La Tulipe is the latest from niche line Byredo. Contrary to popular belief, there are fragrant tulip species, but it doesn't much matter in this case — La Tulipe is "built around the idea of the tulip" and isn't meant as an exercise in photo-realism. Just as well, because what it mostly smells like is freesia.
Freesia is a funny thing. I love freesia as a cut flower, but as a perfume it does not suit me — most freesia scents are so much daintier than the real thing. The only straight-up freesia scent I ever bought was Diptyque's Ofrésia, and I did not own it for long: turns out that I like the smell of freesia just fine in a vase, but not following me around all day on my own person. La Tulipe is not so heavily freesia-d as all that; it's more like a mix of spring flowers (the notes: rhubarb, cyclamen, freesia, tulip accord, blond woods, vetiver and musk), a bit peppered in the opening, sweetish but not heavy, very fresh and clean. The rhubarb was lost on me, but I smell lots of lilac in the early stages, and it's vaguely green without any sharp or bitter edge.
The dry down is mildly earthy and slightly honeyed, and despite the earthiness, manages to maintain a resolutely clean character — it's as though you'd put on a tiny smidge of some earthy fragrance over a very ladylike lilac and freesia soap. It's soft and spring-like and pretty and likable, and if you're after such a thing and don't mind paying top dollar for it, it's absolutely worth a try.
As for me, I found it pleasant enough but kept feeling like something was missing, so on the third day I gave up and sprayed on some (sadly discontinued) L'Artisan Jacinthe des Bois. Jacinthe des Bois is also spring-like and pretty, but adds just the right amount of 'something askew' that Angie talked about in her post on Wit and Perfume. La Tulipe is arguably easier to wear; neither of them will win any awards for longevity. To each his own: do name your favorite spring-like floral in the comments!
Byredo La Tulipe is available in 100 ml Eau de Parfum, $195. For buying information, see the listing for Byredo under Perfume Houses.
Note: top image is Twolip by A is for Angie at flickr; some rights reserved.
Wearing TDC Bergamonte on this scorcher of a day here in South Florida! I forgot how nice this one was in the heat!
I would not mind a scorcher here, I’m ready for the pool!
I do tend to love the “Just-pretty” ones, but even I am not tempted by La Tulipe. In my case, it’s probably due to that $195 price tag.
Favorite spring floral: Crown Bouquet, which is a big smack in the face with wet greenery and marigolds, followed by the most gentle, tender, shy white flowers.
And I am darn jealous of that Jacinthe des Bois, lemme tell you.
The price is kind of insane, IMHO, for what it is, but I’m sure there are people who love it and are more than happy to pay up.
JdB, I just realized today, is the only fragrance I’ve ever hoarded! I think shortly after it got discontinued I realized I had to give up because I had too much perfume to be buying more than one bottle of anything. Anyway, very happy to have it — I love that slap of green.
Of course I jumped on a split of this the minute it was offered….Tulips? oh yeah.
I have some yellow tulips in my garden that are fragrant…and they do smell at least a little bit like La Tulipe. I love the lilac in the opening notes and wish they’d stay the whole darned time! This is a nice spring scent, I like it quite a lot—at half the asking price; I’d snap up a bottle…but $195 is a little high for the limited lasting power. I still prefer Hilde Soliani’s Il Tuo Tulipano’s buttery soft and sweet take on tulips for my tulip fix.
My current favorite spring floral is VC&A Lys Carmin…..just wish it lasted a little longer (or came in a 250ml vat….)
That Soliani is really pretty – and cheerful, too. I used up my sample. (OTOH, you notice I didn’t feel the need to buy any.)
well darn! if I had known that, I would have included some in the goody box I sent recently! I’ll tack a note up here to send you a few mls next time. 🙂
I am really cheap. I don’t want to pay even $100 (the new free, admittedly!) for pleasant.
I liked this one much more than the last, but certainly don’t see myself shelling out top dollar for it. Favorite springy floral… I’m torn between En Passant and AG Le Chevrefeuille.
Both favorites of mine…and bargains compared to this.
Well… En Passant technically is no bargain compared to this. Malle retails at a higher price than Byredo. But I agree that $195 is too much for “pleasant.”
