed by Henry Cavill. Codex: Adeptus Custodes (2024), Black Library The female…
Henry Cavill Spy Movie Becomes Streaming Hit After $96M Box Office Blip
After ending its theatrical run as a major box office flop, one Henry Cavill espionage movie has become a big hit with viewers on streaming. Henry Cavill’s spy movie flop, Argylle, has found new success on streaming after its theatrical run. Directed…
Fake AI Henry Cavill ‘James Bond’ Trailer Teases the 007 We Deserve
Ever since Daniel Craig‘s martini-stirring days came to an end, the question on every James Bond fan’s mind has been: who will inherit the coveted license to kill? From rising stars like Aaron Taylor-Johnson to seasoned actors like Idris Elba, even…
Zack Snyder Holds His Ground Against the Hate for Killing a Pivotal Character in Henry Cavill’s ‘Man of Steel’
Zack Snyder has become one of the most controversial filmmakers with his work in the DCEU. While critics tend to write off his films as too serious given their themes, his fan base is fiercely loyal, or what some might…
Aaron Taylor-Johnson: The New James Bond? Fans Speculate Amidst Excitement and Doubt
The James Bond rumors are stronger than ever with Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s recent response. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has come a long way in his career, from being the nerdy superhero in 2010’s Kick Ass to starring as Quicksilver in the MCU. The actor has…
End of content
No more pages to load