This past week I’ve been ill. I’ve also been annoyed that the world around me is sunny, flowery — summery — in spite of my discomfort. When I’m not feeling well, I prefer looking out the windows and seeing clouds, fog, rain and bare branches on trees (I guess you could say I wallow in my misery). If I’m sick or depressed, I still “eat a little something” and wear perfume (I’m lucky enough to be alive after all) but those flavor and fragrance selections are carefully chosen. Warm, rich, nutty and chocolaty desserts go down easily during hard times (who cares about calories if you’re physically or mentally hurting?) I don’t reserve certain perfumes for sick days, but when I’m feeling low I reach for “darker” perfumes that will “support” me as I move through my day (or don’t move at all); these perfumes must have some heft, act as a “scented crutch” if you will, but should not contain jarring/strange notes or progress through multiple stages of development. Sparkly, bright Eaux de Cologne, frivolous fruity-florals, and ozonic-moronic sport fragrances get on my nerves when I’m under the weather, and they seem to disappear into thin air the moment I really need a “shoulder” to lean on.
Perfumes for Illness must provide the comfort, the familiarity, the simplicity and the satisfaction of a warm brownie, a dense, fragrant gingerbread, a cup of hot chocolate made with cream (insert the name of any food you love). I usually reach for oriental fragrances when I’m humming the blues, and for a few days this week I turned to Chanel Coromandel* for “help.”
Coromandel (2007) was created by perfumer Jacques Polge and lists notes of frankincense, benzoin, amber and “woods” — all comforting notes to me. Coromandel is no lightweight, insubstantial fragrance; it provides a long day of scented “support.” Coromandel goes on liquor-y and sweet, smelling like a spicy glaze I’d pour over my gingerbread; it then provides a tiny dose of syrupy medicine (think: cola-flavored codeine). Coromandel’s frankincense is muted and its benzoin is powdery soft. Quickly, Coromandel becomes a vanillic-woody amber fragrance: agreeable, sweet, a bit “genteel” and highly qualified for comforting.
When I’ve worn Coromandel in the past, people (women especially) have said it smells old fashioned; one perfume-loving friend called it “matronly!” Let’s examine the word “matron” in the context of “comfort.” When I hear the word “matron” I think of a robust person with a good character, someone helpful and kind, someone who’s looked at life without rose-colored glasses on and who still keeps going; a matron is not one to give in, or give up! Matrons may wear sensible shoes but they are often sensible people too. When one is ill, having a matron handy (in perfume or person form) is helpful. My grandmother was a matron; need I say more? So: call Coromandel “matronly” all you want; for me, its blend of vanillic amber and benzoin, its whisper of incense and warm woods hits the spot: the comfort spot.
I hope no one reading this will need a comfort scent anytime soon, but I know every one of you will eventually (that’s how life is). When a bad patch begins, I recommend good food (choose what makes you happy — and indulge), good books (poems, memoirs and biographies by and about those who’ve had it just as rough as you — or rougher — can help), and a good fragrance. As my spirits lift (for now), and I start eyeing Byredo Pulp and Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom once more, I give thanks to “Nurse” Coromandel — and all comfort scents.
Chanel Coromandel is in the "Les Exclusifs" collection, and is available in 200 ml Eau de Toilette for $200; for buying information, see the listing for Chanel under Perfume Houses.
*See definition of "coromandel."
Note: images, top to bottom, are 24K inlaid lacquer painting - Tianjin by b8b8ng at flickr, some rights reserved; Ten-Panel Coromandel Lacquer Screen by Sebastian Niedlich (Grabthar) at flickr, some rights reserved; and Joan Hickson (the greatest Miss Marple ever) from the BBC series “Miss Marple” via Wikipedia.
I love your redefinition of “matron” in relation to comfort! I totally agree, and I too reach for oriental scents when I’m under the weather in whatever sense. Looks like I need to add Coromandel to the ever-growing must-try list … it sounds wonderful.
Jill: when friends complain about Coromandel…it’s because it’s too “strong’…proceed accordingly!
Robbie
Hi Kevin,
This is a very mysterious, night on the town, bad girl fragrance.
Beautiful I have a sample in from of me now! Yummy
This something only Chanel could create and something only you would expect from Chanel.
