I've read so many magazine articles about the building blocks of the classic wardrobe. Usually the list includes a white, button-up blouse, a trench coat, a string of pearls, and a little black dress. Except for the little black dress, my dream basic wardrobe looks a lot different: try for starters 10 cotton sundresses from the 1950s, four 1940s suits, enough vintage cocktail dresses to last a few seasons in Monte Carlo, and an armload of dressing gowns. But I do believe in a basic wardrobe of fragrances. A type of fragrance I think everyone should have is a warm, spicy, slightly gourmand scent. If you haven't yet filled this hole in your perfume collection, you might want to try Laura Mercier Minuit Enchanté.
Warm, spicy orientals are perfect when it's cold out and you want a scent that will stand up to the season's thick sweaters and woolen skirts. They blend well with roaring fireplaces, counteract the damp, musty smell of the bus on a rainy morning, and bloom on skin coddled by coats. Some orientals, like Chopard Casmir, are heavily gourmand and call for a light hand and a big personality. Others, like the brand new Natori, are more light and feminine. Minuit Enchanté takes a middle course.
Minuit Enchanté has top notes of juniper, mace, ginger, clove buds, and pimento berry; a heart of tuberose, rose absolue, jasmine absolue, and peach nectar; and a dry down of pure vanilla absolue, musks, labdanum oil, benzoin resin, amber, myrrh, exotic guaiacwood, cedarwood, sandalwood, and agarwood accord.
Minuit Enchanté kicks off with the scent of orange and cardamom with a pinch of clove, soon plumped with tuberose and jasmine. The agarwood accord (aka oud) arrives as a medicinal buzz, softened a little by sandalwood, but not the whammy of sandalwood 10 Corso Como uses to offset its oud. Just when I think the oud has tossed the fragrance off balance, a layer of vanilla floats in. Despite all its vanilla and bakery spices, Minuit Enchanté still smells more like perfume than like a box of cookies.
The whole effect of Minuit Enchanté is of a midweight, elegant, delicious veil of fragrance. If Estée Lauder Cinnabar or Yves Saint Laurent Opium feel as warm and heavy as a duvet with a velvet cover, Minuit Enchanté is more of a burnt velvet shawl tossed over a charmeuse gown. It has presence, but it doesn't overwhelm. Also, because of the cardamom and oud, Minuit Enchanté comes off as more modern than some of the 1980s oriental blockbusters.
Minuit Enchanté lasts a good long time on skin, too. Spray some at noon, and your midnight could still end up enchanted, no problem. On that note, I noticed that the fragrance is distinctly different when it's sprayed versus dabbed. The scent, in Parfum strength, comes in a bottle with a sprayer that delivers a very fine mist. Minuit Enchanté is softer and better blended when it's sprayed. But the scent has its charms dabbed, too. Dabbed, Minuit Enchanté is thicker, more potent, and the agarwood accord and vanilla stand out even more.
Laura Mercier Minuit Enchanté is a flanker to Nuits Enchantées and is a limited edition. It's currently exclusive to Nordstrom. A 50 ml bottle of Parfum (yes, that's right, the Extrait) is $90.
Mmmmmm, sounds lovely. The pretty bottle’s not too shabby either. This sounds like a Must try. Thanks for the review, I really have been curious about this one.
I ended up buying a bottle, even though I’m next to broke. I just hated the idea of it going away (it’s a limited edition) without having some for later. I think it’s definitely worth a try.
Oh good advice Angela – will do. I think Sephora has this? Going to their site now…
Oh, I see now – Nordstrom exclusive. Well poo – guess I’ll have to make a trip.
While you’re there, you should check for the Chanel Les Exclusifs, if you haven’t tried them already. My Nordstrom just got them in. It’s so nice to spray them instead of dab them on from their little sample vials.
Oh, definitely – I must do that. [Though I am doing a split w/some NSTers of Coromandel – unsniffed – I just know I’ll love it hehe.]
Oooh, Coromandel…just found the love for that one…very nice.
Yummy, sounds lovely to me, too. And a relative bargain. Is the tuberose really prominent, or more of a floral floater thru the midrange?
Love your basic wardrobe, Angela! Mine has to include a whole assortment of very comfortabe, warm & cosy passive wear (as opposed to active wear) for whiling away wintry evenings watching Netflix….