But you can buy FM in 50 ml ($130) or in those lovely little travels sprays (3 X 10 ml, $80) — to me it is not just about the price per ml but about whether or not they’ve essentially set things up in such a way as to be “exclusive” and to court the wealthy. And of course it’s just a matter of opinion, but En Passant is a masterpiece, this is just a nice spring perfume. Ha!
En Passant is my favorite, too! I also love Bel Respiro, but haven’t shelled out for the massive bottle. The Chanel sample is very large, if one can pry it from a NM’s SA, and has lasted me several months. Will have to try AG Le Chevrefeuille, the notes listed sound lovely.
I love Bel Respiro, too. I can’t see needing 200 ml of anything, though, so I just got in on a split of that one.
I loved the idea of a scent capturing the delicate essence of tulip flowers, and I found the opening quite nice and true to the idea.
Until the cheapest cloud of white musks tried to kill me.
They almost succeeded, but they did manage to make me sick!!!
And of course, white musks will just cling to your skin with those tight little jaws of theirs. Hated it!!!!!
Agree — if they’d made it less clean, I’d like it much more.
LOL! Zazie – that’s *exactly* how I feel about those musks! Well said.
Does Chamade count? (My SOTD). I tend to think of it as an all-year fragrance because of the warmth in the drydown, but of course it does have all that hyacinth. I also love Debut for a spring floral.
Chamade always counts! Agree you can wear it all year though.
Thanks for the review Robin. I was so badly traumatized by Byredo’s Pulp that I’m quite sure this one will never touch my skin – even if it *is* obviously different!
I’ve been neglecting my usual spring favorites and even a couple of things that I bought back in the winter and have been waiting for warmer weather to wear – Colony and some vintage Guerlain Vetiver – in favor of SSS Champagne de Bois. Intoxicatingly beautiful!
LOL — but you must admit Pulp has wit!! I do like Pulp, it makes me laugh. If they sold it in 15 ml bottles I’d probably buy it right away. Anyway, no worries — this is NOTHING like.
I think I may be the only person here who actually likes Pulp.
I like it! I don’t wear my sample often, but there’s a time and a place. (Usually well-ventilated areas, preferably outdoors.) I think it’s biggness scares some people, but again– a time and a place for that.
Oh no… I definitely like Pulp as well. I think it has its fans, including Kevin, I believe.
Oh, I love Pulp. It’s the Fracas of fruity frags and needs a very careful hand, but it always makes me smile. I bought a decant without even trying it and while it took me aback with the first spray, I found myself laughing over how “confident” it is, almost as if it’s winking behind the backs of all the other insubstancial fruity florals out there.
Hey I actually love it too – but Robin’s right about the prices, these are just too dear for us ‘collectors’ – they do have a set of little ones of the first/favorites I noticed only a few days ago, hopefully they will start to sell them individually…
Pulp was a big melted fruit-juice bar on me. It made me say, “Ha ha, very funny. It is to laugh. Now GIMME MY MONEY BACK.”
LOL!! Excellent. Hope you never smell it again.
sigh……are you still punishing me for sending you the pulp? I swear, I didn’t know it would turn to fruit salad vomit the second it touched your skin! Just thank your lucky stars you weren’t in the car with me and J while we were DOUSED in the stuff. 😉
Tulipe also has a strong laundry detergent-y note…..that’s kind of the polar opposite of vomit, right?
Ummmm… actually, I forgot you sent it to me! I only remembered my very-unamused reaction. That vial (vile?) got sent on to the next victim, I mean sucker, I mean person, pretty quickly…
Hey, I probably did send you that sample—I sent out several of Pulp when I first discovered it. But I also sent some to poor Rapple : “sniff this great big fruity fragrance I just got, it’s great!!” Apparently I nearly killed her. oops. 😀
Nah – I forgave you as you’ve also sent me plenty of good ones! But seriously, anytime I read Byredo, I shudder. That Malle Mango Mess also has kept me from trying anymore of his stuff too!
I agree that La Tulipe is lovely, yet unremarkable and fleeting…
Which is better than disgusting and long-lasting, I guess!