Great review, Kevin. And *I* don’t think Coromandel is matronly at all, but whatever. I think it smells cozy, though, and almost edible. I’ve been slowly parsing out my sample of it, and just might be crazy enough to shell out the $200 for the big ol’ bottle of it. I have tried to justify the expensive by telling myself I would share it with my partner. (Although who am I kidding? I would bogart the whole thing for myself, possibly even sleeping with it under my pillow…)
I meant to write “expense” not “expensive.” Need to fire the chimp that writes everything for me.
Miss K: your brain was just trying to get across to you: EXPEN$IVE!
Miss K V : a bottle is tempting, but with its tenacity it makes the purchase even more “crazy”, doesn’t it?
Sorry! Don’t even know what that word means! Crazy? What does that mean? And why do people keep calling me that?
What a beautiful review Kevin! You are so right about needing comfort scents in addition to comfort food … plus the proximity of a large, purring cat or a pair of big brown doggy eyes always helps too. I hope you are feeling better!
Oh my goodness, it’s as if I wrote this!! I have so many ‘fumes because I never feel the same 2 days in a row. When feeling down or ill, I too check out my scents to see which is the one to make me feel better.
Ms M: a “perfume for every purpose”…makes having so many a MUST.
Dzingnut: I am feeling better, thank you. And I did have two cats handy, one much more “calming” than the other! HA!
This is by far my favorite of the Les Exclusifs I’ve tried—it seems a little rawer and less sophisticated than the others somehow, and I like that. I hadn’t quite thought of it as a comfort scent but I can see how it would be. Like Miss Kitty, I’ve been going through a sample (two samples, now, actually) and eyeing that huge bottle…
maybe you and Kitty should split a bottle…..oops, enabling again!
But it’s not a bad idea, is it? Hmmm…
It’s actually (compared to some, at least) not that expensive when you consider how much there is in that bottle, it’s just that I can’t imagine in this lifetime using that much of it.
Which is why splitting a bottle would make so much sense…hint hint…nudge nudge…
I’m game! How do we do this?
Contact me at MUA (I’m under the same ridiculous name there, all one word) and we’ll talk. 🙂 I’ve never done a split myself, but there’s a first time for everything!
FYI, if anyone else is interested, contact me at MUA. We’re doing this.
Daisy: splitting is in your very marrow…enabling is your CREED (and , NO!, I’m not talking about the perfume company)
it is what I am, it is what I do…..it is a far better scent I sniff than I have ever sniffed before…it is a far better split I host than I have ever known…. is this where they decapitate my credit card?
Some say “enabler,” I say “someone who makes me feel better about my reckless perfume purchasing.” Oh…wait. That’s what an enabler is, isn’t it?
I’m “supportive” ;-D
I LOVE THIS SCENT! treated myself to a bottle yesterday as a birthday present to myself at almost $300 after tax! As the day wore on, I came to realize why it smelled familiar; I have Hermes Elixir Res Merveilles. Very similar.
Janice: WHY OH WHY are the bottles so huge???
Odd, isn’t it? 200 mL bottles seems contrary to the notion of exclusivity, no? Quite the opposite of Andy Tauer’s tablespoonful of Une Rose Chypree.
Both ways are fair game in the luxury business: in this sector either one emphasize the price or the offer (promotion), depending on the target people and the place. (There, the 4 Ps of marketing.) It’s hard to do both (although done before) unless the customer base is established. To me people at Chanel have done their price sensitivity analyses for Les Exclusifs in order to determine the optimal price (i.e. assert brand equity without turning off too many customers) because not surprisingly pricing aren’t the same across countries. It’s been said before but the $/mL ratio for this collection isn’t significantly higher from that of the regular line so the volume has to go up.
I might be wrong but this to me is one of the reasons why Les Exclusifs aren’t being offered in travel sets yet–aside from this project being a sizeable investment the Chanel strategy right now seems to follow textbook marketing cycle strategies to a T.
Oh, how I detest typo: it’s market cycle XD
awwww, sorry you’ve been ill, and it’s good to know you are now on the mend. It’s amazing that in spite of feeling so horrible you were once again able to produce a wonderful review.
Daisy: thank you my deare!
Oh so sorry to hear that you’ve been under the weather. I liked your story though. I did not find Coromandel matronly at all. I liked it actually. 🙂
C: did you ever buy a bottle? I know you love those big orientals!
Are you kidding me? As finicky as I am…I would NEVER!
