Dylan Purple is the latest fragrance from Versace; it’s velvety smooth and seamlessly powerful. Sculpted with a gothic goddess in mind, this full-bodied perfume is addictive, bright and sparkling.
Titillating between modern femininity and the renowned name of Versace, this fragrance features an alchemy of irresistible notes that create a powerful but delicate blend.
This scent encourages you to don an arousing sheer black dress, a dark brooding lip and singed black liner. Emboldened by the quest to become the Versace woman, I wore a heavy velvet coat and layered skirts and tested this out; this is what I thought…
The Most Important Thing About This Perfume Is…
This vegan fragrance is the more sultry alternative to Dylan Turquoise. Offering a deeper, richer scent than Dylan Turquoise, this fragrance is an ode to the sensuality and power of the modern woman in a bold and enchanting way. Often used as a symbol of womanhood, the anchor of attention on purple as a focal point offers a more lavish and opulent colour palette. Majestic and beckoning, this fragrance is a force to be reckoned with.
You Will Love Dylan Purple If…
With evocations of Greek mythology, this amphora-shaped bottle proudly features the iconography of Medusa. With serpents instead of hair and a steely gaze that will turn you to stone, this woman has the ability to petrify men. Widely seen as a symbol of female rage, Medusa has become synonymous with a culture of powerful, self-sufficient, knowledgeable and overtly – feminist women. TikTok feeds have been inundated with women harnessing Medusa’s strength through songs dedicated to the goddess, infographics, and, most permanently, tattoos.
These markers are similar to the authoritative runway looks that Versace have created, with both aiming to personify a woman that is impressive and commanding. The links from past to present, with the elicitation of Medusa, ties to contemporary feminism, and the forecast to a new glamourous gothic woman make this the perfect scent for a bold, influential and autonomous woman.
Dylan Purple’s Inspiration Comes From…
Encapsulating the return of 90’s whimsical and gothic fashion, this perfume draws heavily on
Versace’s Spring 2023 runway collection. With hazy violet lighting, spindly dripping candles, sheer lace and loose runaway bridge veils, this collection stipulates the revival of grunge with a sharp womanly twist.
Paraded against the stained glass backdrop of a goddess mural, a stream of Prince hits confirmed the focal colour: purple. With different indigo hues and seeping shades of black, this dark hard-edged and subversive collection has been created with a certain woman in mind. A woman who is confident, liberated, goes heavy with her makeup and creates her own rules.
This punk princess collection celebrates the modern Versace woman with scores of slash cutouts, fringed satin skirts, itsy bitsy party dresses, baby dolls, garters, and heavy motorcycle jackets. It girls of the decade, Gigi and Bella Hadid, oozed glamour, towering above the coven of witchy women in hooded asymmetrical dresses and high-slit wedding gowns. Singed with smoky eyes and vampy lipstick, this collection balances feminine elements, such as the pink-adorned y2k icon Paris Hilton closing the show, with the sensual deep lighting of the catholic church setting.
Dylan purple acknowledges the moody and mysterious direction of this latest collection. Blended to smell like a dark gothic goddess, this woman has a knowing look, a sensual, sultry walk and the outfit to match. She is versatile, able to silence in a form-fitting mini skirt and a pair of stilettos or a flowing fuchsia dress with matching mary-jane shoes.
A spell-conjuring diva, who flits between her signature dark iris purple and a dramatic tropical pink, this woman throws caution to the wind. One spritz of this ultra-feminine fragrance summons her from her vampiric castle, rolling her eyes, totally over the whole thing already.
The Notes Are:
Evocative and complex Bergamot leads the head notes with a sharp citrus scent. Hiding a spicy undercurrent, this ingredient is well-rounded and nuanced with complexities of fruity and aromatic elements. Bergamot is fresh and bright, reminding me of earl grey tea while remaining lively and spirited. Combined with juicy pear, these two offer this blend a delicate gourmandise and thirst-quenching freshness. The pear adds a sweet, aquatic green backing that is subtle and smoky. It was particularly this winter fruit that I picked up on when smelling this fragrance, and definitely, the ingredient that I felt lingered the longest.
Powdery freesia opens the heart notes, offering an explosion of bright purple colour and the delicate aroma of its soft petals. A minty fresh ingredient, freesia here, is both striking and alluring. Simultaneously comforting and tantalising, this balance of relaxation and luminosity reflects the cool-girl gothic goddess that Versace embodies with this perfume and the distinctly feminine appeal of this aesthetic.
Mahonia, described as angel’s breath, is a transparent and creamy note juxtaposing the heady freesia scents, offering a honey-like milky note, adding depth and complexity to this fragrance. Coupled with pomarose, an elegant and vibrant tone is set, with slight nods to apples, plums and raisins. This punch-drunk ingredient is reminiscent of apple pies, baking and sweet sugar treats.
Lastly, Dylan Purple is underscored by base notes of cedar, ambroxan and sylkolide. Cedar is fresh, with hints of resin, reminding me of walking in a luscious forest. Evergreen and balancing, this calming note is grounding and dry. Combined with Ambroxan, a caramel and tobacco-scented ingredient is herbal and sagey. Similarly offering musky notes, Silkolide signs the fragrance with a deep amber hue, solidifying this as warm, fruity, and sensual.
For optimum performance and desired sensuality, spritz Dylan Purple onto your pulse points – wrist, inner elbow and neck. Do not rub the fragrance, as this will alter the way it develops.
What’s Special About The Bottle?
Adorned with a rose gold lid, this fragrance is sleek and polished. Both structured and soft, the neck of the bottle is embossed with baroque-style letters spelling out Versace. This tactile signature is subdued, matching the colour of the lid, creating a muted, modern feeling. Following the line of the bottle’s elegant curves, we are strikingly aware of the arresting purple colour of the fragrance.
The violet shade is enchanting, with an almost opaque bottle, giving the effect of peering into a crystal ball.
The iconography of Medusa, featured on the decanter, interrupts the purple hue, nudging us back to the central theme of gothic goddess revival. It is exactly her likeness, alongside the rest of the packaging, that is one of the most alluring parts of the perfume. I feel as though the vial perfectly encapsulates the influences behind this scent without being overstated.
