Emma Mackey Wants You to Savor Burberry’s Newest Fragrance: \201cIt’s a Treat\201d

(Image credit: Mario Sorrenti)

published 11 September 2023

I’ve never been frugal with fragrance, but one conversation with Emma Mackey has me rethinking my spritzing strategy. The actress, who was recently appointed as the Burberry Goddess ambassador, believes that fragrance should be a “treat”—for the wearer and the every-so-lucky bypasser. “I’ve always loved perfume, but perfume is a treat. It’s not something I would ever just buy for myself,” the Netflix star exclusively tells me. “I’ll only ever do two sprays max. I try to savor it. It’s a treat and I don’t want to waste it.”

This technique, which encompasses one spray for the wrist and for the hair, has been with Mackey for life—but the sparing approach is especially applicable to Burberry’s luxe (and new) eau de parfum. “There’s vanilla caviar in this—it’s the first time the ingredient has ever been used in a perfume. It’s very fancy,” she says. That said, don’t mistake the fragrance for an intoxicatingly sweet aroma. “It is a little earthier and rounded than that. It has lavender in it, ginger root, and three different types of vanilla. It feels familiar enough, but it also has this kind of tang that comes in and makes it all a bit unexpected. It’s a nice combination,” Mackey notes.

Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum

In short, she finds the blend “comforting,” which is in part why spritzing it has become her version of a pep talk before a big event. “Perfume is always there—it’s the one thing that can always be a finishing touch and make me feel like, Okay, I can take on the day. I can go to this meeting. I can do this thing. Any time I have to go on set, I prep with perfume beforehand. It’s a comfort thing,” Mackey explains.

Filming the Goddess campaign was no exception. She sprayed the fragrance, set her intention, and, inspired by the perfume's aura of confidence and strength, was ready to (quite literally) run with the lions. “The whole process has been so exhilarating. I would not have had the confidence to do this even two years ago,” she says. “I’m just quite proud.”

TOPICS

Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.

Stay In The Know