Sorry to read that you have not been well. I struggle with the word “matronly” – as a woman in her 40’s, it’s not something that I want to think of myself as, but of course you are correct – matrons possess many outstanding qualities. Perhaps as a man, you have a different perspective on the word. And perhaps if I owned that hat Joan Hickson is wearing, I’d feel better about being a matron! She’s lovely, isn’t she? Perhaps I will just give in to matronliness, buy a decant of Coromandel, and let fate take its course. Best wishes on your continued recovery!
Exist: I wonder what the male equivalent of “matron” IS? Joan Hickson was great.
I think the scent is incredibly sexy; definitely not matronly at all. And it’s subtle the next day and sexy in its subtlety.
On me Coromandel smells EXACTLY like Prada’s first perfume!
I don’t think I ever smelled the Prada…certainly haven’t smelled on that reminded me of Coromandel.
I was wondering these days, searching for interesting reviews to read again, why anyone here hasn’t written a review for Coromandel. From the list of its notes, it looked something very my cup of tea. And them you made this incredible review of it. Congratulation Kevin, loved it! If this kind of fragrance is matronly, well, i’m always in love with matrons rs
My preffered fragrance for those days that I’m down, or the weather is cold and cloudy, is black cashmere. To me, is my comfort zone, the place where I fell secure, the one that is like an old friend.
Rick: agree…a nice “fuzzy” (cashmere) scent is perfect for “down” days.
What, no patch? I could have sworn there was patchouli in this. Must test again…
2nd. It’s a regular ole’ patch-fest.
3rd. And it’s one of the many reasons I love it.
Definitely a comfort scent for me, but not matronly. So far, it’s the only Chanel I’ve loved – loved enough to get in on a split earlier this month. Since Chanel sells it in the giant vat size, splits can actually be very reasonable.
Aparatchick: these Chanels were MADE for splitting. I’ve been yearning for Cuir de Russie as well….
R: perhaps it’s the “type” of patchouly in this that does not bother me? I do get a cola-root beer vibe sometimes while wearing it and I think the patchouly is well blended..there’s not a hint of hippie.
Ahtx: you know I think of the patchouli in this as part of the “amber” recipe…it does not scream PATCHOULY on me as a single note…and a friend who hates patchouly with a passion didn’t attack me as she usually does when I wear rich patchouly fragrances as I breezed by in Coromandel.
“Matronly” in a derogatory sense, or your absolutely beautiful definition – it matters not. Coromandel is a wonderful fragrance, and one of the first things I’d run for if I had the scratch.
Wondermelmo: maybe Chanel will come to its senses someday and downsize those bottles!
This made me think, if there are “matronly” comfort scents for some, like Coromandel is for Kevin, what are the scents associated with a “batman” (no, not the superhero, but the personal servant of a commissioned officer), or an orderly or indeed a gentleman’s butler (someone like Jeeves perhaps). That is, a scent that supports, cares and comforts not in a matronly way, but in a more masculine way perhaps?? There are times when I, for one, feel the need of a scent which is the olfactory equivalent of someone taking off your shoes and jacket, sliding a dressing gown on you and bringing you a stiff brandy…
Santemon: I’d like my batman to smell like Fumerie Turque or Morabito Or Black!
Great review, and I hope you’re feeling better! Coromandel is phenomenol, although I wouldn’t describe it as matronly at all to my nose. It’s strong, sweet and earthy, cozy and comfy all at once so I definitely get wearing it when you’re not feeling well. It is on my full bottle list for fall…it’s wonderful!
Mandypantsruns: enjoy your big bottle come fall….
Coromandel is a great “get well” fragrance it smell slightly medicinal and like a kind old nurse watching over you and by the way Kevin
I hope you get to feeling better
lightgreen22…yes, on the mend, thanks
The first thing that leaped into my mind was the scent of the Indian Mysore Sandalwood soap, the one that comes in the green and red box and is widely available … I think I am chanelling British Raj here… 🙂
Santemon: love that soap…or DID..haven’t used it in a long time…it was easy to find in L.A. but not here in the NW….
Well! I need to try this! I too enjoyed your review, and your creative “fragrance as matron” concept. 🙂
Haunani: thanks!
Wonderful review as always – I swear you always make me want to sniff the things you review, even when you don’t like them much.