Passive wear! I love it. A whole new concept in marketing clothes.
The tuberose isn’t prominent at all, and if someone smelled it because she loves tuberose, she’d probably be disappointed on that front. Instead, the tuberose more gives floral lift to the fragrance and a hint of that buzzy intoxication that tuberose, jasmine, and gardenia can lend.
perfect, thanks!
Hi Angela! As always, lovely review.
I tried this not too long ago and fell in love with it. It really does have a cozy approachable appeal and lasted 8-9 hours on me (easily). I am a Cinnabar lover. This appealed to me as the more quiet gentle sister to Cinnabar (it may be my chemistry/hormones have changed too!). I’m trying to be good with my budget (I’m currently furloughed). The thought that it was a LE is tempting me to purchase.
I’m sorry about your work situation. It probably doesn’t comfort you much when I say that I know just how you feel. Happy Labor Day, ha ha ha.
I love your description of Minuit Enchante as Cinnabar’s younger sister.
Thank you Angela. I am counting my blessings as I still have a job, just reduced hours. And hubby recently found work, I am very thankful…..
SmokeyToes, when you put on Cinnabar, how lightly do you put it on, and do you spray or dab? Just wondering because I’m really wanting to try it, but from the reviews at MUA it seems to be a love/hate thing because some find it extremely overwhelming.
Hi Jill,
I dab it on, it’s much friendlier that way. Years ago, I used to spray it but I lived in NY-much cooler environment that made it easier to wear.
I really like Cinnabar and Youth Dew a few hours in. The spices in Cinnabar mellow, and YD becomes a lovely woody/ambery scent after 2 hours.
Thanks! I’ll try dabbing rather than spraying then. I am just discovering the older EL scents … have never tried Youth Dew but want to. (I do have a bottle of Youth Dew Amber Nude, which I like, but I guess it’s nothing like the original YD.)
I love Youth Dew – and it’s cheap, too! I bought mine online to avoid having the SAs tell me about how it’s a grandma scent, too.
Plus, I don’t really care for the twee regular bottle and you can buy it in the fabulous retro blue bottle at Estee Lauder online – and you get samples and sometimes a great GWP. I never order from them unless they have some kind of GWP going on – if you sign up for the emails, you’ll know when there’s a good one.
Okay – done sounding like a shill for EL; I just love several of their scents.
Thanks for that info, Cynthia! I just checked out the EL site and yes, YD is cheap! As is Cinnabar. I’ll sign up for their emails. Have never bought directly from EL before.
Free shipping with any purchase over $25 through midnight tonight with the code LABORDAY.
Okay – I’m done being an enabler. At least I’m a cheap enabler, right?
Thanks!! I love the sound of that! Enable away.
Mind if I chime in with more love for EL?
I love their stie – for the freebies and gwps – and love even more their CCO outlet shop – you can get dc’ed and overstocked EL items for a song. And no one raises a brow at me when I check out. 
If you get the chance, do try the bath oil in YD. It’s a nice version vs. the one with alcohol. You don’t have the sharpness of alcohol and it has a very subtle drydown , and….. it wears much closer to the skin. To me it has a softer more ambery, a little sweeter effect.
So glad you reviewed this! I’ve really been looking forward to trying this one, and it sounds like I will not be disappointed. I adore warm and spicy, and this sounds like it will be great for fall/winter.
I’d love to know what you think of it once you try it! I hope you won’t be disappointed–not that I think you will be.
Angela, another review that’s left me in a fit of drooling….and with NO Nordies anywhere nearby! ARGGG!
Oh, and I love the sound of your basic wardrobe…so romantic and classic….almost makes me want to try a dress….but then I’d probably have to give up my ultra comfy Nike Air Rift sneakers (even though I have them in basic black as well).
It’s been two years since I’ve put on pants. Can you believe it? I’m totally hooked on dresses and skirts now. They’re so comfortable–no binding, unforgiving denim. Flat sandals or boots work great with them, and are comfortable, too. (I guess I’m kind of a dress evangelist).
I like skirts and dresses, too. Too fat for vintage these days, although I have been in that mode in my youth – had some awesome items. Going to go through my closet this week to do a purge/re-arrange and get my skirts out into the open.
