So Pretty by Cartier

I wonder why they discontinue or reformulate such unique fragrances. So Pretty by Cartier carries the hallmark of perfumes from another era, those that truly deserved praise. I wore it when it first launched; I was still a student, and even my professors asked what perfume I was using. I’m not good at describing the evolution of the notes or pinpointing specific scents. All I can say is that this combination envelops you in a halo of sophistication. Feminine, medium longevity, not tiring, not boring. I really hope I can find it again.

Both the bottle and the fragrance are extremely elegant, very Cartier. Now discontinued, So Pretty is highly versatile and, despite its elegance, appeals to a wide age range. It features a bold, deep rose with subtle honey notes. It doesn’t resemble the rose in Lancôme’s Trésor nor is it nostalgic, yet it recalls how that flower is sweetened with vague candied fruits. This sweet rose, accented by iris and attar, occasionally reminds me of the scent of some baby wet wipes, though it remains anything but mundane thanks to the sandalwood and woody notes. I’m not much of a rose fan and get saturated by it quickly, but it seems like a great perfume for rose addicts, with the added benefit of its timelessness. It brings to mind Madison Bridges, launched in 1995; although set three decades earlier, one could imagine Meryl Streep wearing something like this during filming. From So Pretty’s launch until 2001, when Eau de Cartier arrived, a fully unisex scent, Cartier released several flankers. It took another two years to find a new, different feminine fragrance, an oriental: Le Baiser du Dragon, also now discontinued. I’d like to mention that I miss having a perfume calendar on Fragrantica organised by launch dates (including discontinuation years). I suppose it would be a massive undertaking, but here’s the suggestion.

Luxury in a bottle! So Pretty makes a perfume with a strong fruity presence elegant, opulent, and refined; its notes shine like diamonds. It reminds me greatly of Nahema but with a less pronounced green edge. A sweet, juicy, intoxicating rose shines in the first few minutes, but not alone. The most interesting part is how that rose articulates with peach and black raspberry (the latter giving a darker, slightly sour-sweet tone). The moss adds a green touch, while bergamot gives a ‘mentholated’ sensation, amplifying its beauty. The shy iris hides well in the background. The sandalwood is subtle and provides just enough body. The rose note is perceptible, but clearly the fruits are the stars, while the base notes add depth. My review is of the 90s Eau de Parfum. Greedy, seductive, opulent.

I bought it when I got married in 1998 and had it refilled until they took it off the market entirely. What a pity that Cartier has discontinued it. The same happened with Must II and Delice. Does anyone know where to get them?

Refinement, class, and exquisite elegance in this beautiful bottle. It has magic, beauty, sensuality, and a narcotic charm that does justice to the name: so pretty. Cartier fragrances are the best, and each has its own personality, something hard to find today with so many little perfumes that only smell of fruity body splashes and insipid sweets. This one lives in my collection alongside so many others I love obsessively.

Pure elegance and refinement, truly feminine. So Pretty is a classic of my mother’s. It’s curious, yet it smells just like La Panthère and Baiser Volé: a green note with depth and air, reminiscent of oak moss, lending an timeless quality. It elevates above other fragrances. I recall it as bold and captivating, a bourgeois and romantic cousin of Eau du Soir. As luxurious as the scents of the decade, yet more restrained and elegant. 9/10

I love it; it’s super feminine, elegant, and rich.