Robert Piguet Fracas Perfume Is Martha Stewart’s Favorite

I imagine Martha Stewart’s home smells like just-out-of-the-oven baked goods, mixed with a blend of floral scents from the fresh flowers she picked out of her garden. I also imagine wisps of freshly laundered linen filling the air, and, of course, I bet that Stewart is a fan of simmer pots that make her home smell amazing. Can you tell I’ve thought about it a lot? Of course, while I can’t be certain about this, ideas I’ve conjured up based on things I’ve seen on her social media, I am pretty certain about what she smells like. 

Stewart, who’s quickly become a beauty influencer herself, with fans (like myself and my fellow beauty editors!) flocking to the beauty staples she relies on repeatedly—think: Merit! Mario Badescu! Clé de Peau! Mac! All are iconic brands that pretty much sell out the second people discover Stewart is a fan. But, the most recent beauty discovery I made about her is one that’s lesser known, though perhaps the most iconic: Robert Piguet Fracas Eau de Parfum that Stewart really (like really) swears by.  

Robert Piguet Fracas Eau de Parfum

People say they swear by something, but in Stewart’s case, she means it. She revealed in an Air Mail interview that the only scent she wears is, in fact, Robert Piguet’s Fracas Eau de Parfum—nothing else, and that, dear readers, is the true way to say someone swears by [insert product name]. But, when something is so good, there’s no need to switch it up, and as I was reading more about this fragrance, I realized I, too, have been sleeping on an iconic fragrance that I’m now dying to try. 

Fracas is about as iconic as it gets in the scent world, and remains an icon “because of its formula,” Bayly Ledes, President of Robert Piguet, shared with InStyle. It was created in 1948 by legendary perfumer, Germaine Cellier, and according to the brand, Cellier wanted to create a scent that made the wearer feel like a bombshell, and so it goes: Hollywood bombshells were known to wear it. Fracas was used by Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, and Brigitte Bardot; back in the ‘90s, Madonna made the scent go viral, and now, Stewart, who’s obviously been a longtime wearer, is bringing it back into the spotlight in 2025. In fact, according to one video I watched about the perfume, Fracas is captivating Gen Z, which only further speaks to its enduring, lasting nature. “It has a very distinct signature, there’s just nothing else like it,” Ledes noted.

But what does it really smell like? Well, trust me, I’m dying to know, too, so much so that I’m running to the nearest store that sells it to spritz, spritz it all over me right when I’m done writing this. Of course, it’s possible to get an idea of its scent based on its notes; bergamot and mandarin are top notes, jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia are the mid, and musk and sandalwood act as the base notes. Its floral scent, however, is unlike others; per the brand, Fracas is “dark and luscious.” Ledes added about the scent, “There is such movement between the white floral creaminess and the dark, dangerous dry-down. It’s like a push and pull; some sort of kinetic energy.”

Amazon shoppers are also enthralled by the scent; one noted they’ve been “wearing it for 30 years,” while another mentioned “you won’t smell like other people,” and honestly, I love that. One final reviewer summed up the allure of Fracas perfectly, writing, “picture the most beautiful, sophisticated, romantic woman ever; this is Fracas.” I want to be her, and I want to smell like her. So, you can best bet I’m scooping up the $130, 1-ounce bottle ASAP. Or maybe, I’ll bite the bullet and snag the $185 3.4 ounce size. Based on all the positive remarks, I have no doubt I’ll love it. 

Shop it on Amazon here, and get in on the rest of Stewart’s go-to beauty essentials, below.

Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36

Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum

L’Oréal Paris Makeup True Match Lumi Glotion

Mario Badescu Body Lotion

Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Natural Foundation

Tatcha The Rice Polish Daily Non-Abrasive Exfoliator