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Burberry The Beat Reviewed: A Timeless Classic Scent

To give a true Burberry The Beat review, we must understand the musical inspiration behind the creation of this Eau de Parfum.

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Burberry launched The Beat in 2008 as part of a brand revamp and took inspiration from Studio 54 and the Swinging Sixties. 

Burberry’s goal with The Beat was to bring a touch of modernity to a timeless classic, as evidenced by the perfume’s ad, which features supermodel Agyness Deyn dancing freely to a Fratellis song while still bringing classic Twiggy vibes. 

Burberry The Beat

Who Makes It?

Burberry’s The Beat was made by two master perfumers, Dominique Ropion and Olivier Polge. Both classically trained in France, these two savants have famed careers spanning decades. 

Ropion has created classic scents for Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, and Polge has designed iconic scents for the likes of Balenciaga and Dior.

Fernweh Editions Fern & Petals Candle

Olivier is now the head perfumer for Chanel and is well known there for incorporating pink peppercorn and white musk into his fragrances, scents he also utilized for The Beat. 

Having designed scents for many other major labels, Ropion and Polge took inspiration from music and band culture when envisioning The Beat’s spicy yet classy notes. As well as harkening back to the 60s, they looked to modern bands like the Arctic Monkeys and the Fratellis for their youthful energy. 

Burberry has a long history with music and supports British musicians through its Burberry Acoustics Project. They also hold live concerts at their Regent Street store in Central London, which inspired The Beat.

Scent Notes

Equal parts floral, woody, and musky, The Beat has notes that will appeal to almost any woman.

mandarin orange

This complex and layered scent starts with notes of pink pepper, mandarin orange, bergamot, and cardamom at the forefront, with added hints of tea, iris, and bellflower.

All of these vibrant tones are balanced by base notes of white musk and cedar, which provide a more subtle and calm undertone. 

The bergamot, cardamom, and bellflower make a quintessentially British scent, reminiscent of both a classic cup of Earl Gray in the countryside and a spicy day out in London. 

If you’re looking for a comparison, some Burberry The Beat dupes, including Clinique’s Happy Heart or Glossier’s You, may give you a sense of these scent notes in action. While The Beat was initially released for women, Burberry The Beat Man is similarly fragranced with black pepper, citron, and violet. 

Who Would Like It?

The Beat is remarkably versatile, part of Burberry’s revamp of their brand to reach a younger, hipper demographic while still appealing to their more classic and refined crowd. 

This push towards modernity is perfectly expressed by The Beat, which is marketed towards a modern, yet sophisticated woman of any age. Invigorating and energetic, The Beat is for any woman who wants to show off her zeal for music and zest for life. 

When to Wear It

The Beat is an ideal daily perfume and perfectly suited for a warm picnic in the park or relaxing on a chaise lounge on a tropical beach holiday. 

woman enjoying family dinner

The classic notes that it carries make it a perfect perfume for the professional woman as well. The Beat’s versatility means it can seamlessly translate from day to night, ideal for the working woman to go from the office to a nice dinner. 

Where to Wear It 

A day in the sun will bring out the iris and mandarin orange, and while this perfume does pack a punch, it is subtle and long-lasting enough to withstand the warmer weather and might be a bit too delicate for colder months. 

The Beat’s classy nature and subtle undertones make the Beat unsuitable for a night at the club or a music festival.

music festival

However, if you want to honor its musical origins, it would be perfect for the theater or a night at the jazz bar. 

Packaging and Presentation 

The Beat’s design emphasizes its intention to be an everyday perfume, with a little something extra. Rather than just simple glass, the bottle features an enlarged and stylized version of the iconic Burberry checkered pattern that adorns their scarves and jacket linings.

Reminiscent of their epochal clothing, flair is added with a silver cap and a unique suede and metal amulet. Burberry The Beat price depends on the size of the bottle, which ranges from 30-75 ml and a 40 ml elixir. 

Personal Impressions

While definitely catering to a younger, more edgy crowd than some other Burberry perfumes, we think The Beat is best suited for a sophisticated, chic woman who likes to have fun.

The Beat by Burberry

As well as being perfectly suited to a relaxing beach vacation, this everyday fragrance would work well for the office as it’s not too loud. 

Performance 

Burberry The Beat has withstood the test of time. Although there are rumors that Burberry The Beat is discontinued, the fragrance is still in production and will be re-released on the Burberry site soon.

The sillage is impressive and has serious staying power for a scent without an overwhelming initial projection. 

Pros & Cons

Burberry The Beat has the prestige of a designer label while still being reasonably affordable, and its classic scent and design mean it will never go out of style. If you’re on a budget, check out the best designer perfume dupes.

On the other hand, the classic notes of tea and iris sometimes overpower the sharper peppery tones, which means some of the younger, more modern crowd may still find it a bit too classic for their liking.

Although certainly more vibrant and energetic than some Burberry counterparts, it may not be vibrant enough to make the kind of statement some are hoping for.

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Burberry The Beat Reviewed: A Timeless Classic Scent
Writer

Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.