Burberry Touch For Women Review: The Cashmere-Soft Scent That Defined an Era
Why this quiet luxury icon from 2000 is more relevant than ever in today's world.
Let''s step back for a moment. The year is 2000. The world is awash in the futuristic gloss of Y2K, but at Burberry, something quieter and more profound is happening. Under the masterful eye of then-creative director Roberto Menichetti, the brand was shedding its old-world skin and emerging as the epitome of modern British cool. It was in this fertile ground of reinvention that Touch for Women was born—not with a bang, but with a whisper. It was a deliberate counter-move to the loud, bombastic fruity florals of the late 90s. This wasn''t a fragrance designed to shout across a room; it was a secret shared, a scent of intimacy and texture.
From the moment it launched, Touch for Women carved out its own unique space. It was never the loudest bottle on the shelf, nor was it the subject of a blockbuster marketing campaign. Instead, it built its devoted following through word of mouth, becoming an ''if you know, you know'' staple for discerning women. It was a pioneer of the ''skin scent'' movement long before the term became a social media hashtag. Its positioning was, and still is, about personal luxury—the kind you wear for yourself, not for an audience. It''s the olfactory equivalent of a perfectly worn-in trench coat or a soft cashmere scarf against your skin on a cool day.
The inspiration is right there in the name: ''Touch''. This fragrance is a masterclass in textural perfumery. The concept wasn''t about a place or a specific flower, but a feeling. It was designed to evoke the sensation of soft, natural fabrics and the gentle warmth of skin. Perfumer Michel Girard translated this tactile brief into a scent that is both clean and warm, sharp and soft. It captures a very specific mood—what many of us in the industry call ''rainy day chic''. It’s the scent of walking through a London park just after a spring shower, the air clean and ozonic, with the faint sweetness of damp earth and budding florals.
Over two decades later, Burberry Touch for Women holds a special place in the hearts of fragrance lovers. It''s a cult classic that has gracefully sidestepped the fleeting trends that have seen so many of its contemporaries discontinued. Its cultural impact lies in its quiet confidence and its refusal to be categorized easily. Is it fresh? Yes. Powdery? Absolutely. Woody? Subtly so. It is this beautiful, melancholic complexity that has made it a timeless signature for countless women who appreciate elegance that doesn''t need to announce itself. It remains one of the most sophisticated and comforting scents you can find at a designer price point, a true insider''s choice.
The Nose Behind the Scent
Michel Girard. A master perfumer at Givaudan, Girard is known for his ability to craft scents with both widespread appeal and a unique character. He was one of the creative forces behind the global phenomenon Paco Rabanne 1 Million and has also created for brands like Givenchy and Nina Ricci. His style often balances fresh, clean elements with unexpected warmth and texture, a signature that is perfectly embodied in Touch for Women.
Accords
Notes Pyramid
Scent Journey
The first spray is an experience. Forget a typical citrus or fruity blast. You''re met with a cool, almost damp, peppery-green accord. The red pepper and cassis create a sharp, ozonic spiciness that is incredibly unique and memorable. It''s the scent of a cool, misty morning, slightly vegetal and bracingly fresh. This is the part that either hooks you for life or makes you pause—it''s bold and unconventional.
After about 20 minutes, the initial sharpness gracefully recedes. The heart begins to bloom, but it''s not a dense floral bouquet. Instead, you get the soft, powdery elegance of peony and lily, which feel more like watercolor impressions than photorealistic flowers. This phase is clean, almost like the scent of luxurious, freshly laundered linens. The fruit notes are subtle, lending a whisper of sweetness that balances the cool opening without ever becoming sugary.
This is where the magic truly settles in, and the ''cashmere'' feeling comes to life. The base is a beautifully balanced blend of clean cedarwood and a soft, non-gourmand vanilla and tonka. It becomes a true skin scent—warm, musky, and incredibly comforting. The oakmoss provides a subtle earthy depth, grounding the fragrance and giving it its sophisticated, lasting character. It''s intimate, elegant, and lingers beautifully for hours.
Performance Dashboard
Expect a solid 6-7 hours of wear. It becomes a more personal skin scent after the third hour, but its presence is steadfast.
Intentionally moderate to soft. It projects within arm''s length for the first 1-2 hours before settling closer to the skin. It''s designed to be discovered, not announced.
