Mainstream Monday: Kate Spade Walk on Air

walk on airSometimes it’s nice to find a little gem on department store shelves. And so ever since Kate Spade launched her eponymous fragrance back in 2002, much loved and now mourned by many of us, I make a point of trying her subsequent offerings. While Twirl didn’t exactly thrill, Live Colorfully was nice enough. As is her latest offering Walk on Air — in fact, for me, it’s more than nice enough.

This has a solid lily of the valley presence, which makes sense as creator Rodrigo Flores-Roux has spoken of his love for lily of the valley. Diorissimo it’s not, of course, but it is a lovely, light, fresh scent that makes me happy and feel quite springlike. And I was pleased to discover a hint of magnolia as well in Walk on Air.

As a girl I jumped at any opportunity to head into Eckerd’s drugstore and spray a bit of Coty’s Muguet des Bois and then float back home on a little LOV cloud, so those happy memories may help explain why I’m enjoying Walk on Air more than I thought I would. It’s not complicated, not sophisticated, and it doesn’t last terribly long, but it’s a joy to wear and one that I’d happily re-spritz as needed.

As with all Kate Spade products, there’s a nice range of sizes (30, 50 and 100 ml, $55-95 eau de parfum, and a rollerball $25), and it’s fairly easy on the wallet. I could definitely see myself tucking a rollerball or decant of Walk on Air into my purse for a quick hit of airy freshness in the warmer months ahead.

Notes per Fragrantica: linden blossom, bergamot, maiden’s hair fern, neroli, Solomon’s seal, lily of the valley, magnolia, jasmine, narcissus, crinum lily, iris and violet leaf.

What’s your favorite affordable thrill for those days when want to spray something easy with abandon, or you don’t want to wear anything complicated or expensive?

  • March says:

    Did she ever try Marc Jacobs? That’s from the same era and has the same dept store fragrance vibe — pretty, not too weird. Also given you friend’s tastes I hope she tried a dab of Carnal Flower.

    • Ann says:

      Howdy, dear! So glad you stopped by — thanks for some nice suggestions. I did give her a Walk on Air sample the other day, and she has tried Marc Jacobs and Carnal Flower and really liked them. Now to get her a dab of the Chasse, which sounds good. Thanks so much!

  • March says:

    I think the bottle’s adorable. I saw it in a store but I was already reeking of something and didn’t try it. I’m still peeved at Kate Spade for d/c’ing their original, which was like being run over by a tank made of LotV. I just saw your post from last year btw about your friend…. man, I remember KS original as being MUCH stronger and much more muguet-focused, rather than a jasdinia or whatever the listed notes are. Did your friend find something? … there was nothing “natural” about the KS (not meant disparagingly). But it didn’t have that extra dimension of Diorissimo. I’m not huge on lotv but I’d say she should try some lotv-dominated scents. I’m thinking MAYBE La Chasse…. the Estee Lauder is too soft, the Diptyque’s too weird… stopping now, just curious if she found something.

  • Darryl says:

    Tommy Hilfiger’s Tommy cologne from the ’90s. It smells like my childhood, plus it’s cheap and cheerful, especially if you catch it on the drugstore’s sale rack. Nice, easy, T-shirt and jeans scent for spring and summer.

    • Ann says:

      Oh, yes, I remember that! A really nice all-around scent — great choice (and the price is right)!

  • Ann says:

    Hi, Neva! I hope you’ll be able try Walk on Air and smell the linden blossom in it. I don’t think I’ve sniffed enough linden to really be able to identify it so I’m not much help. Haven’t heard of Tamango — it sounds nice. I love it when i learn about new (or old) scents from you all!

  • Neva says:

    This one sounds so nice. Thanks for reviewing it. I love linden blossom and I hope one can smell it in Walk on Air. My cheap pleasure for spring is Tamango by Leonard. It does not smell so lovely like it used to in the 80-ies, but the reformulation is rather nice and I always get compliments when I wear it.

  • Dina C. says:

    I sniffed the magazine insert of this recently, and I could immediately identify the LotV note. It’s a cheerful, springy scent. I’ll try to sample it when I find it in a store. I like LotV, too, but that shouldn’t surprise you, Ann, since you’ve pointed out how we’re similar in our tastes in spring scents. 🙂

    • Ann says:

      Yay, Dina! I predict you’ll like this one (or at least not hate it). What are you enjoying wearing right now, my lovely scent cousin? 😉

  • eldarwen22 says:

    Beyond E-bay and Amazon, I haven’t seen Worth’s Courtesan but that one is easy to wear and not terribly expensive. It’s hard to find anything perfume wise that I like that is pretty easy on the wallet.

    • Ann says:

      That is an excellent budget choice, eldarwen. I must dig up my sample/decant of it. Thanks for the reminder!

  • elisa p says:

    I love the sound of Solomon’s Seal and maiden’s hair fern in the notes although I’ve no clue what they smell like. My easy one is Diptyque Geranium Oderata which always smells good, refreshing, uplifting without being too clean. Great for hot weather. I think the 100ml is $90 and the 20ml rollerball is $40 ish. It has replaced Jour d’Hermes for me.

    • Ann says:

      Hi, Elisa! I’m not sure what those notes smell like either, but they contribute to a happy whole. I’ve not sniffed that Diptyque but it sounds like I need to as warm weather is fast approaching. Love the price points, too.

  • Victoria says:

    Oh what a lovely surprise to see this fragrance featured! I just tried a sample out of a magazine a few hours ago and I really liked it!

    • Ann says:

      So glad to hear that, Victoria! Do try it in the store when you can and let us know what you think. If you’re not near a store that carries it, there are probably samples on eBay. I would send you my little Nordstrom vial but alas, it’s all already gone 🙁 Sorry.

  • Sarah says:

    Hi Ann-
    Cabaret by Gres is 20$ for 100mls. Light and fizzy, I wear it alone and layered with many other perfumes (Amourage Gold, Serge Lutens florals etc.)

    • Ann says:

      Hi, Sarah! I can’t recall if I’ve ever sniffed that one, but what a bargain. And if it layers so nicely, then it’s a doubly great deal.