Sorry to hear you were ill but glad you found some comfort. I am very behind on the Exclusifs and one of these days I may have to gird my loins and head for the Chanel boutique. Rumor has it that our NM has the Exclusifs, too – that might be better. I won’t feel *quite* as much like the poor little match girl.
Tama: have a nice lunch, and go to the bathroom before seating yourself in front of the Chanel Les Exclusifs counter! Some of my sessions there have lasted 40 minutes! The dialogue the sales reps repeat is almost a one act play…”Madame” this, Madame that, the glorious “Madame”…Chanel as saint.
Then I should go just for the entertainment factor!
Tama – might check Nordstrom as well…mine has them.
Good tip – thanks!
I love this stuff, and have been eking out my sample for months.
It’s strong too, that giant bottle would last several lifetimes!
datura5750..I’ve been living off of three samples for a LONG time…they last.
Thanks for reviewing one of my faves; hope you’re feeling better soon. Great phrase–“scented crutch.” Love love love this. It’s the only one of the Exclusifs that made me succumb to a FB (so far…). Before I purchased, for weeks I carried around one of those paper cards conveniently printed with the names of the frags, drenched with Coromandel. The freshly turned earth/patchouli finally got to me, and I had to give in… I tend to spray, spray, spray because my skin eats scent so the industrial sized vat wasn’t even a turnoff… 🙂
Gitty: I did the same thing…I used the Coromandel-drenched card as a bookmark and that book still smells sensational.
Good idea! I’m definitely going to come away with several “bookmarks” next time I test the Exclusifs.
Haha I get all my bookmarks that way!
What a great idea. Never thought of that!
Oh, no! You’ve created a monster! Now I’m going to feel the need to scent every book I read. (Whether they belong to me or not.)
Thank you for the review. This is my favorite of the Chanel exclusives so far. I also find an alluring allusion to chocolate in the smooth, velvety base, with enough spice to keep things interesting. It is a very sophisticated, grown-up patchouli and amber fragrance. It is very powerful, has lots of sillage, yet I can see how it could be comforting. I am waiting for the colder days to enjoy this one more frequently!
Sneakypie: a good cold weather scent for sure…it’s been rather “crisp” here in Seattle at night.
Kevin, glad to read you’re feeling better. I love a good oriental, so I’ll have to add this to my ever-expanding “must sample” list. It sounds delicious and perfect to wear curled up by the fire in a warm robe with a good book. I also like to have a distinct category of comfort scents, some of which have a bit of citrus just as a mood booster, and some that aren’t exactly edible but soothing nonetheless like CDG’s Kyoto. It’s enchanting, and makes me feel peaceful enough to almost forget I’m feeling ill or down.
A.S.: Kyoto is wonderful…thanks for reminding me…I promised myself a bottle this fall since I’ve been so “good” with perfume buying.
I can’t decide between Cuir de Russie and Coromandel, so, consequently haven’t bought either. Love them both, but the cash outlay is a little on the steep side for me. My best friend is a Tom Ford nut, but she likes these and might agree to a split. We sniffed them at a Chanel boutique and left with cards saturated with both. Still use them as bookmarks and 3 months later I can still emjoy the scent.
kikiduck: both are great choices…but TRUE…I can’t see spending $400 at one time!
When I am ill I like Eau De Vapor Rub by Vicks. It makes me feel like I’m being cared for. Add to this Chicken and Stars soup, flat 7up and a cool wet washrag on my forehead. I guess it’s the *Momma Special*. I was in the hospital last week with an unknown virus. It kept me from holding down even water. I thought I was gonna die. I can stand pain, but nausea…..no thanks. If your throwing up nothing else exists. Well aren’t I cheerful? 🙂 sorry
I don’t want anything complicated when I’m sick either and certainly nothing foody. I like Chance by Chanel, it’s so unoffensive.
I will see your Vicks, Chicken and Stars, and 7 UP, and raise you a box of Saltines. And we’d better stock up now, because cold season is just around the corner.
Oh, and you are making me miss my bottle of Chance. I wonder who I ever gave that to? What is it about things you give away? I don’t really want them until I’ve passed them on. Suddenly they’re the drug-addicted child I gave up and will forever regret losing. (That was a metaphor, BTW, I haven’t actually done that.)
alotofscents: hey, if you like V V Rub, try the “Chandernagor” Cire Trudon candle…sensational.
