Seamus Hammond
In the BBC America drama series Killing Eve, the assassin Villanelle uses a perfume named after her, La Villanelle. The character uses it to taunt her target, Eve, in a sexy way. The perfume is said to have top notes of freesia, base notes of amber and white cedar, and mid-notes of flowers, spices, or wood. Fans of the show were curious to find out if the perfume existed in real life and could be purchased. While there is no official version of the perfume, an independent perfumer based in Belgium, Kamila Aubre, created a scent called Villanelle, inspired by the Keith Douglas poem Villanelle of Spring Bells.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | La Villanelle |
| Inspiration | The Keith Douglas poem "Villanelle of Spring Bells" |
| Top notes | Freesia |
| Base notes | Amber, white cedar |
| Fragrance family | All-natural |
| Perfumer | Kamila Aubre |
| Country of origin | Belgium |
| Mentioned in | The Killing Eve book series, TV show |
| Related | Floris White Rose, worn by Florence Nightingale |
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What You'll Learn
- La Villanelle perfume is fictional, but a similar scent exists
- The fictional perfume was said to be a favourite of Comtesse du Barry
- An independent perfumer from Belgium created a scent called Villanelle
- Notes of sandalwood, cedar, amber, violet, rose, bergamot, freesia, and musk
- Fans can buy Floris White Rose, featured in the series, to support nurses
La Villanelle perfume is fictional, but a similar scent exists
La Villanelle, the perfume used by the titular character in Killing Eve, is fictional. However, an independent perfumer based in Belgium, Kamila Aubre, created a scent called Villanelle, inspired by the Keith Douglas poem "Villanelle of Spring Bells".
In the show, Villanelle uses the perfume as a way to taunt her target, Eve. Fans of the show were curious to find out whether the perfume existed in real life and could be purchased. While the exact fragrance is fictional, there is a similarity between the fictional and real-life perfumes in that they both have somewhat dark origins. The fictional version was said to be the favourite scent of Comtesse du Barry, and the perfume house added a red ribbon to the bottle after she was guillotined in 1793. Meanwhile, Aubre describes her perfume as having "something dark hidden between perfume notes".
In the book, the perfume is described as having top notes of freesia, base notes of amber and white cedar, and other notes including sandalwood, violet, rose, and bergamot. Aubre's perfume also has notes of amber and cedar, as well as a dark theme.
In the show, Villanelle visits the Floris perfumery and asks for a bespoke fragrance that will make people "gag". She describes wanting to smell like a powerful Roman Centurion. The resulting fragrance is described as a bouquet of velvety roses dusted with soft iris, swathed in warm amber, and grounded with earthy musk.
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The fictional perfume was said to be a favourite of Comtesse du Barry
In the BBC America show Killing Eve, the fictional perfume La Villanelle is used by the assassin Villanelle to taunt her target, Eve. The fictional perfume was said to be a favourite of Comtesse du Barry, a royal mistress who lived a comfortable life receiving jewellery and estates from the king.
Comtesse du Barry, also known as Jeanne Bécu, was the official mistress of Louis XV of France. She was known for her beauty, extravagant appearance, and high voice. She had a passion for new gowns and jewellery, and was a patron of the arts, supporting various painters and craftsmen. Du Barry was introduced to the king by the Duke of Richelieu, who sought to install her as the king's mistress. She became the king's official mistress in 1768, moving to Versailles and living on the second floor of the King's chambers. She participated in state councils and exerted some influence over the king, exposing a plot by the Duke of Choiseul that led to his dismissal and exile from court.
Despite her position, Du Barry faced scorn and jealousy from others at court, including the Dauphine Marie Antoinette, who refused to speak to her. After the king's death in 1774, his successor, Louis XVI, banished her from Versailles and she retired to Louveciennes. She was guillotined in 1793, and her favourite perfume, La Villanelle, was said to have added a red ribbon after her death.
The existence of La Villanelle perfume in the real world is ambiguous. While there is a natural fragrance from Belgium with the same name, it is unrelated to the perfume in Killing Eve. However, fans of the show have expressed interest in purchasing the scent described in the series.
