Velvet Steps

Velvet Steps

A gently smoky incense‑plum Eau de Parfum where syrupy Italian plum melts into myrrh, labdanum and musks, creating a soft purple‑velvet trail that feels intimate yet understated.

Scent Development and Character

Velvet Steps opens in a soft, rising veil of olibanum wrapped around a syrupy Italian plum accord, immediately suggesting the intimacy of a passing moment. As it develops, myrrh, ylang‑ylang and cypriol deepen the texture, turning the plum accord darker, resinous and slightly spicy. In the drydown, ambrocenide, Spanish labdanum (cistus) and musks create a warm, smoky‑resinous aura that feels like purple velvet in low light—rich yet surprisingly gentle on skin.

Who It Is For and When to Wear It

Despite its resinous and smoky facets, Velvet Steps wears as a surprisingly soft, intimate incense fragrance rather than a heavy oriental. The plum accord adds a plush, slightly sweet fruitiness without turning overtly gourmand, making it suitable for both day and evening in cooler or temperate weather. Its polished structure and gender‑neutral profile fit well for sophisticated casual wear, gallery or dinner outings, and contemplative indoor settings where you want a subtle but characterful presence rather than a loud statement. Most suited to autumn and winter, where its warm incense‑resin heart and syrupy plum accord feel cocooning, yet it can work in cooler spring evenings thanks to its relatively gentle diffusion. Sillage: noticeable but controlled: the incense and ambrocenide accord create a clear aura around the wearer without becoming overpowering, especially after the initial phase. Longevity: Longevity appears moderate to moderately strong for an incense‑resin Eau de Parfum: it tends to sit close‑to‑moderate on the skin for several hours rather than pushing to extreme endurance.

Perfumer and Bottle

Released in 2026, it is presented as Eau de Parfum. The perfumer is Annick Ménardo. It comes in a 100 mL bottle shaped by Bottega Veneta's design language.