Earlier this week, I was perusing the cosmetics department at Bloomingdales. I started chatting with a sales rep, and I asked him which brands he's into most these days. He listed off a few that didn't surprise me, and then he added, "And you know, Elizabeth Arden is making a big comeback."

I was glad to hear him say this because I've been thinking the same thing. For the longest time, I felt like the brand had a bit of an old-lady feel, but the more I try out its products, the more I think, "Huh! This is actually. . . really well done, and not at all in a Rose Nylund way."

So I was interested in smelling Elizabeth Arden's new fragrance, Mediterranean Breeze ($57) It's a limited-edition reinterpretation of last year's Mediterranean. Compared to the original, it's lighter and not quite as sweet. For the full review, read more.

It features top notes of white nectarine, bergamot, and sparkling grapefruit, and middle notes of florals and sweet almond oil. The base notes of musky cedarwood and sandalwood dance gently with the florals to neutralize what would otherwise be an overpowering sweetness. The result is a "clean" smell that doesn't verge into fabric softener territory.

My only complaint is the same that I have for most light, fresh scents: It doesn't stick around too long once applied. And even though I would love to escape to the Mediterranean for the real thing, a bottle of this will transport me for now.