# CoSTUME NATIONAL — NU SO DE

> NU SO DE is Dominique Ropion's 2012 take on a woody tuberose: not a loud white-floral spectacle, but a creamy, clean, softly spiced perfume that treats tuberose as a close skin texture. Formerly calle

## Essence
NU SO DE is Dominique Ropion's 2012 take on a woody tuberose: not a loud white-floral spectacle, but a creamy, clean, softly spiced perfume that treats tuberose as a close skin texture. Formerly called So Nude, it balances a polished floral heart with the quiet warmth of cedar, sandalwood, patchouli, and musk.
## Scent Profile
The opening has neroli, cardamom, and caraway, creating a cool aromatic lift with a faintly human warmth. It avoids the sugary spice effect; the cardamom instead prepares the composition for a soft floral heart.
Tuberose is the focus, joined by ylang-ylang and damask rose. The flower is creamy, clean, and slightly green rather than indolic or explosive. Ylang can bring a coconut-lotion nuance, while the rose stays a gentle support rather than taking over.
The late drydown is cedar, sandalwood, patchouli, and a clean-laundry musk. It gives the composition its woody identity and can read either comforting and skin-like or soapy and generic, depending on the wearer.
## Performance
NU SO DE generally stays close to the skin. The base can persist for a long wear while the projection remains quiet, so it rewards a slightly more generous application. Heat brings a creamier, fuller tuberose face; in cool conditions the clean musk is more apparent.
## Wearing Context
This is an easy all-season floral for work, daytime, and low-key evenings. It reads feminine first, but the cedar and cardamom make it viable for anyone who enjoys a soft woody white floral. It is comfortable rather than theatrical.
## Comparisons & DNA
Carnal Flower is the best Ropion reference because it shows the opposite approach: monumental, green, high-volume tuberose against NU SO DE's quiet creaminess. Cashmere Mist, Amarige, Ellenisia, Do Son, and Moheli offer adjacent soft-tuberose territory, but none has the same clean Costume National musk base.
## Reception
The appeal is its polished cardamom opening, creamy tuberose, and restrained personality. The disagreement is whether that restraint feels elegant or underpowered: some find it cozy and unusually wearable, while others find it sweet, soapy, or insufficiently distinctive. Its value is often described favorably when it is found at a modest price.
## Versions & Reformulation
The original 2012 Eau de Parfum was later presented as NU SO DE. A 2013 Eau de Toilette is lighter and more transparent. There are also reports that older bold-lettered EDP bottles wear more strongly than later packaging.
## Acquisition Notes
The EDP has appeared in 30 ml, 50 ml, and 100 ml bottles. Confirm the concentration when purchasing because the EDT and renamed EDP circulate under closely related names. Sampling is sensible for anyone sensitive to cumin-like spice or clean musk.
## Notable Facts & Lore
- Ennio Capasa based the concept and nude-toned bottle on an artistic-nude idea.
- The campaign was photographed at Pismo Beach with model Alyona Subbotina.
- The formula highlights ylang-ylang, damask rose, tuberose, and Indonesian patchouli.