Burberry My Burberry Limited Edition: A Review of the Ephemeral London Rose
An in-depth analysis of the elusive, garden-inspired flanker that captures a fleeting moment of British elegance.
In the storied annals of British fashion, few houses possess the heritage and cultural resonance of Burberry. Founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, the brand has long been synonymous with the trench coat, the check, and a certain stoic, rain-kissed elegance. Its foray into fragrance, while a more recent chapter, has been guided by a similar ethos: to bottle the essence of a modern, yet timeless, British spirit. The My Burberry line, launched in 2014, was a pivotal moment, marking a return to a more sophisticated, personal expression of scent for the brand. It was within this successful framework that the enigmatic My Burberry Limited Edition emerged, a scent conceived not as a permanent fixture but as a seasonal whisper, a collector's piece for those attuned to the nuances of olfactory art.
Positioned as a luminous, garden-centric interpretation of the original My Burberry DNA, this Limited Edition was designed to capture the fleeting beauty of a London garden after a spring rain. While the core My Burberry Eau de Parfum presents a fuller, more honeyed and leather-tinged rose, the Limited Edition sought to distill the very moment of bloom, emphasizing dew, green stems, and the crisp, clean air that precedes a downpour. Its market positioning was inherently exclusive; it was not a fragrance one would find in perpetual rotation on department store shelves, but rather a limited-run offering that appealed to completists, fragrance enthusiasts, and those seeking a lighter, more ethereal take on the iconic rose-and-rain accord.
The inspiration is quintessentially British, drawing from the romantic ideal of a private urban garden—a verdant oasis amidst the grey stone of the city. The concept revolves around transience and light. Where the original is a statement, this edition is a sigh. It is the olfactory equivalent of a watercolour painting, where the colours are softer, the edges blurred by moisture, and the overall impression is one of delicate, natural beauty. The iconic honey-sweetened rose remains, but it is framed not by amber and leather, but by a canopy of dewy greens and a whisper of clean musk.
Within the fragrance community, My Burberry Limited Edition has cultivated a reputation as a 'hidden gem' or a 'what-if' scent. Its limited availability has rendered it somewhat elusive, discussed in forums with a tone of nostalgic appreciation by those who managed to acquire it. It is not a loud, trend-setting fragrance, but rather one admired for its refinement and its successful execution of a specific, atmospheric brief. It represents a side of Burberry fragrance that is less about bold heritage and more about poetic, contemporary sensibility, proving that the house could excel in subtlety as much as in statement-making power.
The Nose Behind the Scent
Francis Kurkdjian (for the original My Burberry accord). The Limited Edition was likely developed by Burberry's in-house fragrance team or a collaborating perfumer under the creative direction of Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci, building upon Kurkdjian's foundational rose-rain-gabrielle structure. Kurkdjian, the legendary nose behind Maison Francis Kurkdjian, is renowned for masterpieces like Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male, Narciso Rodriguez for Her, and Elie Saab Le Parfum.
Accords
Notes Pyramid
Scent Journey
The fragrance opens with a burst of crystalline freshness. The sweet pea note is immediately apparent, offering a delicate, almost watery floralcy that is swiftly brightened by a sheer, non-abrasive citrus blend of bergamot and lemon. This initial salvo is remarkably clean and dewy, evoking the image of petals beaded with morning rain.
As the citrus veil gently dissipates, the heart of the fragrance reveals itself. The 'rain-touched rose' is the unequivocal star here—a pale pink, dewy rose absolute that feels stripped of any heavy, jammy facets. It is supported by the green, slightly peppery touch of geranium and the soft, airy sweetness of freesia. This phase is a beautifully balanced floral bouquet that feels translucent and natural, as if carried on a cool breeze.
After several hours, the scent settles into a soft, intimate embrace. The floralcy recedes, leaving a tender, skin-scent foundation. Clean white musk provides a laundered freshness, while a very subtle, well-blended patchouli adds a whisper of earthy depth without any darkness. A faint amber glow warms the composition, ensuring the drydown remains comforting and subtly sweet, clinging close to the skin like the memory of a garden walk.
Performance Dashboard
Lasts approximately 5-7 hours on skin, characteristic of its lighter, fresher Eau de Toilette concentration. It becomes a soft skin scent after the 3-hour mark.
Projects modestly for the first 1-2 hours, creating a personal scent bubble of about an arm's length. It is not a room-filling fragrance by design.