It’s a good feeling to do a between-season closet purge. I hope you find lots of good skirts at the back of your closet!
Tama, I have the same problem.
I’ve had the flu and have been hopeful that I’ll lose enough weight that I’ll fit into all my old vintage stuff again. (That’s unrealistic thinking, of course, since there’s no flu known to man that could knock off that amount of weight in a week.)
You look terrific! Very glamourous! I don’t want to hear any of that nasty talk. I hope you get well soon.
I pay her to say that.
I’m another skirt lover — I pretty much live in them from May -October. They’re so swingy and fun. Unfortunately since I’m in Chicago, I can’t get away with them in winter, I’m just too cold!
I live somewhere much more temperate than Chicago, but when it snowed last year I put expedition weight long underwear under my skirt and was warm as toast. I’ve also knitted short leg warmers to covered any exposed flesh between my boots and hem.
Good tips! I’ll have to try those. I have some great longer wintery skirts but rarely end up wearing them.
It’s so easy to get hooked on skirts! But you’re right, cold breezes busting up the skirt is less than fine.
I envy your dresses! I wish I could wear skirts and dresses all the time, but in my work environment, it’s a hazard. :S
That’s a drag. I just sit around on my hind end, so I can pretty much wear whatever I want.
Good for you! When I’m working from home, I’m usually in something totally unpresentable like jammies from the night before. It can be really embarrassing at times.
I love old movies, and when I’m working at home I’ll deck myself out in something that feels old-movie glamourous to me, like a dressing gown, but then throw on a cardigan and beat-up slippers or heavy socks, and I end up looking like a bag lady.
No, but you’re pefume-buddies with someone who lives near a Nordies.
La la la la …. just saying.
Hmmm.. that posted in an odd spot – I was taunting Daisy if it wasn’t obvious – lol
Sometimes it’s hard to follow the thread with this set up if there’s a lot of back and forth going on. But I have dibs on sending a sample to Daisy!
Message received!!!! I just hadn’t seen it because I was being a dutiful hausfrau mopping floors and ironing shirts AND then because I keep gaining weight (all of it ugly) I hopped on the elliptical trainer for 30 minutes….so I’m now taking a break!
You DO live near a Nordies, don’t you !!!! wellllll my dear, muwahahahahaha
I mean, I don’t *need* 50ml … but I might need 25ml….
I’m so excited~ Angela you are an ANGEL to send me a sample —I have a sample of Wazamba for you!
Then I suspect Cynthia and I have plotting and scheming to do! **grinning…panting…more grinning**
Plotting and scheming *is* what we do best. bwahaha.
You guys are dangerous! Great smelling, but dangerous!
I’ve only smelled it on paper; I had the bad luck to hit Nordstrom’s on the one hot day after a string of cool wet ones and couldn’t bring myself to try it on skin. Your review fits well with the impression I got, though, so once the weather cools off, I’ll definitely want to try it.
Let me know what you think of it. You’re right, though, I don’t think it would be great on a hot day.
Sounds like a sniff-trip to Nordies is a must. I’m not sure if my local one even has a Laura Mercier counter but I will scope it out next time. Thanks for the review – sounds divine!
I hope they have it! Let me know what you think.
We have been having a hot spell here in southern California, bought this the same day my bottle of Wazamba came, have worn them separately & together and love them even on hot days…
How is Wazumba? (I sure love saying that name!) Is it great?
Pine trees and incense, cool and warm…I think it’s quite good.
It sounds like a must-smell.
I received a sample of Wazamba the other day….egad, so much sweat!! I was overwhelmed by it! :-O
Sweat?!? Run Away!
Somebody else posted about it being weird and that didn’t deter me much, but I don’t want to smell like sweat *or* cat pee – those two are deal breakers for me.
A touch of sweat can be good, I think. But cat pee? No way.
Well, I can sure relate on the sweat aspect. The first time I tried Uncle Serge’s Fleurs d’Orange I mistakenly wore it on a day I had meetings. Someone in the meeting asked about a “smell”….. I guess indolic (jasmine, tuberose, and cumin notes) aren’t my thing after all…..
Oh yeah. Fleur d’Oranger definitely has cumin going on.