Although– and maybe it’s just me– disgusting and long-lasting can turn into, “I don’t know why, but I need to smell that again…” I was horrified by Black Afgano when I first tried it, and then kept coming back to it. Now I love it. (My bottle is FINALLY supposed to be on it’s way next week… fingers crossed…)
I just ran into one of those not long ago… but I’ll be darned if I can remember what it was!
The food was terrible, but at least the portions were big!
LOL!! 😀
Thanks for the review, Robin. This brand is not available nearby so I probably won’t get to sniff it any time soon and since it doesn’t smell of tulips I’ve no desire to pay for a sample either.
It’s funny what you said about the fresh flowers vs fragrance because I feel exactly the same way about most of my favourite flowers. I adore the smell of peonies and lime (as in linden) blossom but I don’t care for them in the perfume. Besides those rarely smell like the real deal, anyway. I did pick up a tiny whiff of very realistic linden in OJ Frangipani which was just gorgeous. Definitely the nicest linden note I’ve ever smelled.
On the whole, though, I’ve come to the conclusion that while I love florals, I prefer more abstract compositions to soliflores. Diorissimo is an exception but I’m not sure if that even qualifies as a soliflore.
Oh yes, peony is another…there is to me just something wimpy about a peony perfume, but the flower itself smells so gorgeous.
I also prefer the real thing, but I get the opposite with peony perfumes. Sort of a womp-you-in-the-snout kind of fragrance assault.
Interesting. I think of peony & freesia as both warnings that I will probably find a fragrance too “pleasant”.
Absolutely agree. I love peony and freesia as flowers; as perfumes, they’re usually worthy but dull. I tried the new l’Occitane Peony last week, and it was… boring. Dying to try the new SL Bas de Soie, though – iris and hyacinth just couldn’t be dull, could they?
Oh I hope not!
I don’t care for freesia either and am not interested in the Byredo hype . It doesn’t move me.Spring and summer has been so elusive to the P.N. that I’ve been boucing from scent to scent trying to ground myself in a way that I can enjoy myself despite this drab weather. I’ve been flirting with Gres Cabaret for the zing in the beginning of it. And I’ve raved about this before but I am in love with Fir-ever Young by Velvet & Sweet Pea Puurfumery. It just makes my skin huuuuuuuum in a wonderful way. And in the evening I’ve been soothing myself with Soivohle’s Grand Canyon one night and Sinti the next.
That does sound lovely!
I tried this and had a very similar reaction–a very pleasant and wearable scent, but nothing earthshaking (or wallet-shaking).
It is a millionty degrees here in Miami, so I have been enjoying Kenzo Eau de Fleur de The, The pour un Ete, and Bond no. 9 Fire Island for spring florals.
Jealous of your millionty degrees!! I am ready for HOT and POOL, and so far we’re just “almost there”, that’s it.
I’d take a millionty degrees and sun over our millionty percent humdity…..which just makes you want to lay there with your tongue hanging out….gasping for air that isn’t thick ….I prefer my air without texture, thank you very muchly…..
**Raising hand as living in millionty percent humidity!** What? You don’t like breathing through a hot, wet washcloth??
It’s supposed to hit triple digits in Dallas this weekend Robin – wanna come visit? 🙂
Ack. What I want is about 92-93, little humidity…I’m very picky, aren’t I?
ahhhhh that sounds perfect! Meet ya out by the pool with sunscreen and a couple of bit iced teas! B-)
Wimpy peony…LOL. I’m sticking with my VC&A Bois d’Iris as it’s so beautiful. The Byredo doesn’t sound the least appealing, and as to Pulp I’m happy I wasn’t the recipient. Being grossed out and traumatized doesn’t make it sound too appealing.
Watch out… I may have another Pulp sample floating around here…. mwah hahaha!
Seriously, I thought Pulp was just great. I’d probably be more interested in the lotion than the perfume, but it’s a great scent.
I love Pulp —apparently I’m the only person in the room who has a bottle!! OOOOO –lotion would be excellent…..
the only problem with BIG perfumes is I have a teenage daughter and if we choose the same BIG fragrance….and then get in the car….the sillage can reach dangerous levels…..yesterday was bad enough: J sprayed herself down with DSH Arabian Rose and I had a couple spritzes of Amouage Gold…..it was another “windows down” trip…..
