Few can pull off whimsy quite like Moschino. After all, it’s the fashion house that was the first to challenge how we look at otherwise unremarkable household items by flipping it on its head. Consider how they reinvented a window cleaner bottle into a couture fragrance collectible. Similarly, they’ve elevated the teddy bear silhouette into one of their namesake perfume icons. So, it should come as little to no surprise that Moschino’s new fragrance, Toy 2 Pearl, delivers that same sense of delight and playfulness to the senses — along with a futuristic, forward-thinking element.
For the uninitiated, Toy 2 Pearl is the latest riff on the Italian label’s hit Toy 2 fragrance, which fans might know and love as a buoyant floral with a warm, cozy base. Inspired by the Tahitian mother-of-pearl — prized for its beauty and rarity — this new iteration takes that sense of fun and introduces it to the island life, drawing on inspiration from the beachside breeze, dark and mysterious seabed, and bright, uplifting sun. In other words, think of the Toy 2 Pearl fragrance as a beach weekend in a bottle — with, in true Moschino fashion, a playful twist.
The genderless fragrance itself is, in a word, luminous. It gets a citrusy bounce from a first impression of lemon heart, zesty oregano, and bright lemon sorbet, which sparkles like the sand on a sunny day (and also serves as a nod to the brand’s Italian heritage). But the following notes take it to the next level, with the floral warmth of jasmine and freesia to add another layer of complexity. It settles into its woody vetiver and cypress — along with musk for a skin-like softness, buffed smooth by the sand.
Sound like a vacation for the senses? You’re not wrong: Perfumer Domitille Michalon-Bertier actually designed the scent with well-being in mind, opting for certain fragrance notes that have been shown to activate the nodes in the brain that influence memory and mood. The fragrance house behind the brand was able to observe how the brain responded to eight emotional and cognitive triggers and ultimately paired fragrance ingredients with certain emotions; this insight allowed Michalon-Bertier to build a perfume that instilled a sense of energy and vibrant joy in the wearer. This science-backed approach makes for a scent that makes you feel brighter and lighter as you wear it, giving you the same mindset (not to mention scent) as a lazy day spent in the sun.
There’s another reason to feel good while you’re wearing it, too: The fragrance is not only vegan but also sustainable, keeping the planet top of mind. For one, 99.9% of its ingredients have been obtained via green chemistry. Meanwhile, 94% of its materials are biodegradable, and 44% have been derived naturally — including the cypress, which has been upcycled (meaning it’s been given a new use beyond its initial purpose).
The Moschino Toy 2 Pearl bottle is worth a mention, too, with a dark yet iridescent finish that almost feels hypnotic. It has the same playful bear shape as Moschino Toy 2 Eau de Parfum, but with a holographic finish that brings to mind shells and pearls. (It also looks futuristic, and will absolutely be a conversation topic if you leave it on display.) Worth noting: Not only does Toy 2 Pearl draw from the original perfume, but it plays well alongside it, too. In fact, they’re meant to be layered together, with their warm base notes and innate brightness melding into one juicy, exuberant scent.
All told, Moschino Toy 2 Pearl isn’t just a fragrance that recreates a sunny day by the water in a single spritz. Instead, it’s an indication that the future is as fresh as it is bright—and that you’re just a sniff away from happiness.
3D Animations by Rad Mora; Art Direction: Alexis Apollonio/BDG; Associate Branded Beauty Director: Shyema Azam/BDG