That could have been me! I didn’t find it sweaty so much as overwhelmingly pungent in an almost mustardy way. It started out interesting — sort of caramelized celery — but then veered into scrubber territory on me.
Maybe I need to pull my decant out again – of course, I’ve only ever tried the edt. Maybe the civet smell is reserved for the edp or parfum? I kind of freaked out the other day when Katie Puckrick (and several people in the comments section) opined that Jicky smelled like poopy diapers – I don’t get that smell at all. Does that mean that I’m anosmic to poopy diaper/dead squirrel smell, but *that’s what I smell like to other people*?!?
I like a little curry or everlasting flower, myself. Not too much, but a little is wonderful.
Maybe it has to do with me being such a newbie but anything with sweaty, skanky or animalic notes makes me very nervous! Sometimes I can still appreciate that they are interesting or unusual, nicely composed or perfectly balanced etc etc….but that’s not the same as “gee, I want to go around smelling like this…”
I completely know what you mean. There are plenty of scents I admire but don’t have any yen at all to wear.
See – that’s what I keep thinking. My nose just isn’t sophisticated enough to appreciate some frags yet – I’m sure that in another few years, I’ll adore cumin & civet scents and no longer associate them with sweat and cat urine. Actually, there are some things that I love that have civet listed as a note – like Jicky – but I don’t smell it at all. What’s up with that?
That’s a good question. Jicky has civet in spades, at least to me. You don’t even get a hint of dead squirrel?
Okay… sorry for the double post, but this posted in a weird spot and didn’t make sense. Hopefully, this is the right spot.
Maybe I need to pull my decant out again – of course, I’ve only ever tried the edt. Maybe the civet smell is reserved for the edp or parfum? I kind of freaked out the other day when Katie Puckrick (and several people in the comments section) opined that Jicky smelled like poopy diapers – I don’t get that smell at all. Does that mean that I’m anosmic to poopy diaper/dead squirrel smell, but *that’s what I smell like to other people*?!?
What a horrifying thought, that others could smell on you what you can’t smell on yourself! For me, the civet in Jicky EdT comes out not right away, but after a little while. I get some of the same smell in Shalimar, too, once the lemon and vanilla have subsided a little.
I tried this about a month ago – I remember liking it, but I had tried so many things that day that I can’t remember how much I liked it.
I may need to go back and try again – the exclusive parfum thing appeals to me, but I also have several orientals and spicy scents already (not that that’s ever stopped me before).
Oh, I know, I have plenty of spicy warm or leathery warm things, too. It’s not like I needed it. Or at least needed it that way.
It’s the whole LE thing – what if I *don’t* get it and it turns out to be the missing piece in my fragrance wardrobe – FOREVER? *Gasp*
I know! I know! It gets me every time.
No Nordstrom near me, either. This sounds lovely, though. The fruit and spices seem absolutely perfect for fall. I wonder if samples are available at TPC? But for that much parfum, the price is fantastic, and if I hadn’t already blown the Sep. perfume budget, I’d be considering a blind buy. This sounds beautiful.
It really is a nice one, and, as you say, a great price for parfum concentration. I bet TPC and others get it soon if they don’t already have it.
I thought this sounded really nice; I’m glad it’s living up to expectations. I’m still really inexperienced, though and I don’t know if I like oud or not.
I really dislike the make-up counter system. First of all, needing to make small-talk with someone while testing a perfume isn’t much fun. And it’s just even more awkward when factoring in that I’m a guy.
I mentioned this on Friday’s open thread but I thought it’d be worth repeating it for you. My mother found some old bottles of Nahema and she sent them to me, thinking they’d turned. But no. I have about 430 ml of 1983 Nahema Parfum de Toilette at my disposal (five bottles, three of which are still sealed), along with some 1983 Samsara EDT (my dad must’ve gotten it mistakenly). It’s a dream come true for this perfumista. =P
Wow! A treasure trove of Nahema! You are one lucky dude. I’m greening up with envy.
Sometimes the makeup people aren’t wildly knowledgeable about fragrances, either. They may know how to make your skin look flawless but not know oud from vetiver.
