I almost made it through the winter without getting sick…
but yesterday I came down with the stomach flu. I am too queasy to wear fragrance, but I hope to have another "perfume talk" article tomorrow. Meanwhile, if you are wearing something fabulous today, please comment!
sorry to hear you are sick, R đ
I'm wearing something new, but I don't know if it is fabulous quite yet! I bought a bottle of L'artisan Voleur de Rose yesterday and did an initial spritz last night…very interesting…not what I was expecting from a rose scent, even after reading several reviews that touted the fragrance as a very unique blend of earthy patchouli and wet rose, with a dry down of plum jam.
Since I tend to prefer a lighter rose scent, and more on the “original” side, I thought I would love it, but I think this one will take me a bit to get used to. The top notes are definitely moist soil, green; the earthy notes slowly gave way to a deep rose, and I detected a slight plum jam note in the dry down.
In all fairness, I did try just the lightest spritz last night, so with a full application today I hope to get a better feel for it.
L'artisan stayed true to its reputation for the unique and unusual with this one.
NowSmell…hope you feel better soon!
My scent of the day, Quelques Fleurs, is worthy of a comment. While not spanking brand new or the latest trend in fashion, it does have a history that dates back to 1912 when it was created by Houbigant perfumer, Robert BienaimĂ©. According to H&R Fragrance Guide, BienaimĂ©âs blend had a Fresh Floral top of Citrus Oil, Orange Blossom and Leafy Green, a Middle of Rose de Mai, Jasmin, Lilac, Ylang-Ylang, Carnation, Violet and Orris and a Powdery Floral Bottom of Sandal, Musk, Civet, Honey, Heliotrope and Vanilla. Jan Moran reports that itâs, âOne of the most important fragrances in history. It was the first true multi-floral composition, reportedly using 313 different floral essences. Its development changed the approach to perfumery in the early 1900's from single florals to multi-floral bouquets and firmly established Paris as the foremost city of perfumery.â
In 1987 it was reintroduced with (of course) a different formulation. Green Floral Top of Green Notes, Bergamot, Lemon, Orange Blossom, and Tarragon, a Middle of Rose, Jasmin, Lily of the Valley, Orris, Tuberose, Ylang-Ylang, Orchid, Carnation and Heliotrope and a Powdery-Ambery Bottom of Sandal, Oakmoss, Tonka, Amber, Musk and Civet.
While I unfortunately have never had the opportunity to try the original, I do enjoy the reformulated version. I see this as a good, all purpose year-round fragrance. Itâs bright and green enough to cool a sticky summer day yet has enough body and verve to get me through winter. It generally hangs close to the body (which I like) with just a touch of sillage. Bright without being sharp, floral without being cloying, it has enough class and sophistication for a suited up affair, but can also get you through the day in jeans and a T-shirt. Itâs one of my most versatile perfumes and Iâve always gotten nothing but compliments while wearing it. (Thanks for letting me rave!)
Nice review! I love to learn about a fragrance's history.
I truly believe that one of these days I will come to appreciate patchouli! Meanwhile, I admire Voleur but can't wear it. L'Artisan is one of my favorite lines and I completely agree that Voleur is unique.
Did you purchase this one unsniffed? You are brave đ
Thanks so much- I appreciate the feedback. (This blog is such a wonderful addition to the perfume world!)
What an excellent review, thanks! I can't believe I have never tried this fragrance, although I did try the Quelques Fleurs Royale last year. I have no idea how different it is from the “regular” QF, but it was pretty sweet and I don't remember it as having any green notes. Time for another shopping trip!
I hope you feel better beautiful R! I'm testing Villoresi Donna today! It's strong but lovely! It's certainly something you wouldn't want to sniff today! đ
Thank you! You're right, that would be more than I could take. Such a pretty fragrance though, I love the spices. Just went to check your blog — great description! And wanted to tell you, the people who said they couldn't post comments without getting their own blog are wrong, you can create a user account without a blog, although the sign up form on Blogger is confusing in that regard.
Get well soon, R! I am impressed that you were able to still write an informative column today. Bless you for putting together this lovely blog!
I am wearing Champs Elysee. I love it, and wish that I hadn't turned my nose up to it since its release. I think it's the 2nd most popular fragrance in France or something like that, so even though it's from my favorite perfume house, Guerlain, I just thought of it as another pedestrian fragrance. I was so wrong!
I can smell mimosa, lilac and almond flower. And, even though it's an EDT, it lasts and lasts.
My friend, Halyna, gave it to me for Valentine's Day. I am so glad that she was instrumental in getting me out of my snotty little snit against this sparkling fragrance!
Thanks for your fabulous review! I will look for this the next time I'm at Neiman.
Sorry that youâre sick, R.
Iâm sampling two this morning (courtesy of vous!). The first is Hermes Vetiver Tonka. This is beautifully composed and smooth. Itâs the nicest vetiver Iâve ever sniffed. I would love to smell this on a man. However, itâs too masculine for my taste.
The other is Antica Farmacista Vaniglia & Mandarino di Sicilia. This is surprisingly addictive. No synthetic notes at all. After the initial âcreamsicleâ sweet stage, the creamy bourbon vanilla drydown is rich and smooth. A true gourmand delight.
Thank you R! I have never smelled Champs Elysee, I think I turned my nose up at it for the same reasons…thought of it as another pedestrian fragrance. I love the notes (and a nice mimosa is hard to find) and will have to give it a try. LOL at “snotty little snit”!
Oh dear, Vetiver Tonka too masculine? As I've said before, my bar is very high — I'll wear almost anything. But I have to admit that it is one of the few of my perfumes that my husband wears too. Many of my men's things (Eau Sauvage, Guerlain Vetiver, etc) he finds too feminine! Glad you like the Antica Farmacista though đ
I hope you feel better soon! I have been battling with a cold for two weeks now. Fortunately I didn't loose my scense of smell.
For the past two days I have been completely enthralled by a single note fragrance (I've totally blanked out on the word). The fragrance is Chantecaille's Wisteria. It is in a word: Pretty. The single word that comes to mind each time I apply it. It is transparent, crisp and clean, with a light peppery drydown. I'm layering with the lotion, but it seems to last pretty well on its own. A very nice fragrance that delights the nose with its simplicity.
yes…unsniffed! sometimes I just can't get my hands on a sample…and heaven forbid some retailer should carry l'artisan here in the desert đ
Today everyone is wearing things I have never tried! I am making a new “to smell” list. The only Chantecaille I've smelled is Frangipane, which I like very much but veers a bit towards too sweet for me.
Hope your cold is better soon too!
I have done so badly with unsniffed purchases that I've given them up — unless it is something cheap at TJ Maxx. I hope the Voleurs turns out to be a favorite!
Hope you feel better. I have on a layered mix of SuL Soft Musk, with a few drops of L'Artisan Safran Troublant over it. I LOVE the SuL Soft Musk, but I can only smell it in the bottle. When I put it on, it disappears almost instantaneously! None of the other SuL's do that on me! The ST is a good mix with it, but that's probably all I smell.
There are definitely some musks that I cannot smell. At one time I had a link to a great article on musk anosmia, but I lost it and have never been able to find it again.
Safran Toublant is so pretty though, it probably doesn't need any help đ