Beauty is tricky. In Sunday's New York Times, Barbra Streisand explained to a reporter that she doesn't want her music to be straight and pure, "It has to rub. I want that slight rub there." Regardless of what you think of Streisand, she has a point. For something to reach its full potential for beauty, it needs a flaw, an unexpected element to catch your attention. Parfum d'Empire 3 Fleurs Eau de Parfum is rich and lovely, and I know many people will wear it to lavish compliments. But it doesn't have the rub.
Parfum d'Empire released 3 Fleurs (along with Wazamba) this summer. It has notes of Bulgarian rose, Egyptian jasmine, and Indian tuberose—the three flowers of its name—along with galbanum, mint, and white musk. Despite rose, jasmine, and tuberose having equal billing, to me 3 Fleurs is more of a heady rose fragrance with jasmine and tuberose playing strong supporting roles. (Eau Suave, another Parfum d'Empire rose scent, almost smells like a fresh green chypre next to the voluptuous flowers of 3 Fleurs).
At first whiff, 3 Fleurs reminds me of Jean Patou Joy Eau de Toilette, a rich rose and jasmine scent. Wearing them side by side, though, shows that 3 Fleurs is Joy EdT's cheerful, outgoing sister with none of Joy EdT's moodiness. 3 Fleurs is all afternoon sun and hothouse flowers as dizzying as Champagne. A green edge keeps the fragrance from venturing into migraine territory, and a clean musk base adds warmth without weight. Although the fragrance fades with time, it doesn't change much.
Joy Eau de Toilette, on the other hand, reveals hints of clove and sandalwood as it settles that give its rose and jasmine depth, experience, and a little bit of mystery that doesn't complicate 3 Fleurs. If you're attracted to Joy but find it too fusty and sad, try 3 Fleurs. If you seek out Joy in extrait because the Eau de Toilette tells its story too soon — in short, if you seek "the rub" — 3 Fleurs probably won't attract you.
Because of 3 Fleurs' simple, almost cartoonishly feminine feel, it would be easy to come of as a little bit "mother of the bride" when wearing it. For that reason, I recommend saving 3 Fleurs for when you haven't slept well and have circles under your eyes (bonus points for flakes of mascara), or are feeding the horses, or are wearing your husband's bathrobe. In short, save it for when you are the element of surprise that rounds out 3 Fleurs' beauty.
Parfum d'Empire 3 Fleurs has average sillage and decent lasting power. A 100 ml bottle of Eau de Parfum is $110. For information on where to buy it, see the listing for Parfum d'Empire under Perfume Houses.
Note: top image is white rose [cropped] by luis de bethencourt at flickr; some rights reserved.
Funny you should say that…because 3 Fleurs had some extremely weird aspects on me: A great, big, ripe tuberose note and a whiff of horse! It definitely caught my attention.
I wish I got horse in it! It sounds like it’s more interesting on you than on me.
Hmm… definitely sounds like it’s worth a sniff, but I’ll keep the complications of Joy, thank you.
Alas, I like Joy’s complications, too! But 3 Fleurs is very pretty.
It does sound lovely, but I do have other florals that are very pretty so I don’t know that I would need another one since I have that category covered. Of course, if you ask the CEO, I don’t *need* anymore perfume, period. ha.
I have the category covered, too, and (*big sigh*) probably every other category!
Hi Angela. I’ve been really curious to try this because of all three of those heady florals combined, and I still am after this review. Funny, because when I saw the headline I immediately thought of Joy because of my experience with it this weekend and the fact that I get much more rose than jasmine from it.
I’m not sure about needing a “flaw”, but I definitely think there’s often a need for a bit of a “dark” or complex base — more than just a clean musk — whether it be wood or moss or something. Then again, I love the high, sparkling, sharp floral jasmine grandiflorum of PG Drama Nuui, which packs a wallop but is airy and rapier-sharp without any of the “moody” darkness beneath.
I’m also thinking of the Guerlain Idylle that I tried yesterday: a beautiful floral blend that’s very easy to like but doesn’t really cross the line into mad love, at least at first sniff.
I haven’t tried Idylle. I wonder if I’ll have the same reaction that I did to 3 Fleurs?
If you do try 3 Fleurs, let me know what you think of it. It’s undeniably pretty, but that surprising little something isn’t there for me.