Well, if you ever need to be restocked, I’m always up for swapping. =P
That’s true as well. Which makes me wonder: Why even make perfumes if you’re a make-up company. Not very “progressive” of me but that’s the way it goes.
Thanks! I’ll file that away. I still have about 40 ml left, and I love it.
Hi Superlong –
I would love to discuss a Nahema bottle purchase/swap with you. Will you email me at rappleyea11 at yahoo dot com? Thanks, Donna
Oh, where were you two days ago? I was just at Nordstroms, getting my usual dose of deep disappointment, on Saturday! Now I’m going to have to wander back and try this. I’m still looking for the spicy oriental that works for me, and when I first read about this one it sounded like it might be my girl. It didn’t say anything about cinnamon so I might be ok with it.
I didn’t get any cinnamon in it, so it might be the one for you!
I love Cashmir and wonder why it doesn’t get mentioned more on the boards. It’s such a fabulous vanillic oriental. Very wearable IMO.
Lovely post as usual
~T
I have a tiny bottle of the parfum, and it will last me a long time, as much as I like it. It’s Powerful. A drop puts out a heck of a sillage.
This sounds lovely, I’m going to try and see if I can have a sniff at the nearest counter. Seems fairly reasonably priced too considering the concentration and the bottle size. Of course, there’s a risk of falling in love with it and not being able to re-purchase once it runs out.
P.S. I like Wolford Polar Tights for keeping me toasty in the winter.
And it’s back to the old quandry: is it better to have loved and lost than never loved at all?
Wolford Polar tights! I’ll have to look for them. Long underwear isn’t a very elegant solution.
Try a dance supply store for tights and legwarmers. I like this one: http://www.discountdance.com
Great idea! Thanks.
Why, oh why is there so much to WANT?
Or at least want to try…..
And I’ll add to that: and so little money!
And so little TIME! Though to that end, I tracked down a nice bar of that poison ivy soap so I can at least change frags more often. >:D
Oh, I know! I’m almost happy when a fragrance doesn’t last long so that I can put on another one that I love, too.
I’m holding out hope for the NSTers who don’t live near a Nordies – the original Nuits Enchantee was also supposedly LE and Nordies exclusive, but then became part of the permanent collection and available on LM’s site. I am adding this edition to my must-try list, and although I really liked the original, I’m hoping this is even more interesting. Thanks for the great review!
That’s a happy thought! Maybe after a few months it will be more widely available.
FYI Holt Renfrew in Canada (and Ogilvy’s in Montreal) stock Laura Mercier.
Thanks!
Nordies does ship – I don’t know if their shipping on frag is as outrageous as Neiman’s, but they do ship.
$10 I believe, but they may waive it if you order over $100. Add in a tweezer or travel atomizer and you should get it shipped free.
Hi Angela. This definitely sounds worth a sniff… and I’m so excited to see that I can probably wheedle a sample out of my local buddy, Datura, up there.
I’m never exactly sure what the characteristics of an oriental are (do they have to have vanilla?), but I have a couple favorites that work for me in the warm, spicy category. FM Noir Epices was almost love at first sniff last winter and sustained me through the season. Then I recently discovered PdN Maharanih as a swap extra and it’s definitely like a cousin to Noir Epices; I’ve been very much wanting a bottle or decant, but I also want to smell the Mercier. It sounds quite floral with rose, tuberose and jasmine (which reminds me that I also really want to try the PdE 3 Fleurs).
Noir Epices is more rosy and cool than Minuit Enchantee, and Mahardjah is more orange-y and has more patchouli (if I’m remembering right). They’re both fabulous, though. Minuit Enchantee is softer, but still plenty spicy. The touch of oud is a nice addition.
I think an oriental is a fragrance with amber and/or vanilla, and–in my mind, at least–a spicy feel.
Oh noooo! Another lemming? Just six months ago I thought that I would just slowly add to my collection, buying fragrances that had been on my wishlist for ages. But my list is starting to expand again and I have also had the opportunity to pick up a few unexpected hard-to-find scents at good prices too.
So, unless I sniff this and don’t like it (not likely, based on the notes and your review) Minuit Enchante joins Mythique and Pure Oud as new additions to my wishlist. The price really is reasonable, so maybe this one will turn into a purchase quickly.
