WHEN I first heard about Notorious, Ralph Lauren?s latest addition to its roster of fragrances, I?d expected a cloying vanilla bomb I would immediately pass on to other friends who had body chemistries that welcomed the liquefied version of a flavor I would rather have in my ice cream.

To put it simply, I love catching a whiff of vanilla, but once applied on my skin, I become a walking advertisement for Bonamine.

So when I finally unwrapped the contents of the elegant box and?with trepidation?sampled a dainty spritz from the pristine glass bottle, I was surprised to smell? rootbeer.

That?s right, as in the A&W kind, but in a good way.

Further reading the material that came with the packet, the seltzer-like nuance I?d initially sniffed turned out to be spicy pink peppercorn?one of three aromatic top notes that make up this ?sparkling spiced oriental,? according to the press release.

Citrusy hints of bergamot and black currant complement the fragrant floral-musk combo of white frost peonies, carnations and patchouli musk, aged in oak barrels for five years.

A ?Chocolate Cosmos? accord (?a decadent, chocolate-scented burgundy flower?) balances the exotic concoction that makes for a sophisticated perfume.

The vanilla I?d feared is practically untraceable: As Notorious lingers, it mellows to a soft and elegant after-scent. It?s great for evenings and nights out, and with the cooler months up ahead, can also be worn during the day (think the fragrance equivalent of the power suit).

Note that Notorious is currently sold as an eau de parfum, meaning, a little goes a long way, thanks to its super-concentrated formula.

And with the holidays just around the corner, why not splurge on a new beauty treat?

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and Ok! Magazine. She is now based in New York City. Visit NyMinuteNow.com.

Fragrant Measures

1) When it comes to spraying on perfume, resist the urge to reapply more than twice a day especially if it?s a heavy formula.

2) To determine if you?ve applied too much, ask a friend to stand at arm?s length from you. If she can smell you from that distance, taper the dose.

3) Make your fragrance last by layering an unscented lotion (like Nutraderm) beneath it. And if you?re one to experiment, try a scented lotion that complements the base notes of your perfume.