Did you try on skin? I sniffed it on paper last Friday and thought that it was pretty, but wasn’t motivated to spray on skin. Did you get a big magnolia note?
C: You know, I didn’t waste precious skin space on it, and I didn’t get an overwhelming specific floral of any kind. It was all very well-blended. I wouldn’t mind trying on skin though, and I think it’s well-made, if a little bit “boring.” I was doing “A Scent by IM” at the same time as well, and I think the blast from that, while very nice, could remove paint.
I’ve got to try Idylle. I do have a sample of A Scent in Time, and I’m right there with you on it.
Or “A Scent” or whatever it’s called.
I got an Idylle sample on paper, in a Gueralin promotion addressed to me through the post. (How did I get on their mailing list? Some moment of weakness no doubt.) I agree – it is beautiful, but after stating ‘I am beautiful’ it has nothing further to say. Sounds like 3 Fleurs is like that too. Oh well. There are times when you don’t want your fragrance to be a work of art. You just want to smell nice.
I couldn’t agree more. Well said.
another wonderful review…I think you nailed it right on the head. 3 Fleurs is pretty, uncomplicated floral…but I could have used maybe some more of that green edge since it did begin to veer into migraine territory for me and I eventually attempted a wash off. Things that are too-too floral can work on my head but I recognize that it is a “pretty” scent. I think if I walked past someone wearing 3 Fleurs I’d think “mmm, that’s pretty” but I wouldn’t wear it myself.
oh, and I’m apparently that “element of surprise” every darn morning….yikes. 😉
You are too funny! Believe me, I keep a dimmer switch in the bathroom for a good reason!
ooh, good idea….sometimes that first glance in the mirror is a real shocker. I think my hair goes and and parties at night without the rest of me.
Does it comes back reeking of booze and cigarettes?
LOL thank goodness no! how vomitrocious! I have it on good authority that what really happens to my hair is : Maxie. That’s my large and very needy cat who is always trying to get her paws in my hair—at night, while sleeping I’m apparently and “easy target”
My cat Bingo used to chew off chunks of my hair. I couldn’t understand why I could pull out ringlets. I was just about to call the doctor when I discovered it was the fiendish Bingo (who soon grew out of that habit, thank goodness).
chewing off entire hunks is very bad! Not just for your “look” but for Ringo’s stomach! Maxie just likes to wrap herself around my head and knead my hair….weird cat…and she’s 6 yrs old so I think I have years of knotted hair to look forward to. 🙁
Sometimes I wake up feeling really hot and realize it’s because I’m wearing a 13 lb furry hat!
oops that’s supposed to be “Bingo” not ringo….i’m trying to type around my daytime pest….er, i mean, pet …who is a keyboard cover
Bingo just chewed them off and spit them out, so his stomach was fine (R.I.P., Bingo). Now that Maxie, she sounds naughty.
“Save it for when you are the element of surprise,” made me snort coffee up my nose. 🙂 I’m with Daisy–that’s me every morning, too. (And later into the day, on days like today.) Love it.
I trust your judgment, Angela, so I’ll move this one off my To Try List. (Or at least, further down the list.) I love Joy extrait, and I almost never wear that one, so I can’t see wearing something LESS interesting very often.
Oh, I definitely think 3 Fleurs is worth trying, but not worth going to the ends of the Earth for (at least in my opinion). If you have Joy in extrait and love it, then you’re well covered.
Ditto. Any luck with your search for new Aldehyde frags Miss K?
I’ve got a good long list. 🙂 Two pages long, to be exact. As soon as I get paid, the fun begins!
If you want to try some aldehydes, I can set you up, you know…
I feel like I owe *you* something for once. It’s seems like I just take, take, take. 🙁 But we should get together again. I can at least buy dinner!
Any time! You name it, I’ll be there.
l’ame soeur….l’ame soeur…..listen to the helpful voice……
Top of the list, Daisy. 🙂
MWA HA HAHAHAHAHAHA!
I second the MWA HA HAHAHAHAHAHA!
It sounds like someone needs to host a split of Aldehydes 44 ….
When I was in NYC this spring, the Le Labo guy in Barney’s said that Aldehydes was really popular among men. I don’t know why that surprised me, but it did.
I have a sample sitting right in front of me (for the last two weeks), but I keep getting distracted. The whole point was for me to try it a couple of times and see if it was FB worthy before I go to Ft. Worth at the end of October. Of course, at the rate that I’m going, the CEO may lock me in the hotel for the duration of our trip to keep me from making the drive to Barney’s in Dallas.
