Scents have the power to transport you to specific times and places in your memory—and in this case, they just might take you down the rabbit hole of your favorite Disney film. Alice in Wonderland's 75th anniversary is this year, and to celebrate, editor-loved beauty brand Le Monde Gourmand just released a limited-edition collection inspired by the story's beloved characters. The best part? Each fragrance costs only $30.
Shop the Le Monde Gourmand x Alice in Wonderland collection
Our editors are longtime fans of Le Monde Gourmand's budget-friendly—yet downright delicious-smelling—perfumes for years, from the best-selling Chai Epicé to our editors' go-to strawberry perfume, Fraise Fouetté. We got the chance to try out the each of the four new fragrances in the brand's Alice in Wonderland collection ahead of time, and there was one clear favorite: Rouge de Cœur.
Inspired by the Queen of Hearts, this bold floral combines damask rose with pink pepper and amber woods, and it's by far the strongest scent of the four. My coworkers noted that it smells and performs like a $100 perfume, with a complex aroma that lingers for hours on skin.
Meanwhile, Senior Commerce Editor Samantha Jones fell under the spell of Potion Enchantée, inspired by the White Rabbit: "If this perfume were a memory, to me it’d be eating fresh fruit while laying in the sun on a beach in Mallorca," she said. "The raspberry and peach top notes really shine, yet it’s grounded with cedar wood to keep it from being overpowering. It’d be a fantastic daytime fragrance if you want to stand out in a sea of vanilla and powdery floral scents."
My personal favorite is Melodie de Thé. Just like Alice, I can't resist a good tea party, and this perfume pairs bergamot (the main aromatic in Earl Grey) and hibiscus tea with citrus and soft musks. To my nose, it smells exactly like squeezing a lemon wedge into a glass of iced tea, making it a refreshing pick for hot weather. It's also the subtlest fragrance in the collection, so I recommend it to anyone with a sensitive nose.
If you're partial to vanilla perfumes, then Fête De Vanille is your best bet. This fluffy gourmand evokes the Mad Hatter with a dizzying blend of hazelnut and bergamot. As it dries down, it reveals richer notes of marshmallow creme and jasmine, giving it a sultry depth. Even as a gourmand perfume skeptic, I could see myself reaching for this scent when I want to feel warm and cozy.
