I’m not really a jewelry person. Well, let me re-emphasize that: I’m not a Jewelry Person. I love sterling silver, pearls, vintage jewelry of various sorts, and anything that looks like a mourning Victorian might have worn it, but I wouldn’t wear diamonds or large amounts of gold even if I could afford them. They’re just not “me.” Thus, I’m primarily aware of David Yurman because my morning commute happens to pass a billboard advertising the company’s wares. Sometimes I recognize the model; more often, lately, I don’t. Either way, I can see that the featured jewelry is bold, gleaming, meant to be noticed. Not really my style.
When Robin reviewed David Yurman’s eponymous Eau de Parfum, she wrote that it “smells like you’ve spent lots of money, and while you’re at it, you’d like everybody else in your immediate vicinity to know.” I had a similar response to it: it’s a bit too rich and strong for me, and I don’t wear many chypres anyway. On the other hand, I do respect David Yurman for releasing a sophisticated, “adult” fragrance. Like the jewelry, it doesn’t fit my personal style, but I can see why other women would love it. David Yurman’s limited edition Luxurious Dusting Powder, on the other hand, is a product that I’d be able to work into my own fragrance routine.
The scent of the Luxurious Dusting Powder is billed as “a harmonious blend of seductive patchouli and floral essences of rose and peony,” and that’s a pretty accurate description. It doesn’t have all the subtleties of the Eau de Parfum — I don’t notice the citrus or musk aspects as much — but it still maintains the fragrance’s overall floral-chypre identity. It feels plush and warm, and the patchouli is more of a sweet woody-mossy note than a hippie herbal note. It could be layered under the Eau de Parfum, applied under another rose-oriented chypre, or worn on its own if you only want a hint of fragrance. It’s definitely still more of a “dressing-up-to-go-out” dusting powder, rather than a “getting-cozy-at-bedtime” dusting powder, but it’s still much softer than the matching fragrance. Its shimmer adds a delicate sparkle, not a club-kid glitter effect. I’ve tried wearing a touch of this powder on my bare legs on sunny days, and it would look very appropriate on shoulders or collarbones in the evening.
Lastly, like the Yurman Eau de Parfum, this powder has high-end packaging to match its high-end identity. It’s contained in a weighty glass jar with a lid of “cushion-cut, faceted gold” that really does look like brushed metal (although it’s actually crafted from plastic), and it includes a velvety little powder puff. It’s definitely meant to be displayed on a glass-and-mirror dressing table or on the marble counter of a very large bathroom. Again, not quite my style, and I don’t think I’d splurge this much on a dusting powder, but it will appeal to die-hard David Yurman fans and to anyone seeking a luxe body product that gives old-world glamour a contemporary update.
David Yurman Luxurious Dusting Powder sells for $80 for 3.1 oz. at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and the David Yurman website. It is a limited edition.
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The edp doesn’t get a lot of love on the boards but I really enjoy it. It’s a good choice for those days when I just want to smell pretty but not girlish. Not the most original or interesting fragrance I own but I often reach for it when I need a safe scent. If I were a powder person I’d be tempted to try this. Glitter/sheen in any body products scares me though. Too often what glows on someone else makes me look like the Tin Man.
Thanna, I agree that the Eau de Parfum is very nicely done! and the shimmer in this powder is very soft; no need for the powder-lovers to fear a disco-ball result!
The first time I tested the edp was from a sample I bought. I didn’t really care for it much – it seemed to be screechy for some reason and not as elegant as I expected. I was probably expecting too much. Recently when I was in Nordstrom in May they were giving out samples of the edp like candy. So I thought I should test it again. I actually could smell the rose and peony and enjoyed the elegant patch drydown. It made me think of the Stella McCartney fragrance, but all dressed up for evening or seduction. I thought – has my nose changed? My expectations? or did they reformulate it, lol? Well, I think it must be my nose and expectations, b/c DY edp suddenly became FBW, even though it is pretty far down on my list.
Jessica, I enjoy your review of the dusting powder because it seemed very intriguing to me. Few houses release elegant bath powder these days in beautiful packaging. I am a sucker for beautiful things, and that powder box sure is pretty. I doubt I’d buy it right now, but it will certainly be on my radar.
Thanks, AnnS! I agreed with Robin about the Eau de Parum: it’s good to see a company releasing a more sophisticated fragrance, rather than taking the easy strawberry-candy route. The powder is high quality, and you’re right, there aren’t many high-end dusting powders around. I do love L’Air du Temps dusting powder, even more than the actual L’AdT fragrance.
Ooh nice. Didn’t know that L’Air came as a powder. I’ll look out for it. L’Air seems the sort of scent that would go well as a powder.
I so much enjoyed this review. I’ve never come across David Yurman but your remarks made me picture a sort of Estee Lauder aesthetic, but the EL of the 1960s perhaps, when it was a bit more high end and had less competition. My image of EL of that age was that it was favoured by women able to lead comfortable, leisurely lives (or women who aspired to such) and who loved to have pretty, luxurious lookng things to display on their dressing tables. Even now the twined EL letters of the company logo suggest that kind of old fashioned air.
So maybe David Yurman is going for that kind of thing, updated. I don’t aspire to that knd of thing but I like to day dream about it sometimes! So thanks.
Annemarie, So glad you enjoyed it! I actually had no idea how popular this jewelry brand was until I did some internet research. They’ve even just opened a townhouse-sized boutique in NYC, so they must be doing well. And there *is* something retro-glamour about the fragrance and body products!
Annemarie, I think the EL comparison is an apt one. I love David Yurman edp, and now that you’ve mentioned it, would say it’s sort of a fruity chypre version of Private Collection. I think it’s a lot like SJP Lovely and Vivienne Westwood Libertine, although maybe that’s just me.
Oh, great… LIMITED EDITION dusting powder.
Well, now I have it in my head that I have to have it. Urrrrgh! Nonetheless, I’m glad you brought it to my attention, Jessica. 
Ah yes… the eternal lure of the Limited Edition!