New Wave is the extrait de parfum that Merit launched on October 22, 2026, the brand’s second fragrance after Retrospect. Dominique Ropion and Meabh McCurtin open pink pepper and angelica onto orange blossom and ylang-ylang, above an amber base of benzoin, labdanum, olibanum, tobacco and vanilla.
Lottie Winter of Marie Claire UK finds it warmer, richer and more assertive than Retrospect; Britt Fallon of NewBeauty recommends it to lovers of substantial amber florals.
What critics say
For Lottie Winter (Marie Claire UK, October 8, 2026), New Wave is an easy recommendation: warmer, richer and more assertive than Retrospect, it keeps the amber from start to finish while everything around it evolves, and remains remarkably controlled once worn. She sees it as the work of seasoned perfumers rather than a commercial cash-in.
Britt Fallon (NewBeauty, October 22, 2026) finds a smoky, resinous warmth, softened by vanilla and tonka bean; she recommends it to lovers of substantial amber florals and sees it as made for fall and winter.
More perfumes from Merit Beauty
Also composed by Dominique Ropion
- La Vie est Belle L'Eclat Eau de ToiletteLancôme
- Supreme BouquetYves Saint Laurent
- Oud de CarthageBoucheron
- L'Interdit GivenchyGivenchy
Also composed by Meabh McCurtin
- L'Interdit ElixirGivenchy
- Vetiver PrimaveraHorace
- Ibiza ’87Horace
Similar perfumes
Similar notes and family, from other houses.
- Tobacco Vanille ParfumTom Ford
- Oud Wa VanillaBerdoues
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- L’Eau d’AmbreL'Artisan Parfumeur
- Ylang AmbratoGucci
- Elixir des MerveillesHermès
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