But but but…don’t they have a Neiman’s down there? There’s so much to smell! He can’t keep you locked away!
We have a Neimans, Saks, and Nordstrom right here in Houston, but no Barneys – so I have to wait until I go to Dallas to hit the Le Labo boutique. Actually, we have a “Barneys Co-op”, but it doesn’t have any boutique space or perfume counter.
I haven’t even smelled it, and I’d be in. I just keep getting easier and easier. I’m becoming a split slut.
Of Pd’Es recent releases, Wazamba seems the more exciting. 3 Fleurs sounds lovely but a little blah without that “difficult” quality. For now I’ll take my perfumes like my Tudor Queens: More Anne Boleyn, less Jane Seymore.
Now that would be an interesting exercise: figure out what perfume each of Henry VIII’s wives would have worn! How about Catherine of Aragon? Seems like a White Shoulders gal to me.
Something with a big incense note – she did spend a lot of time in Church!
and she was spanish….and spurned….so a big angry scent
Perhaps Comme des Garcons Avignon then? Big, incensey and cold.
Maybe something with a hint of saffron, then. But I can’t think of anything churchy, with saffron, that is staid.
Safrran Troublant could work.
Aaaah, you gals, you crack me up!
Catherine Howard would have worn something attractive, airheaded, calculating and slutty… Hmmm. That Tocade of mine comes to mind immediately. Or Organza (not OI)?
Don’t mention OI… I missed out on a cheeeeeeeeeap min this weekend due to inattention.
well, she wouldn’t have worn it for very long!
Since she didn’t make it past 17.
Maybe she was even a Britney Spears Fantasy gal.
headless?
Anne of Cleves was the only smart one IMO
Well she’d have to be to walk away from the marriage with her head still attached.
She was from Belgium…how about Clive Christian X perfume for her? 🙂
That, or something that smells like beer and french fries.
my neighbor?
We must live on the same block.
HA! maybe —-he thinks he’s a hottie! lol
Apparently, Henry thought that she smelled bad, so maybe something with a big cumin note?
Now that’s a very interesting insight!
I took a whole class in college on Tudor England (and one on Stuart England, for that matter), so I’m well versed in the wives of Henry VIII. It’s amazing the little facts that stick with you.
A rose scent for Katherine Howard, since she was supposedly “A rose without a thorn”
Ooh, we just cross-posted. I said Tocade, which I think of as “that rose-vanilla slut.” (Oh, I LIKE Tocade, very much. It’s just sort of a going-clubbing scent.
ROFL! Tocade, she is a candy girl, no?
Hey, maybe 3 Fleurs is for her after all!
As usual, Angela, a terrific review. What I like best about a review by you is that not only do I get a description of what you smell in it, you give me an often-surprising mental image and a snapshot of how it makes you feel. I’m sure that’s what you’re going for, but I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your style.
I think I’m still going to have to try 3 Fleurs. I might find it too uncomplicated, but maybe not… all I ever smell in Joy is that dirty-panties jasmine, so that’s maybe not a good gauge for me. If there’s tuberose added in, though, I tend not to get the dirty-panties effect.
didn’t I send you a sample of 3 Fleurs? hmmm , who did I send that thang to????
Not me … do you have that one, too?
btw – my package came today. Yay! I’m loving the Epic Woman, but, holy smokes, that’s some powerful stuff – I’ll definitely have to be careful with the application.
*does happy dance*
I just received a sample of Epic Woman today, too, and although it’s wonderful, I loved the sample of the new Daphne Guinness CdG in the package, too.
lol – I got a 10ml decant and I’m pretty sure that it’s going to last me forever; it’s some powerful stuff. 🙂
hmmm….the mystery of the missing sample….hey, maybe I stashed it in a baggie to be sent to someone….oh-oh that’s means it’s in …….the ABYSS. :-O
oh, I meant to say : no I don’t have that one, I just had a sample that a lovely swapper sent me…since it didn’t do anything for me I meant to pass it on….now I have to dig through the baggies in the cabinet to see if I still have it. Brain = Sieve. sigh
Thank you! I’m glad you like my reviews. (As for the rest of you, I don’t want to hear about it).
