CoSTUME NATIONAL — NU SO DE Eau de Toilette
Essence
NU SO DE Eau de Toilette is the lighter 2013 sibling of the So Nude Eau de Parfum. It turns tuberose into a transparent, creamy, skin-like floral, shaped by cardamom, cumin, pale woods, and clean musk rather than the grandeur normally associated with white flowers.
Scent Profile
The first impression is soft rather than sparkling: neroli and a light floral brightness meet cardamom and cumin. That spice can feel like warm suede or dry sweet earth, adding a little tension to an otherwise gentle composition. Tuberose, rose, and ylang-ylang are creamy and restrained. The floral effect can suggest coconut lotion, freshly washed cotton, or naturally perfumed skin. It is neither a lush indolic bouquet nor a sharp clean cologne. Cedar, sandalwood, patchouli, and musk take over gradually, keeping the finish dry, comfortable, and quietly woody. The EDT draws back the more emphatic cumin and fuller floral weight of the EDP, making it smoother and more transparent.
Performance
For an Eau de Toilette, it can last surprisingly well. The fragrance projects gently at application and then settles into a close aura that is more noticeable to the wearer than across a room. Its quiet trail is an advantage in close settings.
Wearing Context
Cool weather, daytime, work, and casual use suit this easygoing floral. Although presented as feminine, the cedar and spice make it comfortable on anyone. It is a fragrance for personal comfort, not for announcing itself.
Comparisons & DNA
The parent EDP is richer, more floral, and more cumin-led; this is the lighter, more ethereal reading. Amarige, Cashmere Mist, and Narciso Rodriguez musks are useful reference points. Fracas and Carnal Flower show the much louder tuberose style it deliberately avoids.
Reception
The fragrance divides between people who prize its balanced, wearable softness and those who hear it as too clean, blended, or generic. Its strongest supporters value the woody tuberose and calm longevity; its critics want a more visible floral identity. The modest profile makes sampling more useful than blind buying.
Versions & Reformulation
The EDT followed the 2012 So Nude EDP in 2013. The later NU SO DE name has been used across the family, so concentration matters more than the label alone. The EDT is the lighter white-bottle version, while the current renamed presentation is more often the EDP.
Acquisition Notes
The original EDT is discontinued and appears less regularly than the EDP. Check the concentration and bottle before buying, especially where the names are used interchangeably. Small samples are the clearest way to decide between the sheer EDT and the richer EDP.
Notable Facts & Lore
- Ennio Capasa designed the slim bottle around the fragrance’s nude concept.
- The fragrance is part of a family that moved in and out of production as the house changed ownership.
- Its lighter treatment makes it a distinct version, not just a renamed bottle.