It looked like this year was going to be another year of slim pickings, but all of the sudden there are so many good ones! This one deserves a try, too, I think. Now I need to get another job in case I fall in love with Amouage Epic!
I just purchased this fragrance and it’s WONDERFUL! Highly recommend it.
I’m glad you like it! I swore I’d wear something different today since I wore Minuit Enchantee a good part of last week to prepare for this review, but sure enough I just put on some more…
This sounds absolutely delicious, and the price is fairly reasonable. Thank you for a wonderful review, Angela. I wonder if it will, or has already, come to the UK?
I hope it does. I don’t see why not. Didn’t Nuits Enchantees make it there soon–if not before–it hit the U.S.?
I’m not actually sure, not having been interested in LM scents in the past, but one would imagine Nuits has been released here. What worries me is the ‘exclusive to Nordstrom’ thing – it could be exclusive to some department store here too, but I’d have no idea where!
I’d contact LM directly with the question:
http://www.lauramercier.com/customerservice_contact.php
Great idea, Joe.
Angela, one more question: The original had a heavy note of mace that ran through it; how is the mace in Minuit? (Hoping it’s less strident!)
I wish I had some mace here so that I could smell it and let you know–isn’t mace a little like nutmeg?. But what I really get is cardamom and a little clove. I just went to the spice cupboard and smelled a cardamom pod to be sure, and it’s sweet cardamom I smell.
Mace and nutmeg come from the same plant. Nutmeg is the seed and mace is the outer covering.
Thanks! I thought it was something like that.
Hi Angela – Great review! And I too am a die-hard skirt / dress wearer, and have been much of my life. I even wear them in the winter – nothing like a good old blanket skirt to feel like a million bucks on a miserable day…. I have like a zillion skirts and just a handful of jeans! A good skirt will last forever…
More to the point. I tried the Nuits Enchantees last year and it was kind of a mess for me – mostly a spice cabinet/coffee disaster. I think I am anosmic to a “sweet musk” that it is in it. Since then I’ve found the gorgeous and supremely wearable Mauboussin, which is spices, light dried fruits, vanilla and a dash of oliban. Any comments whether or not this new Minuite Enchantee is similar to Mauboussin? I am trying to restrain myself if I can….
I don’t get any coffee in Minuit Enchante, and I haven’t smelled Mauboussin (although now I’m eager to). I’m not very helpful, I realize….
Love Mauboussin, this is on the same continuum but the mace stands out, think eggnog, in a good way…
Well, then it’s definitely one I will smell, and soon. Thanks!
Thanks for the tip — I’ll put this one on the back burner for now!
I sort of love you and hate you at the same time… do you know HOW MANY TIMES I have had to jump in the car and drive to Nordstrom because of one of your reviews? Damn. I wonder if I can make it back before the kids get home…
Listen, darling. Turnabout is fair play, I say. I’ve spent many of my hardearned dollars on your picks.
If you smell it, I’d love to know what you think!
I love the stoppers/caps Laura Mercier uses for its fragrances.
I do, too. They’re heavy and metal and feel so satisfying in the hand. Much better than all those plastic caps.
Angela/Joe: I did as you suggested and emailed LM directly to enquire as to UK purchase, and heard back. They claim that it is a “UK exclusive”, somewhat oddly (I guess that would be news to Nordies, then), and suggested I try Harrods. Presumably it’s available elsewhere too… Thank you both! I shall scurry off to try it for myself.
“U.K. exclusive”–how odd! I don’t remember being asked for my passport when I went to Nordstrom. I’m glad you’ll be able to give it a sniff, though.
Finally got around to trying this last week. Wasn’t sure if I could handle it, me being famous for my Opium-hate, but I rationalized that it’s not the spices in Opium I dislike, it’s the resiny stuff.
I liked ME very much. On me, it was pretty much a scrum in the spice aisle – no, no, in a good way! – with a few florals to smooth things out. Lasted for more than a day on me, wow. I don’t think I’ll be buying any, though, since I just fell really hard for Alahine and bought a bottle as my Christmas present, but I might have to spring for a small decant. As you say, a little goes a long way.
THanks for the review!
A decant sounds like the perfect amount. It’s nice that you figured out the resin/spice thing–it makes it a lot easier to know what to sample and what you can leave behind.