The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Covet arrived in 2007 as the third chapter in Sarah Jessica Parker's fragrance collection, following Lovely (2005) and Lovely Liquid Satin (2006). Where those earlier scents captured the light and tender side of her character, Covet was designed to express something different, the impish, garrulous side. Perfumers Ann Gottlieb and Frank Voelkl crafted this with a provocative edge: dark chocolate meets green florals, an unusual combination that surprised at launch. The NYC debut at Macy's Herald Square on August 7, 2007, carried the tagline 'I had to have it!', a declaration of desire that captures the scent's assertive personality.
The chocolate-green pairing is what makes Covet stand out. Dark chocolate usually appears in gourmand fragrances, sweet, edible, predictable. Here it's placed alongside Sicilian lemon, lavender, and pelargonium leaf, which give it a green, almost medicinal sharpness. The heart of honeysuckle, magnolia, and lily of the valley keeps it floral, but the base of cashmere wood, teakwood, vetiver, and musk grounds it in something warmer and more complex. It's this contrast, sweet chocolate against green florals against woody base, that gives Covet its unusual character.
The evolution
The opening hits bright and clean, Sicilian lemon and lavender arrive together, sharp and aromatic. Within minutes the dark chocolate pushes through, but it's not the edible kind. This is warm, slightly bitter cocoa with a green edge from the pelargonium leaf that keeps everything from going sweet. The handoff to the heart takes about thirty minutes. Honeysuckle and magnolia bloom forward, wrapping the chocolate in something softer. Lily of the valley threads in quietly, adding freshness without weight. The geranium fades. By the time you reach the base, the florals have settled into cashmere wood and teakwood, warm, slightly dry. Vetiver brings an earthy undertone that prevents the drydown from being too soft. Musk and amber hold everything close. The result lasts 6-8 hours on most skin types, moderate sillage that stays intimate rather than filling a room. The next morning there's a faint trace of vetiver and cashmere wood on skin.
Cultural impact
Covet carved a specific space in the celebrity fragrance landscape, not the safe, pretty floral, but something with teeth. The chocolate-green combination was unusual for 2007, when most celebrity scents leaned into either sweet gourmands or clean musks. It remains the assertive chapter in a line built on approachability.
