Ballet-Scented Perfume?

Quick quiz—what does ballet smell like? Perfume house Penhaligon’s London has tried to bottle it in their scent Iris Prima. In a promotional video, dancers from English National Ballet describe what they think of as the aroma of ballet. Some answers are funny: “The dreadful smell of men dancing in a studio, that lingers for hours and hours on end.” Some of them are sweet: “It’s quite gritty, but then quite romantic at the same time.” Others talk about hard work, sweat, musty costumes, rosin. All ring true for any serious dancer.

But this begs the question: What does a ballet scented perfume actually smell like, and is it something anyone actually wants to wear? A perfume that smells like “Christmas and The Nutcracker“? Sounds great! But a perfume that smells of “theaters and dust”? I’m not so sure about that…

Penhaligon’s names bergamot, iris absolute and sandalwood as a few of the main notes in the scent—and luckily no mention of dust or sweat!