NYC, Bottled Up! Oscar de la Renta Celebrated the Launch of a New York-Inspired Fragrance

Those in and out of the Big Apple tend to romanticize New York. The yellow taxis, the vast culinary scene, the way that everyone is seemingly on the go somewhere. The concrete jungle where dreams are made of, as Alicia Keys famously put it. It’s this hustle and bustle that inspired Oscar de la Renta’s latest launch—New York Eau de Parfum.

“My vision was to create a fragrance that captures the vibrant, ever-changing energy of New York City,” Yves Cassar, vice president and senior perfumer at IFF tells Vogue. “I was inspired by the city’s iconic skyline and towering skyscrapers that represent its timeless charm and innovative modernity and match that with the energy, elegance, and style of the Oscar de la Renta brand.”

The result is a fruity, floral scent that’s as vibrant as the city it was inspired by. A juicy strawberry leads the fragrance, followed by a floral heart of Turkish rose petals—"this rose is especially clean, with a fresh, dewy petal effect that brings a lush, romantic essence to the fragrance," he says, and a creamy sandalwood that lingers warmly on the skin. Cassar destined this to take the wearer on a mesmerizing journey through the city—giving them a boost of energy and confidence to take on the day.

To celebrate, Oscar de la Renta’s co-creative directors, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, invited guests to the Ned’s Club NoMad rooftop for a cocktail party overlooking the Empire State Building. The pair held court with the likes of Kathy and Nicky Hilton, Camila Coelho, Tina Craig, Ezra J. Williams, Prabal Gurung, and Candice Swanepoel—who hosted the fete as the newly-minted face of the fragrance. “Taking on the role as the face of the Oscar de la Renta New York fragrance launch is such a joy,” the supermodel says, citing both her deep love and admiration for Kim and Garcia, but also NYC. “[The city] gives so much vibrance, energy, newness, and inspiration constantly."

When asked what she thinks New York eau de parfum smells like, she gestured to the lively event in full swing—attendees taking pictures, sipping wine and custom cocktails, bopping to a DJ set by Lucas Thomashow and Tinx as the sun set. “It smells almost like this feels right now.”