I know what you mean about the dirty panties jasmine effect, although that doesn’t come out too much on me with Joy. For dirty panties, you can’t beat TDC Rose Poivree (although it’s not indolic jasmine panties, but a civet-y dirty panties to me).
I’m beginning to find that just about anything jasmine-heavy does that to me, UNLESS there’s tuberose involved too, in which case I smell the jasmine but no panties.
Did you gets panties from Jasmine White Moss? I found it to be a very clean jasmine. I don’t get dirty from Alien Liqueur either.
No dirty panty on me, that’s for sure.
Haven’t smelled either. Jasmine scents that made me cringe, though: A La Nuit, Sarrasins, Quelques Fleurs Royale, all the concentrations of Joy I can get my hands on (I never smell the rose in it, although I do smell both rose and jasmine in No. 5, and there’s no dirty panties effect with the No. 5).
Jasmine really runs the gamut, it seems, from ethereally beautiful to delightfully naughty to downright skanky.
You must be very sensitive to jasmine indole.
4711 for Catherine of Aragon because its citrus and herbs which grow well in Spain.
4711 screams “German” to me, but maybe Hierbas de Ibiza. Or something Balenciaga… or just Myrurgia Maja. Now that we’ve totally derailed this thread…
Maybe Myrurgia Joya. That’s an aldehydic floral with a little coriander. More lady, less siren.
Continuing on the derailment… 4711 never struck me as particularly German until I learned of its origin. Now I’m into the history of it and wonder who/when/where, which is a little unfortunate, really. Sometimes it’s better not to know. 🙂
Regarding the dirty panty/civet thing: I had a customer tell me once that he loved a fecal accord. WTH. I’m so freaked out by that – the idea of bodily waste as fragrance is vomitous to me. And I’m not a body-scent freak, I love the faint scent of almonds.
Boy, “fecal” accord really does take the romance out of it. I prefer the term “skank”. Much more glamorous.
you should have introduced him to all the grapefruity fragrances…..maybe he’d like some pee with his poopy.
Vile.
We’re beginning to sound like the Beavis and Butthead of perfume reviewers!
Wow, one day later and you guys are cracking me up. Maybe the poor guy didn’t know how to put “civet” or “skank” or “indole” or whatever into words adequately and just came up with “fecal accord” which definitely makes one feel ready to give up perfume altogether! Ack!
Wow, we’ve chosen quite the varied perfume wardrobe for her if you tally it all up!
I AM going to ask a dumb question… (Side note: If I ever say this at home, The CEO always says, “There are no stupid questions. Only stupid people,” and grins at me. Same guy has a tee shirt that says, “If I’m talking, you should be taking notes.” I know he’s kidding, but still… the man teaches college students. You’d think he’d have some finesse.)
Aaaaaanyway. I’m not sure what we’re getting at with “mother of the bride.” Beige lace, big bosom, orchid corsage and false eyelashes? Teased hair and floofy shoes? Overdone?
Not a dumb question! “Mother of the bride” is one of those hard to define comments. I guess I’m thinking of something safe, feminine, neutered, friendly, a little sexless. I know, though, that mothers of the bride can be hot numbers! I’m thinking of Nordstrom’s “mother of the bride” dress section. Something to run away from, screaming.
Did you guys hear the one about that one wife of Henry the Eighth’s who was a bit slovenly? She used to just amble in…
Ouch! Oh boy. Well, I guess I shouldn’t complain since one of my favorite jokes is “How did the butcher introduce his wife?” “Meet [meat] Patty”.
Can’t beat a good pun now and then 🙂
What a great review and a hilarious thread. Can’t add more, but I think you are all swell! 🙂
I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
” I recommend saving 3 Fleurs for when you haven’t slept well and have circles under your eyes (bonus points for flakes of mascara), or are feeding the horses, or are wearing your husband’s bathrobe.”
ROTFL! That was hysterical, and what a great review!
OT Angela, but today I tried for the first time ever Guerlain’s Jardins de Bagatelle, and it is strangely reminiscent of My Sin. Not a smells like, but a lighter cousin.
It has been so long since I’ve tried Jardins de Bagatelle! Now it goes to the top of my list as fragrances to try next time I’m at the perfume store.
Mine was a mini bought on eBay, and it’s in the old gold with black box so it’s an older version, although I have no idea if or when this one was reformulated. I liked it enough that I immediately bought a bottle (found a full size in the gold & black box). After testing like crazy for several months, I’ve decided hands down that my favorite perfumers are Jacques and Jean Paul.