I am so with you on the barfing – no, thanks! I’m so sorry you went through that!! Hope you’re feeling better.
awwww Loto, that sounds horrible! Must have been really really bad to land you in the hospital. I can take a lot of things but once the barfing starts—gah! –that’s it! I hope you are taking it easy for a while and keeping things down again. Oh, and the very thought of perfume (any perfume) during a stomach virus–I can’t even imagine!!! ugh.
Thanks Daisy and everyone. The screen name here “Hereitcomesagain” is perfect for how I felt.
I do feel way better..of course at that point a twisted ankle or even broken would have been better.
It’s amazing how painful your diaphragm and upper back can feel after prolonged vomiting. I thought I broke a rib! But they gave me lots of Vicodin weeeee 🙂
Oh, wonderful review and essay! Thank you so much.
Now that I am matronly myself, I relish the positive aspects of that archetype lots. I’ll see if I can go find a sniff of Coromandel.
haha i enjoyed reading this..
Good Lord. I’d forgotten about the Chanel Exclusifs. I havnt’ tried one of them, but have always wanted to. Some of them sound right up my street…..such as THIS ONE! Kevin, I have been ill this past week too, and took a few days off work to snuggle into my duvet, watch DVDs and eat yummy foods. I don’t have Rahat Loukhoum in my sample box anymore, otherwise that would’ve been straight on my wrists, so I wore Andy Tauer’s L’Air Desert and Reverie au Jardin. They weren’t quite ‘right’ for being ill though, a little too outdoorsy and evocative……..I need something like Coromandel, clearly. I guess i’ll have to make a trip to a Chanel store to try them out, as I can’t afford to order samples right now – TPC were doing a sale on 8mls of Le Labo Patchouli and Sienne L’Hiver, and I lemming’d both! WAAAAH!!!! Patchouli I know I will love, but the Sienne was a gamble……….
I hope you’re feeling better now. Do you drink pots of lemon, ginger, garlic, honey and cayenne pepper tea? If not, I recommend it. It’s a magic elixir.
Blimunda: ah! The tea sounds nice…I’ll nix the garlic though!
Glad you’re on the mend Kevin! Thank you for another wonderful review. I haven’t tried any of the Chanel Exclusifs – I am now planning my next Nordstrom excursion to do so. I’ve been on a kick with sampling niche fragrances lately – time to get back to some classics.
Thanks Kevin,
I really enjoyed the article. I posted a week or so ago asking what scents people reach for when their under the weather – but most said they reached for nothing and preferred to be scent-free until feeling better. I can see the wisdom in this, but there are days when I’m ill, but still able to enjoy a scent without having it be associated with something negative after the fact. I’m still searching for that scent. Perhaps Coromandel? Today I’m not ill but a bit heart-sick and wore AG Eau de Sud for spirit-lifting layered with Tam Dao for comfort and grounding. So far – it’s just what I needed.
Scentred: sounds like a good combo…those cedary notes!
before it was so rudely discontinued, I would have said Fendi Theorema extrait was possibly the most indulgent I-feel-sorry-for-myself-and-must-eat-sweets-and-complain sick scent ever. Provided you didn’t have a plugged nose, anyway.
Tam Dao and Theorema are comfort scents for me, also, but just the other night (I live in the chilly-at-night-lately northwest, also) I reached for Coromandel to rock me to sleep. It worked quite nicely. I tried to get my local perfume shopping buddy to trade me a decant from his bottle, but he is confident he will blow through it. I’m still working my first decant after a year; it is powerful stuff.
2scents: oh that’s MEAN. A little decant from that big bottle?! next time you’re at his house take an empty bottle with you and fill it. HA! I never deny someone a decant unless the perfume is discontinued…then I’m TOUGH.
If I was going to have a signature scent it would be Coromandel. After using up two decants I finally bought a full bottle. There are days when I get as many as 4 compliments from men and women. It is truly a comfort scent for me and I love it.
Great review!
By some reason I use lily of the valley parfume every time I go to the doctor’s office… Wondering why is that?
Crystal: that would be good for a dr.’s visit for me too…lily of the valley reminds me of my grandmother (a good doctor’s office escort) and spring.
I love Coromandel, it’s truly a piece of art. When I am sad I seem to reach for terribly sensual perfumes like Fracas or Shalimar, they lift my mood and make me dream.