Leaves a gentle, clean, and inviting trail. Someone walking past you will catch a whisper of it, but it will never overwhelm a space.
When to Wear
Community Verdict
This is a consistent compliment-getter, but of a very specific type. Expect to hear ''You smell so clean and fresh'' or ''You smell really lovely'' rather than ''What perfume are you wearing?''. It''s a scent that merges with you, earning praise for how *you* smell.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ A truly unique and timeless scent profile.
- ✅ Smells clean, comforting, and sophisticated.
- ✅ Perfectly suited for professional and office environments.
- ✅ Excellent value for a designer fragrance of this caliber.
- ✅ A beautiful ''rainy day'' mood in a bottle.
- ❌ The sharp, peppery opening can be polarizing for some.
- ❌ Performance is moderate, not for those who need 12+ hours of wear.
- ❌ Can feel too cool or melancholic for lovers of warm, sunny scents.
Price & Value
“An absolute steal. For the quality, uniqueness, and versatility, Burberry Touch for Women offers incredible value. It performs and feels like a much more expensive niche fragrance.”
📜 Reformulation History
Having been in production for over two decades, Touch has undergone reformulations, likely to comply with IFRA standards regarding oakmoss. My sources say that vintage bottles (often identifiable by a heavier, real wood cap, though this can vary) have a slightly deeper, earthier oakmoss base and a more pronounced peppery spice. Modern formulations are a touch lighter and brighter, focusing more on the clean cedar-musk accord in the drydown. However, the core DNA is remarkably well-preserved, and current bottles are still an excellent representation of the original masterpiece.
Who It's For
✅ Ideal For
- Women aged 25 and up who appreciate understated elegance and quiet luxury. It''s perfect for professionals, creatives, and anyone seeking a signature scent that is both unique and office-appropriate. Her style is classic, minimalist, and built on quality basics.
⚠️ Not Recommended For
- Those who prefer very sweet, gourmand, or loud ''beast mode'' fragrances. If you want a perfume that enters the room before you do, this is not the one. It may also feel too ''cold'' or ''melancholic'' for those who love bright, sunny scents.
The Family
The male counterpart, sharing a similar clean, spicy, and woody DNA but tailored for a masculine audience.
Explore More
🔍 Similar Fragrances
Shares a sophisticated, clean musk base, but For Her is warmer and more overtly sensual.
Evokes a similar nostalgic, slightly melancholic, and unique mineral-herbal vibe.
Another iconic ''your skin but better'' scent, though You is warmer with a focus on ambroxan and pink pepper.
Shares a clean, watery, and soft woody-floral character, but Crystalline is brighter and less powdery.
💡 Clone Alternatives
While not a direct clone, it shares the same ''clean musk'' and soft floral sensibility, offering a similar vibe at a great price.
Often cited in fragrance communities as capturing the peppery-floral and musky essence of Touch.
❤️ You May Also Enjoy
If you love the clean, powdery sophistication of Touch.
For a similarly elegant, green, and powdery iris-musk combination.
If you appreciate the earthy, naturalistic, and clean ''mood'' scents.
A more niche take on the musky, iris-driven ''skin scent'' concept.
More from Burberry
🧪 Layering Ideas
- Molecule 01 (Iso E Super) to amplify the beautiful cedar base and boost overall longevity.
- A simple, light vanilla scent to add a touch of warmth and sweetness to the drydown, making it cozier for winter.
- A bright citrus, like an orange or bergamot solinote, to give the sharp opening a sunnier disposition for spring.
🏆 Final Verdict
In a world saturated with fleeting trends and loud-for-the-sake-of-loud fragrances, Burberry Touch for Women remains a testament to the power of quiet confidence. It is more than just a perfume; it''s a mood, an aesthetic, and a piece of olfactory history. This is not a scent you wear to get noticed by everyone, but to be remembered by the right one. It''s the ultimate ''pull them in closer'' fragrance, a secret language of sophistication.
You should buy Burberry Touch if you are building a versatile, intelligent fragrance wardrobe. You need it if you''re looking for the perfect office scent that is both professional and unique. You should own it if you appreciate the concept of quiet luxury and believe that true elegance doesn''t need to shout. For its accessible price, it delivers a niche-level experience of artistry and emotion. It''s a timeless classic that feels just as modern and relevant today as it did at the turn of the millennium. Trust me, this is one bottle that will never gather dust on your shelf.