S-Perfume is a small, independent perfume company in New York City that currently sells 4 fragrances, all developed in collaboration with well-known noses. 100% Love was created by perfumer Sophia Grojsman, best known for Yves Saint Laurent Paris and Lancome Tresor. S-Perfume describes 100% Love as the "pulpy erotic part of a secret red fruit, the soft and wet velvety skin of rose petals in water, and a mystical "concoction" of incense and black chocolate."

100% Love starts out mostly chocolate and incense. For just a few minutes I thought perhaps this was going to be another foody-comfort scent, but it calms quickly to a sheer, rather unusual, not particularly foody fragrance. The rose does not become evident until this has warmed on the skin, but even then, it is a very soft and subdued rose — don’t go looking for YSL Paris here — and I would guess that it is mixed with some other light florals. The fruit notes are muted and slightly tart, and the fragrance retains a lovely undertone of bitter chocolate and resinous incense over a musky base.

The overall impression is not exactly foody, not exactly floral, not exactly fruity. It is, as described, velvety-soft, and there is something very compelling about it. It is a bit mysterious, and sexy in an understated kind of way.

It is an Eau de Toilette, and the lasting power is good but not fabulous. Like many Eau de Toilettes, it makes a much better impression when sprayed (liberally) rather than dabbed on. I would love to have an Eau de Parfum version with a bit more depth and staying power.

The emphasis at S-Perfume is clearly on substance rather than packaging, and 100% Love comes in a fairly austere glass bottle with an optional atomizer attachment. Props to S-Perfume, by the way, for not only disclosing the names of the noses they work with, but for also providing background information for each nose, including a list of the other fragrances they have developed. So few companies bother.

100% Love is available at Fred Segal in Los Angeles or through the S-Perfume website. Samples are available; they are rather expensive but very generously sized ($7 for 4.5 ml). The price includes shipping within the United States.