Could a man wear this?
em: I AM a man eminere….
Matronly, really? I find Coromandel sexy as hell. I can only wear it in hot weather, though. I had originally thought that it would be a marvelous cold weather scent, but it really blooms on my skin in the heat — a bit counterintuitive, because I would have thought that it would be oppressive — and I found it disappointing by comparison in cold weather.
I’m glad that you found the comfort you needed from it! When I’m sick, I can’t wear fragrance at all.
can a man wear coromandel? i fell in love with chanel’s ‘les exclusifs’ line, having recently been advised by a female friend who works for a chanel boutique to try sycomore and cuir de russie, i was absolutely bowled over by how good they both smell on me, even though they’re so drastically different. she’s also recommended coromandel, unfortunately they did not have a sample and even ran out of testers, so i haven’t tried it yet.
Sure, a guy can wear it!
It has been years since I have been compelled to make an online comment in regards to any fragrance, though, I am a compulsive reader of others reviews and thoughts…so first off, I have to say that this is the most comforting, delicious, fragrance I have ever smelled that still retains a strong sense of elegance from beginning to end- I see a couple of folks have asked if it could be worn by a man, and I have to say, absolutely! A man in cashmere sweater who I wouldn’t be able to stop smelling and would want to snuggle up to all night !Oh my goodness- I just received my first whiff of Coromandel in the form of a sample from perfumed court last week- had a few samples in the shipment that I have been dying to try, and this was sort of an afterthought to the purchase, having read Kevin’s review and finding myself wishing for some comfort fall fragrances as daylight savings time draws to a close and I need something to help me cope with the darkness!
I expected what he described, a warm comfort scent, that I could always lean upon if I catch a cold, if it didn’t knock my socks off, otherwise. What continues to delight me about Coromandel are a couple things:1. what a journey this scent provides from first spritz to drydown! I like a fragrance that takes you on a bit of ride, but sometimes find at some point during the ride, I’m bound to go around a bend that is less beautiful than the others and hope that the finish makes the ride worth it. With Coromandel, every step of the transitional journey is a delight and it’s a thrill waiting for the next olfcactory stop!
The other thing that was a delightful surprise,was how elegant and luxurious Coromandel is- though I’m not sure why I was so surprised as the cost of this juice would seem to indicate such. I have a broad range of tastes when it comes to scents- & have a healthy appreciation for warm musks, orientals and gourmands, and the only thing about these warmer type scents is that they sometimes have a tendency to go all comfort/ no refinement to my nose, kinda like a great big bowl of yummy mac and cheese- it’s delicious, and an indulgence, but not neccisarily the meal you would feed to try and impress someone- Coromandel manages to be as comforting and yummy as mac n cheese, yet, you could wear it in a ballgown (or tux ) to the most formal event and be perfectly in place!
It also smells like Christmas, to me and I’m not sure why, but Christmas in it’s most joyous, refined, beautiful , elegantly festive way- candles and white lights vs colored tree bulbs and santa figurines-loved it so much I scored a large bottle off ebay and am praying that what comes is like the sample that I recieved, but happy the seller has a 7 day return period, just in case. I have to say that I am a fragrance tramp- very little loyalty to any one scent, though i certainly have several that stay in the rounds and I will go back to like a latenight booty call to an ex., and I am in constant search of the next thing to try that might blow my mind- often disappointed by the reality when I get my nose on it. I peruse review sites and enjoy reading other’s thoughts and comments and will order samples on a regular basis and have been doing this for the past five years or so. So, I have sampled, tried and bought many, but THIS is the one out of hundreds that affected me so much I was compelled to write about my experience!
Thank you, Kevin for your beautiful review- as a result I have fulfilled my constant search for “the next great smell”. I would be fooling myself to say my search ends here, in fact quite the opposite is more true. My experience with Coromandel only solidifies the fact that there are MARVELOUS scents out there that I have yet to try- that will live up to all I imagine them to be and will delight me in ways that I dream they will!!!only problem is I seem to have a really hard time remembering how to spell Coromandel.
I wanted to read more about this perfume before I made a purchase of a tiny bottle on ebay. Katie P says this is one of her favorites and this review definitely made me hit the BUY NOW button. I cannot wait to experience this scent. And it does seem as if it is an experience, not merely a scent.
Thank you!