I liked Pulp – I don’t have a bottle, but it didn’t traumatize me either. I think that it’s probably better dabbed than sprayed.
I’m relishing the image of your car radiating sillage down the road. . .
LOL! I *still* have that Pulp sample as I couldn’t possibly inflict it on another. Although reading above that there are a couple of fans, I may finally unload it.
La Tulipe smells wonderful on me – there is an element of HG about it, even, that is causing serious temptation. I think I might get more rhubarb from it than you. It lasts a fairly long time, and I get cleanness in the drydown but not the choking soapy kind. I’m going back to sniff it again, along with the new Heeley, and maybe a Chanel (Cologne?) to compare.
I don’t have a “favorite” spring scent yet – still looking. I do like my new JM White Jasmine and Mint, and have others in the rotation, but still in pursuit of things to add to the collection.
Good, it always upsets me when not a single fan shows up to defend something.
And I need to try the new Heeley!
It’s getting mixed reviews, but I am digging the drydown. Just clean skin, kinda. I need to compare it to some other cologne-ish citruses.
I really like the Heeley’s St Clements etc., etc. though I’m no cologne expert, but I find it very refreshing and it’s fairly long lasting on me. At least longer than I expected after reading some reviews.
Chamade, Chant d’Aromes, BB Nude, and Peau de Peche are my current favorite spring fragrances. However, it has been so gloomy and cold here that I’ve been wearing things like Mitsouko, and today have on Parfum Sacre. (Which I had almost written off, and decided to give it one more chance… glad I did. My tastes seem to change every time the wind blows.)
Yes – that BB Nude is such a revelation. It’s a beautiful scent and surprisingly so!
Ugh, sorry it is cold & gloomy.
Wearing Mitsouko ought to improve one’s outlook though, even if winter is overstaying its welcome.
Cold?! I’m in Florida and it’s Bronze Goddess time already! Ah spring…so fleeting, so right for Come la Luna (not really a floral but hey), Diorissimo, La Haie Fleurie….all of whom would be blasted now!
Bizarrely, it’s been beautiful here in MN (I contemplated wearing BG today myself!), except for a brief winter relapse in early May. Given the horror of our winters, though, I have to say I think we deserve it!
Boojum, I didn’t know you lived in my home state. Wow! I hear from my friends it’s been beautiful there. I haven’t lived there in 7 years and there’s much I miss—especially pizza, yes, pizza. The Twin Cities has great food!
It really does, especially considering what a white Lutheran Scandinavian place it is. Or was. It’s certainly drawing a lot more immigrants now. Where are you now?
I’m in western PA. My daughter transplanted to the theatre district in Philly and lets me know, on a daily basis, what she’s stuffing in her cute little mouth. Pizza resides in my dreams. Ya, with all the Scandinavians you’d think we dined regularly on lefske or whatever that stuff is, never tasted it myself. Are you in the cities? Like as in Cities 97FM? hee hee
Yep, I’m in Woodbury. If you miss the music (also surprisingly good for the middle of nowhere)… check out thecurrent.org. I like it a little less well than some earlier stations, but it’s still decent.
I am jealous!
And our spring was so short-lived this year! I wore Le Temps d’une Fete a lot this spring … it was just right. But I’ve had to move on to the summer scents. I’m really enjoying the new Heeley Oranges and Lemons now.
I really want to have a go-to spring floral, but it seems everything has jasmine in it, which does not wear well on me. Have not been able to find an Iris that I can get next too, either. The best I can do is Diorissimo – which is a smidge wrong on me, so I layer it with CdC’s Lily.
Have you tried Iris Nobile? The EdT is a nice spring iris.
Hi Robin – Yes, actually, I have tried Iris Nobile. When I put on Balenciaga Paris, Iris Nobile, Ambre Gris, Unicorn Spell, Apres L’Ondee, Mythique, and Bois de Illes (obsessive patch testing), I found that I liked Bois and IN the best. The next day, I did IN alone, and found it to be too sweet. I ordered a decant, nonetheless, but am not sure it will work for me (:
Oh, you’re trying all the right things, anyway!
