MERIT Beauty New Wave Extrait de Parfum Review

What Is MERIT Beauty New Wave Extrait de Parfum?

MERIT Beauty New Wave is the brand’s second fragrance, following the launch of Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum in 2025.

Created by master perfumer Dominique Ropion and perfumer Meabh McCurtin, New Wave takes an amber fragrance profile and gives it a contemporary feel, combining warm, resinous notes with woods, earthy elements and a rich vanilla vibe.

New Wave comes in a different bottle to Retrospect, giving MERIT’s second fragrance its own distinct look while remaining part of the brand’s understated, considered approach to beauty.

The details:

• Fragrance family: Amber
• Concentration: Extrait de parfum
• Price: £79
• Size: 30ml

My Review of MERIT Beauty New Wave

I really liked MERIT’s first fragrance, Retrospect, when I reviewed it last year. It has that soft, musky, slightly powdery quality that feels comforting and familiar, with iris, violet and rose bringing a lovely elegance to the composition.

It’s the sort of fragrance that sits relatively close to the skin and has a quiet, understated sensuality. I really like it and still reach for it, but New Wave feels like a different proposition altogether.

New Wave feels more like me.

There is something about its warmer, more confident character that I find particularly appealing. It has more punch, more sensuality and a depth that makes it feel especially suited to the colder months. This is the sort of fragrance I want to wear when the weather turns, when I’m reaching for cosy knits and generally want something that feels a little richer and more enveloping.

That doesn’t mean it’s simply a sweet, heavy winter perfume. The thing I like about this style of fragrance is the balance. I love warmth and vanilla, but I don’t necessarily want to smell like a pudding. I want that sweetness to have something earthy and woody underneath it, giving it a little more character.

New Wave vs Retrospect: Which Do I Prefer?

I think the two fragrances have quite different personalities, and that is a good thing.

Retrospect is softer, more powdery and musky, with an almost nostalgic quality. It has that lovely, familiar feeling of a skin scent, but with more structure and complexity than you might expect.

New Wave feels warmer, richer and more assertive. It has a more sensual character, and I can see myself reaching for it much more as we head into autumn and winter.

I still really like Retrospect, and it’s great for when I want something softer. But New Wave has that extra warmth and sensuality that I particularly love in a fragrance, especially at this time of year.

If I had to choose between the two, New Wave would be my pick.

Why New Wave Reminds Me of Penhaligon’s Constantinople

I’ve always loved Penhaligon’s Constantinople which sadly, Constantinople appears to have been discontinued! It’s one of those fragrances that I particularly enjoy wearing at this time of year. Whenever I wear it, my husband always comments on it. I love its warm vanilla, earthy patchouli and moss, with just enough spice to keep the sweetness beautifully balanced. It’s sensual without being overpowering, and feels perfect for autumn and winter.

New Wave gives me a similar vibe. They aren’t the same scent, but both have that warm, sophisticated quality that feels a little sexy without trying too hard.

I’m not suggesting New Wave is a dupe for Constantinople. New Wave is not quite as full but I think it’s that balance of sweetness and earthiness that appeals to me most. I love a warm fragrance, but I want it to have depth and character rather than simply smelling sweet.

If you enjoy this sort of fragrance as much as I do, New Wave is definitely one to try.

You can read my full review of Penhaligon’s Constantinople here.