Leaves a very light, discreet trail. It is a fragrance for personal enjoyment and intimate encounters, not for making a grand entrance.
When to Wear
Community Verdict
Receives polite, appreciative compliments rather than exuberant ones. It is often described as 'lovely', 'fresh', or 'so pretty' by those who come close enough to detect its subtle charm.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Exquisitely fresh and realistic dewy rose accord
- ✅ Perfectly balanced, never cloying or heavy
- ✅ Extremely versatile and office-safe
- ✅ Beautiful, collectible bottle design with limited edition appeal
- ❌ Below-average longevity for a designer fragrance
- ❌ Very subtle sillage and projection
- ❌ Limited availability makes it difficult to repurchase
- ❌ May be too light and fleeting for some preferences
Price & Value
“Worth the price for its unique, high-quality interpretation of a fresh rose and for its status as a limited edition piece. However, its performance metrics slightly diminish the value proposition for those prioritizing longevity.”
📜 Reformulation History
As a limited edition release produced in specific batches, consistency within its production run was generally good. However, being a discontinued item, there are no known reformulations. The primary variation now exists between a fresh, properly stored bottle and one that may have aged, potentially losing some of its top-end brightness.
Who It's For
✅ Ideal For
- Women (and men who enjoy soft florals) aged 25-45
- Those with a minimalist, elegant style
- Individuals who appreciate subtle, non-invasive fragrances
- Fans of photorealistic, dewy floral scents
⚠️ Not Recommended For
- Those seeking extreme longevity and projection
- Lovers of dense, sweet, or spicy oriental fragrances
- Anyone looking for a bold, night-time signature scent
The Family
The original Eau de Parfum, with a richer, honeyed rose, leather, and amber base.
A darker, more intense flanker with notes of jasmine, peach, and amber, leaning gourmand and sensual.
A brighter, fruiter interpretation with pomegranate, rose, and jasmine, focused on a sparkling, youthful energy.
Explore More
🔍 Similar Fragrances
Shares a similar clean, peony-and-rose heart, though Chloé is powderier and more pronounced.
A more linear and intense rose fragrance, but shares the core concept of a modern, dewy rose without heavy oriental bases.
A more luxurious, photorealistic rose soliflore that captures a similar fresh-picked rose essence.
While not a rose-centric scent, it shares the same philosophy of capturing the freshness of water and dew on florals.
💡 Clone Alternatives
Part of Zara's fragrance line, often cited for offering pleasant, light rose scents at a fraction of the price, though less complex.
An iconic, affordable linear rose soliflore that provides a straightforward, green rose effect reminiscent of the heart notes.
❤️ You May Also Enjoy
For those who adore the photorealistic rose aspect and seek a more potent, linear version.
Offers a similar fresh, dewy rose character but with a distinctive lychee and artichoke twist for added complexity.
Shares the same perfumer's touch (Kurkdjian) and a love for clean, musky florals with impeccable elegance.
More from Burberry
A modern, fruity-gourmand signature with strawberry, blackberry, and musk, representing a youthful, London vibe.
A classic, elegant fragrance with rose, peony, and tangerine, embodying timeless British style.
The masculine counterpart, a fresh woody aromatic with grapefruit, tarragon, and sandalwood.
🧪 Layering Ideas
- A light, vanilla-based skin scent (e.g., Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa '71) to add warmth and sweetness to the drydown.
- A crisp, green tea fragrance (e.g., Elizabeth Arden Green Tea) to amplify the fresh, dewy, and green facets.
- A sheer amber or musk soliflore to bolster the base and improve longevity without altering the delicate floral character.
🏆 Final Verdict
Burberry My Burberry Limited Edition is not a fragrance for the hedonist seeking overwhelming sillage or decadent sweetness. It is, instead, a masterclass in subtlety and atmosphere. It succeeds brilliantly in its stated mission: to evoke the pristine, transient beauty of a rain-freshened English garden. For the individual who values refinement over radiance, who prefers a whisper to a declaration, this limited edition offers a rare and beautiful olfactory experience.
One should purchase this fragrance not for its power, but for its poetry. It is an ideal signature for the modern professional—elegant, discreet, and impeccably tasteful. It captures a specific mood of serene, optimistic freshness that is perpetually in style. While its discontinued status makes it a treasure hunt, securing a bottle is a worthwhile pursuit for the connoisseur of delicate florals. It stands as a testament to Burberry's ability to translate its heritage into a scent that feels both classic and utterly contemporary, a fleeting moment of beauty made tangible.