It is silly to want a fragrance just for the bottle, right? And it is even sillier if, like me, you don't keep your perfume bottles on display anyway. Mine are stored away in a dark cabinet, safe from the ravages of heat and light. You might think I open the cabinet frequently just to admire my collection, but you'd be wrong. I open it as rarely as possible, for as soon as I peek in, they all begin taunting me — HA, you'll never use me up before I spoil anyway.

So I know how ludicrous it is to be in love with Pucci's Vivara just for its debonair exterior, but there it is. I*want*that*bottle. Not only that, I keep thinking how lovely it would be to have a whole series from Pucci: same bottle design, a different Pucci print on each cap, and each with its own jewel-colored juice. Wouldn't a whole row of them be just stunning?

Needless to say, I tried hard to fall in love with Pucci Vivara the perfume and not just Pucci Vivara the bottle, but alas, it was not to be. The fragrance, which was developed by perfumers Natalie Gracia-Cetto and Marie-Aude Couture-Bluche, is described as a green floral with a "touch of the original Vivara's chypre accord" (the notes include galbanum, bergamot, amaretto accord, jasmine, orange blossom, narcissus, iris, vetiver and patchouli). It starts fresh (e.g., "fresh air" and "fresh water") and green, then moves into fresh and floral. The florals are sheer, and the amaretto accord is extremely subtle — this is not a gourmand scent, nor is it particularly sweet — but I found the combination of almond + the melon-ish aquatic note less than appealing. The base is pale and mildly earthy, and more clean than not. After a couple hours, it does darken a smidge, and it starts to take on a velvety patina from the iris.

It isn't a bad scent, exactly, but I don't care for it personally and it isn't anywhere near so lively or engaging as its packaging. If you are a fan of fresh fragrances, you might like it much better than I did, in which case, can I have the bottle when you're done with it?

Pucci Vivara is available in 50 and 75 ml Eau de Parfum. There is also a matching Perfumed Body Mousse and a Perfumed Body Cream, and those jars are pretty darned lovely too. It is available now at Saks and Neiman Marcus.