It’s been hot and humid here plus we’re under major construction. Have to admit I’ve been scentless more days these past 2 weeks than I have in a long while. Reading this made me realize how many cool/cold weather scents I have. This post has given me not only a few ideas, but the push to get busy and sniff. And wear what I do have!
I tend toward cold weather scents, too! Am definitely trying to amend that this season, though.
I think I’m the opposite: I naturally tend towards spring/summer fragrances and have to make myself look for winter scents.
Ditto. Which is ridiculous, given that cold weather is at least 7-8 months of it here.
You know, I’m glad I got a decant of La Tulipe, but I’ve only tested it on a patch of arm a couple times — I need to give it a “wear” one day. I like it, but I wouldn’t pay Byredo price for a FB unless I had money to burn… and I don’t. It’s a really nice “wafty” light floral and I can see why Patty at PP has been loving it.
I have trouble actually smelling or identifying freesia — even the flowers themselves have such a subtle smell to my nose. I should try a sample of Ofresia just for the heck of it; freesia does seem to be listed as a note in a LOT of floral blends, for whatever it’s worth.
I actually think Chanel Beige is a good “springy” floral with a heck of a lot of oomph and lasting power — though I can see why some consider it boring. It’s not my fave Exclusif by any means, but I’ve worn it a couple times in the past month and it’s a great office/daytime scent (quite feminine). I’ve also been liking AG Grand Amour.
White freesias are my favorite – they smell like pepper. I haven’t really gotten a good freesia from a perfume yet.
Agree on the Chanel, and I think it’s a great scent even if it isn’t exactly “exciting”. Ofresia is one of the only fragrances that ever made me literally sneeze…although that isn’t why I got rid of it.
I’m surprised that any nose could find freesias subtle. I suppose some must be quieter than others, but the freesias I’ve encountered have had the sillage of a Giorgio. Seriously! I wouldn’t want even a bud vase’s worth indoors.
Wow! Really? I had a live, blooming freesia plant in my house just a few months back and could hardly smell even with my nose inside the blossoms. Maybe I’m anosmic or something! Or again, maybe some cultivated varieties are insipid and odorless — like orange hothouse tomatoes.
I like the frangipani in Beige. If I were to buy an exclusif, it would be that one.
I love the picture accompanying this article! I’m wearing just a smidge of SMN Iris today. It’s harsh on me if I wear too much.
Isn’t that a great shot? I wish I was that good a photographer.
I’ve got the freesia category pretty much covered in my collection, though it is a pretty fragrance inspiration that I do like to try.
My spring-inspired perfume romance has been with Guerlain Apres L’Ondee. It’s so beautiful with just a kiss of depth under all the violets and dew and I find myself reaching for it when I’m not quite sure what else I wish to wear as my SOTD. Though today I’m wearing L’Instant because I was craving a sweet magnolia for the cooler weather. Apres L’Ondee works so well in warm weather and makes me think of gentle rainy afternoons when I’m craving them under one of those smotheringly hot Michigan humidity heatwaves that preceed them.
Just had my first sniff of Apres l’Ondee two weeks ago, and am already wishing I’d bought some on the spot. Perhaps it’s just as well that my local weather has leapt suddenly into summer, if that means that a small decant could hold off cravings. (Don’t want to buy FB on a single trial– with my record that’s as bad as buying unsniffed).
Perfect subject for a romance, it’s so wonderful!
I’m a bit iffy on floral scents, though I like light roses. L’Occitane’s new Peony has a tea note some of you might like, as I do. Stella Nude for a fresh rose….Diroissimo of course. I’m still looking for my Spring HG, I guess and have been inspired to try la Tulipe, just in case!
Hope you’ll like it!
It’s hot, hot, hot here now – so I’m on to summer scents, but this spring I wore a lot of DK Gold, Debut, Fleur d’Oranger 27, and No. 5 Eau Premiere. I’m sure that I’m missing something though…..
ooooo—3 springtime favorites! I just got some DK Gold recently and have been spritzing it frequently!
