TL;DR
Merit has launched New Wave L’Extrait de Parfum, its second fragrance and a darker, more intense contrast to its first scent, Retrospect. Marie Claire’s review describes a woody, musky fragrance with fruity, floral and sweet notes, while noting that wear and reception vary by person.
Merit has introduced New Wave L’Extrait de Parfum, its second fragrance, taking the brand in a deeper and more intense direction than its first scent, Retrospect. In a review for Marie Claire, the writer describes New Wave as a moody, woody gourmand musk that departs from the soft, familiar fragrance profile she associated with Merit’s earlier launch.
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The review characterizes New Wave as a fruity-meets-woody fragrance on paper, with pink pepper and angelica seed among its top notes. Its listed heart notes are orange flower, ylang-ylang and a honey floral accord. The base includes benzoin, labdanum, patchouli heart, ambroxan, musk and vanilla bean. The reviewer says the citrus and floral notes faded quickly on her skin, while the scent settled into a more woody, musky profile.
Merit Chief Marketing Officer Aila Morin told Marie Claire that New Wave was conceived differently from Retrospect. “Where Retrospect started from a place of nostalgia and familiarity, New Wave is about power and future-thinking,” Morin said. She described Retrospect as more introverted and New Wave as more powerful, while saying both share sophistication and confidence.
The reviewer reports that New Wave is priced the same as Retrospect and costs under $100, but the source does not state an exact price. She says she could still detect the scent at 9 p.m. after applying it at 9 a.m. That is an individual wear test, not a guarantee of performance for every wearer. The article explains that an extrait generally has a higher perfume-oil concentration than an eau de parfum, but does not give New Wave’s specific concentration.
A Bolder Direction for Merit Fragrance
New Wave expands Merit’s fragrance offering beyond the softer profile represented by Retrospect. For shoppers who know the brand for an easy, understated image, the launch signals that its scents are not limited to one mood. The contrast may also help consumers decide whether they want a familiar skin scent or a fragrance intended to feel more pronounced.
The review’s account is personal rather than a consensus assessment: it says colleagues had widely different reactions, reflecting how differently fragrances can come across to individuals. The reported price point and lasting power may interest buyers comparing scents under $100, but the longevity finding is based on one reviewer’s experience and does not establish how New Wave performs across skin types or conditions.
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From Retrospect to New Wave
Merit launched in 2021, according to the source article, and the reviewer says the brand had developed a consistent identity around an effortless, low-key aesthetic. Retrospect, its first fragrance, arrived earlier this year, as described in the report. The writer characterizes it as a soft skin scent with vanilla and musk, contrasting it with New Wave’s darker, more assertive character.
New Wave is credited to perfumer Dominique Ropion, whom the report identifies as the perfumer behind Portrait of a Lady. The source frames his involvement as a point of comparison for the fragrance’s more dramatic style. It does not provide independent sales figures, customer ratings for New Wave, or evidence that the scent represents a broader change to Merit’s overall brand strategy.
““Where Retrospect started from a place of nostalgia and familiarity, New Wave is about power and future-thinking.””
— Aila Morin, Merit’s chief marketing officer, speaking to Marie Claire
Price, Wear and Reception
The source does not provide an exact price, release date or perfume-oil concentration for New Wave. Although it says the fragrance costs under $100 and matches Retrospect’s price, those details are not accompanied by a specific figure. The reviewer’s account of all-day wear reflects her own experience; the article does not report controlled testing or results across a larger group.
It is also unclear how broadly consumers have responded to the launch. The review describes divided opinions among the writer’s colleagues, but supplies no customer survey, sales data or independent reception figures. Morin’s comments describe the brand’s intended approach, not evidence of a wider change in Merit’s product plans.
What Buyers Can Check Before Purchase
Readers considering New Wave can compare its listed notes with their fragrance preferences and, where possible, test it on skin before buying. The reviewer specifically notes that the scent developed differently among people on her team, so the published note list and one person’s wear test may not predict an individual result.
The source does not announce a future Merit fragrance or a subsequent company update. Further details on exact pricing, availability and the scent’s performance for a wider range of wearers would be needed to assess those points beyond the review’s account.
Key Questions
What is Merit’s New Wave fragrance?
New Wave L’Extrait de Parfum is Merit’s second fragrance. The source describes it as a more intense and dramatic contrast to the brand’s first scent, Retrospect.
What notes are listed for New Wave?
The listed notes include pink pepper and angelica seed at the top; orange flower, ylang-ylang and a honey floral accord at the heart; and benzoin, labdanum, patchouli heart, ambroxan, musk and vanilla bean in the base.
How long did the reviewer say it lasted?
The Marie Claire reviewer said she could still notice the fragrance at 9 p.m. after applying it at 9 a.m. This is one person’s experience, not a guarantee of all-day wear for every buyer.
How much does New Wave cost?
The source says New Wave costs the same as Retrospect and is under $100, but it does not provide an exact price.
Is New Wave similar to Retrospect?
According to Merit CMO Aila Morin and the reviewer, the fragrances take different approaches: Retrospect is framed as familiar and more introverted, while New Wave is described as more powerful and future-focused. Both are said to share sophistication and confidence.
Source: rss