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An independent perfumer from Belgium created a scent called Villanelle
Fans of the show Killing Eve were curious to find out whether a perfume called La Villanelle, used by the assassin Villanelle, existed in real life. It turned out that an independent perfumer from Belgium, Kamila Aubre, had created a scent called Villanelle. Based in Belgium, Aubre specializes in all-natural fragrances.
In March 2018, she created a perfume called Villanelle, inspired by the Keith Douglas poem "Villanelle of Spring Bells." Aubre describes her perfume as having “something dark hidden between perfume notes." She writes:
> Think of May storms, when daylight changes into darkness, the overcast sky creates a dark mood, something is going to happen.
Aubre's Villanelle embodies the late spring days and the dark scent notes related to soil, moss, dusty air before a storm, heavy humid air in the Flemish woods, and some mysterious, obscure treasures of the earth. The scent is not gloomy but rather murky.
Although Aubre's perfume shares a name with the fictional perfume in Killing Eve, there is not much in common between the two, except for the darkness hidden between the notes.
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Notes of sandalwood, cedar, amber, violet, rose, bergamot, freesia, and musk
The perfume in Killing Eve is called La Villanelle, named after the assassin Villanelle, who uses it to taunt her target, Eve. The perfume is fictional, but an independent perfumer based in Belgium, Kamila Aubre, created a scent called Villanelle, inspired by the Keith Douglas poem "Villanelle of Spring Bells."
In the show, the perfume is described as having top notes of freesia, base notes of amber and white cedar, and hints of sandalwood, violet, rose, bergamot, and musk. The combination of these notes creates a unique and unusual fragrance.
Freesia is a light and delicate floral scent, often associated with spring and freshness. Amber, on the other hand, provides a warm and slightly sweet aroma, adding depth to the fragrance. White cedar brings a woody and slightly spicy element to the perfume, while also providing a crisp and clean feeling.
Sandalwood adds a smooth and creamy aspect to the scent, with a touch of warmth and sweetness. Violet contributes a powdery and slightly sweet floral note, while rose provides a classic, romantic, and elegant touch. Bergamot, a type of citrus fruit, adds a bright and fresh aroma with a hint of bitterness. Finally, musk provides a deep and sensual base, often described as earthy or woody, rounding out the fragrance and giving it longevity.
These notes combine to create a complex and intriguing perfume, reflecting the character of Villanelle herself. The unusual blend of light and dark elements, freshness and warmth, and floral and woody notes, results in a scent that is both captivating and memorable.
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Fans can buy Floris White Rose, featured in the series, to support nurses
Fans of the show Killing Eve can purchase the Floris White Rose perfume, as seen in the series, to support nurses and midwives in the UK. The perfume was featured in the series as the favourite fragrance of the lead character, Villanelle, who visits the Floris perfumery in person.
The Floris White Rose perfume has a long and intriguing history. It was crafted in the early 1800s by Mr John Floris and became a favourite of Florence Nightingale. She had bottles of the perfume shipped to her while nursing in the Crimea War. In a letter to Mr Floris, she expressed her gratitude for the "beautiful sweet-smelling roses" that cheered her sick bed.
In honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth, the Florence Nightingale Foundation launched the White Rose Appeal in 2020, with actress Helena Bonham Carter as its ambassador. The appeal raises funds to support the emotional well-being, scholarships, and leadership development of nurses and midwives in the UK. Floris London has partnered with the foundation, pledging to donate 15% of all sales of the White Rose Eau de Toilette to this cause.
By purchasing the Floris White Rose perfume, fans of Killing Eve can not only enjoy the timeless and elegant fragrance but also contribute to supporting the hardworking nurses and midwives who dedicate their lives to the care of others. This partnership between Floris and the Florence Nightingale Foundation is a beautiful way to honour the legacy of Florence Nightingale and continue her mission of compassion and care.
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Frequently asked questions
The perfume in Killing Eve is called La Villanelle, named after the show's assassin, Villanelle.
La Villanelle is technically fictional, but there is a similarly-named fragrance by an independent perfumer based in Belgium called Kamila Aubre.
The perfume is described as having top notes of freesia, base notes of amber and white cedar, and hints of sandalwood, violet, rose, and bergamot.
