Taylor Swift — Incredible Things
Essence
Incredible Things is the mature outlier in Taylor Swift’s Elizabeth Arden fragrance line. Laurent Le Guernec’s 2014 EDP trades bright fruity-floral sweetness for a creamy vanilla-suede musk, introduced by pink pepper and grapefruit. It is a gentle but distinctive comfort scent with a leather facet that broadens its appeal.
Scent Profile
The opening is a vivid collision of grapefruit and pink pepper. It can be bracing, even sour or deodorant-like on some skin, but it is short-lived. Once it eases, vanilla orchid and a soft passion-flower effect turn the scent creamy rather than overtly floral. Suede, Madagascar vanilla, musk, white amber, and a trace of Haitian vetiver take over in the drydown. The result is powdery, warm, and skin-like: more a vanilla-suede accord than a conventional floral. Development is gentle, moving from peppered citrus to a long, mostly linear soft leather-vanilla finish.
Performance
Original bottles were known for strong longevity, with the base often persisting on hair or skin into the next day. Projection is moderate to good after the opening, so a restrained application is sensible. Vintage bottles can vary sharply in condition and may not reproduce the original performance.
Wearing Context
The creamy, calm profile suits autumn and winter especially well. It works for everyday wear, the office, and relaxed evenings when a warm but unobtrusive scent is wanted. The peppery first hour is the only caveat for very close spaces.
Comparisons & DNA
Hermes Cuir Beluga is the key comparison: both explore buttery vanilla and suede. Incredible Things is sweeter, muskier, and less polished, with a grapefruit-pepper opening that gives it more initial lift. It is otherwise far removed from the brighter Wonderstruck fragrances, landing in a cozy leather-vanilla-musk family.
Reception
It has an unusually devoted following for a celebrity release. Praise centers on the soft suede-vanilla base, its comfort, and the impression that it feels more grown-up than the rest of the line. The opening divides opinion: some enjoy its peppery contrast, while others find it too sharp. Its cult status was reinforced by discontinuation and by the Fragrance Foundation’s 2015 Women’s Popular award.
Versions & Reformulation
No reformulation of the EDP is documented. The scent was also offered in rollerball, mist, lotion, wash, and mini formats. It was discontinued with Swift’s Elizabeth Arden line, and bottle age now matters more than a formal version distinction.
Acquisition Notes
Originally an accessible mass-market fragrance, it is now a collector’s purchase. EDP bottles were commonly sold in 30 ml and 50 ml sizes. Sealed, well-stored stock is preferable because old bottles can have muted longevity or an altered opening.
Notable Facts & Lore
- The name comes from a lyric in Swift’s “Blank Space.”
- It launched alongside 1989 in 2014.
- The white bottle uses a watercolor-style Swift silhouette and a cap bearing her lucky number 13.
- It was the final Elizabeth Arden fragrance released under Swift’s name.
- It won the 2015 Fragrance Foundation award for Women’s Popular fragrance.