Isn’t it great? I reached for it all the time this spring – especially when I was running late and didn’t have time to think about what to wear. It’s so easy-to-wear and perfectly springy. It cracks me up that it was a freebie thrown in with something that I don’t like (I’m talking to you, Meteorites). I might have to buy some backup bottles – especially since it’s so cheap.
do you have the Edt or the Edp?? I’ve heard they are quite different—I have the Edp….and it is some powerful stuff!
I have the edt of Gold (we’re still talking about it and not Meteorites, right?) Hmmm… maybe I should seek out some edp?
gotcha covered!
All great choices for Spring!
I’m getting depressed reading about all the lovely spring scents- it’s cold (by Sydney standards) and has been pouring for the last two days, winter is here! I think today I shall re- read some of the older articles on NST for ideas for winter perfumes, that will take my mind off the miserable weather!
heh its tough eh rs! I was actually looking forward to autumn and winter to revisit all those scents – its crazy trying to think along with the spring comments! But I will still go and put on a spritz of Diorissimo when anyone mentions it…
At least I am not as far north as Lennox! Its actually relatively warm here on the mid north coast, wet, but not chilly..
Red–you need some Champagne de Bois, PG Un Crime Exotique, OJ Woman, OJ Tolu, Hermessence Ambre Narguile, Lubin Idole, Amouage Lyric, Guerlain SDV or Gourmand Coquin…..oh, maybe some SSS Incense Pure, or AT Une Rose Chypree, Rosine Rose d’Homme, maybe a spritz of Epic……
Wow! What a list! I have some SSS Incense Pure on its way, can’t wait for that one, it’s wonderful. Ended up settling for JM Dark Amber and Ginger Lily today, something about spicy amber scents suits the rain…
Winifrieda- it’s not really that cold here either (about 17 degrees C), I was just having a whinge! But glad I’m not in Lennox Head, looks like a big clean up needed there.
Just had my own first encounter with the Dark Amber Ginger Lily on a sniffathon two weeks ago– nearly bought a bottle on the spot! Only the thought that we’re headed into summer (in this hemisphere) made me pace myself. Use up a sample first, then decide whether to buy a bottle’s worth; that’s what I keep telling myself.
That DA&GL really is a great fall scent.
Ha Daisy, I love that Crime Ex, but I keep telling myself that I have FBs of Arabie and Jungle Elephant…I love Aziyade by P de Empire too, but I keep reminding myself of the number of tuberoses I’ve got and telling myself to get a grip…
…get a grip…..on the “buy it now” button!!!!? bwahahahahahaha !
I suspect my lemmings are running the show these days….like they have two comfy captains chairs right behind my eyes and they are working me by remote control, like a big robot……
this is bad—they have access to all my credit card numbers!!! :-O
Oh, sorry we’re out of step with your weather!
Hmmm… springy florals. I think that Chamade, En Passant and Sabi are treasures. I also covet a bottle of L’Artisan Fleur de Narcisse. And the other day, I rediscovered my Etro Dianthus. It’s a really lovely carnation-centered spring mix, one that has grown on me this spring!
Nice to see Chamade getting so many mentions today!
Great review, Robin! (A lemming slinks off in search of shade rather than dashing off the cliff. :- )
I don’t really think of myself as a floral person, but ever since that early April heatwave (in DC you know it’s only going to get worse, much, much worse) I’ve been loving BK Beyond Love and L’AP Fleur d’Oranger for day, AG Heure Exquise or vintage Rochas Lumiere for night. The latter is pure nostalgia, to be honest: it’s such a rubbery jasmine, but I used to wear it in interesting times.
I keep intending to order OJ Champaca and not getting around to it.
Jealous of your LAP Fleur d’Oranger, wish I had a bottle. Do get some Champaca! I need another bottle myself.
A favorite spring floral – Parfums d’Empire 3 Fleurs! Though I perceive it as heady with the combo of tuberose, jasmine, and rose, it also has a green slant to it (galbanum and mint according to the notes). Wearing it today. Great scent!
That’s a pretty one.
My favorite spring perfume is Frederic Malle En Passant. I grew up in a garden full of dewy lilacs, and this scent just brings me back home.