First introduced in 1988, Carolina Herrera qualifies as one of the big and loud florals of the eighties which you either love or hate. If you are familiar with Giorgio, which was also a mega-hit of that decade, you know exactly what I mean.

Carolina Herrera was inspired to create this scent by her garden in Caracas, Venzuela. She states, “It was a combination of tuberose and jasmine, which has a very appealing, uncomplicated, and very feminine fragrance…quite elegant and memorable.” She describes this gigantic floral with fruit accents as “jasmine fireworks.”

It opens with top notes of apricot, rosewood, orange blossom and bergamot and turns to heart notes of jasmine, tuberose, hyacinth, narcissus, lily of the valley and honesuckle. Base notes are cedarwood, amber, vetiver and musk.

The perfume is packaged in a cheerful white box with polka dots. Carolina explains her choice of using polka dots: “They are reminiscent of the dresses that some dancers wear in Seville. They are visually attractive and happy. In a way, they have become sort of a trademark of my fragrance and I love them.”

Me too, Caroline. There is something very uplifting and playful about polka dots!

Carolina Herrera isn’t generally available in most department stores but it can be purchased on Amazon. A 1.7 oz. bottle costs around $40.00.