The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Symbol of Joy arrived in 2026 from Princesse Marina de Bourbon, composed by Karine Dubreuil-Sereni. The scent pairs a luminous pear motif with white florals and a quietly radiant musk base, and the brand frames it around themes of light, joy, and quiet strength, a soft-spoken brightness rather than a loud declaration. Dubreuil-Sereni works with a citrus-floral opening that lifts immediately on skin, a generous fruity bouquet at the heart where pear and apple mingle with blackcurrant, and a clean, skin-close finish. There's a clarity to the way each layer is arranged, the top notes giving way without resistance, the florals arriving in a measured wave, the musk settling in like a second skin.
What makes Symbol of Joy worth a second look is the way the pear, apple, and blackcurrant are weighted. They're treated as structural florals rather than as sugary accents, which keeps the fruity heart from tipping into candy territory. The jasmine absolute adds a slightly indolic fullness that grounds the freesia and lily-of-the-valley, giving the white florals something to lean against. The pear carries a watery crispness that reads almost crystalline at the top, while the apple underneath rounds it out with a softer, more pulpy sweetness.
The evolution
The first hour is all lift. Mandarin, lemon, and freesia arrive together in a bright, almost aqueous chord that reads clean and cool rather than sharp. There's no aggressive citrus blast, just a clear opening that feels like stepping into morning light. The mandarin lends a juicy, slightly sugary sweetness, the lemon cuts through with a clean tartness, and the freesia bridges the two with its cool, faintly green floralcy. By the second hour, the florals take over. Jasmine absolute brings a creamy warmth that keeps the fruit from reading synthetic, while pear and apple add a soft, dewy sweetness. Blackcurrant provides a faint green edge, keeping everything from collapsing into dessert territory.
Cultural impact
Symbol of Joy sits comfortably in the floral-fruity register, and it wears with a brightness that reads well in a range of settings, from a quiet morning at the office to a long afternoon in the sun. The pear-led opening gives it an immediate appeal, and the soft musk base keeps it grounded enough for everyday wear without ever feeling flat or forgettable. It's the kind of scent that complements rather than dominates, pairing easily with casual fabrics and lighter wardrobes, and it carries a clean, modern feeling that suits warmer weather or transitional seasons.