That settles it. I must give this one a smell right away.
Hey, I look pretty darn good first thing in the morning! Until I put my contacts in, that is…
Like you, I was underwhelmed by 3 Fleurs — a pretty girl with absolutely nothing to say. I would have loved it 15 years ago, but I’m much too moody now for those “I Feel Pretty” scents.
And by the by, I wholeheartedly agree with Mals’s comment that your reviews convey not just what the fragrance smells like, but how it makes you feel — so true, and such a pleasure to read.
Lights dim, glasses somewhere else: a good plan for me in the mornings, at least until after coffee and lipstick.
Your one-sentence review of 3 Fleurs:” A pretty girl with absolutely nothing to say” is good! But she is pretty. (But she’s not one for conversation, true).
Fun review! I just wanted to say that. No time for a big comment. I’ll pass on the ‘fume – that new Bond Saks has the big floral covered enough that my sample will last a decade.
Wow, that is a big floral–although not so rosy as this one. But a big floral for sure!
Hi Angela
Great article! And so true! Joy has a darker side to it, the “rub” is so much more satisfying….. I bet this is a very pretty scent though, just needs to “live” a little bit, perhaps get it’s heart broken a few times……
Or get layered over something with a bit of skank!
A little dirty musk would do it!
Something by Uncle Serge might be perfect! SL-MKK is my current musk obsession (dabbed, not sprayed). It’s perfect now that the weather’s turned cold.
I’m glad it’s here, now, instead of in those so hard to get bell jars.
You’re probably right. Maybe sending 3 Fleurs out with the Peace Corps or something would deepen it.
Chiming in a bit late, but wanted to comment. I have a sample of 3 Fleurs, and have worn it probably five or six times. The first time I wore it, I thought, yeah, I can smell the tuberose and jasmine, but there’s a “sour rose” note that I don’t care for. Tried it again, and thought the same thing. Then my husband said, “You smell great! What are you wearing?” Uh oh! As the rest of you, I have bunches of scents. He rarely comments with such enthusiasm one way or the other, so when he does, I take notice. Needless to say, after that, I’ve worn it again a few times and am considering a FBP. Yes, I suppose I like the idea of smelling great. 🙂
It sounds like you definitely need a bottle! Besides, I know that I’ve made comments here about how it’s not “deep” or doesn’t have some kind of freaky edge, but the fact is that it’s a lovely, lovely, happy fragrance, and that’s hard to beat.
Angela, how would you say this compares in re: to say, Estee Lauder’s PCTuberose Gardenia? I’d think the ELPCTG is creamier and less green?
I’m noticing lots of rich florals and trying to decide if it’s decant or fb worthy.
Checking Q3 purchase totals as we speak…….
Oops, *correction* I should have said, I’m noticing lots of green florals in my collection.
3 Fleurs is much, much more rosy. That’s the main difference, although a big one, I’d say.
Thanks!
Voilá! A sample of this came into my possession last night thanks to a gracious perfume buddy, and I have to say that I like it a lot so far. It’s really a beautiful, lush floral, and I find the three main floral notes to play off each other really well — at times one dominates and then the other, and it’s as if I can pick out all three individually, as opposed to “seamlessly blended” florals that have a different effect. (Funny that mint is listed as a note, because I don’t detect that at all.) No “dark” note at all, but sometimes you want that, especially for a “daytime” perfume.
I would urge anyone to at least get a sample of this if the concept sounds interesting to you on paper.
😛
I take it that you figured out where your sample went?
Hey, I have other perfume pushers, I’ll have you know. It was not from Daisy…. THIS time. HA!
I’m glad you got the chance to smell it! Thanks for your comments on it.
Late to the party too. I tried 3 Fleurs briefly and thought “oh, how pretty”. But I had no urge to buy it. I was hoping for a floral with some teeth. Joy or Le Galion Snob with a buttery tuberose somehow interwoven? A bit hard to imagine. But I would have loved something a bit more brash. Yes, you are so right-no rub. It’s seems just a bit too polite for me.
It’s definitely not a fragrance with attitude. Or, maybe it is, but the attitude is a sunny, straightforward exuberance. Not that there’s anything at all wrong with that, but, as you say, no rub.