I love lots of trees, but right up there in my top five trees for scent is the linden (Tilia X europaea). When I smell linden blossoms, a scene, or should I call it a fantasy?, comes to mind: it’s late spring or early summer, the temperature is 75 degrees F and it’s sunny, a gentle breeze is blowing. With a stack of my favorite books and a hamper full of goodies, I’m reclining on a comfortable chaise longue…right next to a linden tree in full bloom. There I could happily sit, eat, read, nap…all day. If you must, take away the seating and books, and I’d be just as happy wandering down an allée of linden trees with my hamper, stopping every now and then to listen to the rustling of the lindens’ heart-shaped leaves, the singing birds in the branches, and the hum of the thousands of bees drinking the linden blossoms’ nectar. You can even have the hamper, just me and the lindens would be enough for a wonderful afternoon. If you haven’t smelled a blossoming linden tree, find one and give the flowers a sniff — they are a joy to experience.
Linden-scented perfumes, soaps and candles are favorites of mine (linden honey is delicious too). Recently, I experienced two new linden (“tilleul” in French) fragrances — Frau Tonis Parfum Linde Berlin No. 10 and Parfums d’Orsay Tilleul pour la nuit (both ripe for the picking… if you live in Europe or don’t mind shipping charges).
Frau Tonis Parfum Linde Berlin No. 10
(green leaves, linden blossom, honey)
Too bad I had not heard of Frau Tonis Parfum the last time I was in Berlin. Judging from the three perfumes I ordered (unsniffed, I must admit) in 15 ml size (linden, acacia and violet), I would have left the boutique with a big shopping bag (Frau Tonis has 36 perfumes to choose from).
Linde Berlin is sweet, or as Frau Tonis describes it “verdant, treacly, floral.” Linde Berlin has a rich linden aroma, the fragrance is like smelling an armful of blossoming linden branches (drizzled with golden, piquant honey…a messy proposition). Linde Berlin captures the linden tree in full bloom, when the blossoms’ fragrance is most intense. The linden note is not offset by too much “green;” the leaf note is in the background. If you want to imagine yourself planted beneath, or downwind of, a huge linden tree, this is the scent for you. Linde Berlin is a soliflore, so don’t expect lots of development or layers of different aromas. If you want that sort of linden experience, there’s…
Parfums d’Orsay Tilleul pour la nuit
(chamomile, petitgrain, linden blossom, thyme, woods, beeswax)
Tilleul pour la nuit is a perfumed “body care water” (Eau de Soin — alcohol free); the aroma is based on Parfums d’Orsay’s famous Tilleul fragrance (reformulated not so long ago by Olivia Giacobetti). Tilleul pour la nuit is not only a perfume, but the formula has moisturizing properties; when I wear it, my skin feels soft and is pleasantly scented (without an oily sheen).
Tilleul pour la nuit has an intense linden blossom aroma; the beeswax note is equally prominent during the opening; it’s as if you are in the presence of bushels of freshly made beeswax candles. The mix of sweet linden blossom and pungent beeswax is great. Petitgrain also plays its role with a burst of natural freshness up front. The hint of wood that’s present in Tilleul pour la nuit during mid-development counterbalances the sweetness of the blooms; the wood is not dense, but more like a “veneer” — the thinnest slice of raw wood. As Tilleul pour la nuit dries down the chamomile note starts to develop; this is a pleasant, soft and soothing note that accents the linden but doesn’t change its character. In the extreme dry-down, the pollen count rises…as an earthy/'crumbly' vegetal aroma emerges.
What’s “pour la nuit” about this linden? I’m assuming it refers to bath time, not a sexy or dramatic encounter. There is a “baby” aspect to the perfume during the dry-down, a scent that reminds me of expensive European children’s toiletries with their delicate floral and powdery fragrance notes.
Compared to Tilleul pour la nuit, Frau Tonis Linde Berlin is sweeter, like a linden lollipop — it has a bolder, “perfume-y” character, but is less complex than Tilleul pour la nuit. I already own a bottle of Linde Berlin No. 10 and wouldn’t feel I was “repeating myself” or duplicating linden efforts if I owned a bottle of Tilleul pour la nuit, too.
Tilleul pour la nuit lasts on skin for three to four hours (perfect for a bedtime “comfort” application). Linde Berlin has excellent lasting power and sillage, even one spritz is enough to scent you (and your environment) for hours…well, all day.
I always think of linden blossom as the ultimate unisex floral, but according to my friends, it’s more feminine in character; as I wore both these perfumes, several people said I smelled great, but then asked “Isn’t that a woman’s perfume?” I wear violet, orange blossom, linden, “Middle Eastern” rose perfumes, so didn’t give these comments much thought.
Frau Tonis Parfum Linde Berlin No. 10 (Linden Tree Berlin) Eau de Parfum is available in 8 ml (€22), 15 ml (€27), 50 ml (€58) or 100 ml (€88) at Frau Tonis Parfum Berlin (the boutique ships to the U.S.)
Parfums d’Orsay Tilleul pour la nuit is €61 for 100 ml (available at First in Fragrance).
Note: top image and middle/bottom botanical images, [all altered] via Wikimedia Commons.
Kevin, thank you so much for the reviews. I happen to be a huge linden fan and I am going to Berlin next month! I will certainly visit Frau Tonis boutique.
Do you think about any linden fragrance , is easily available in the US (not to mention, in Seattle) would you recommend ? I have already tried the one by Andy Tauer.
I always liked the Linden edt by Provence Sante. I used to be able to find it in the organic grocery stores in Seattle. Alas, I don’t live there anymore, but it can be purchased online at smallflower.com (not associated). $30 for 3.5 fl. oz. means you can spray with abandon!
LaMaroc..I think I have smelled that one and like it. At that price a perfect room spray too. Thanks.
Behemot…lucky you…I love Berlin! I think the Tilleul by d’Orsay (the classic one) can be bought in the US. Otherwise I can’t think of a great American linden scent. Hope other commenters will have some info…. I prefer strong linden scents…many I’ve smelled here in the US have been watery.
Thanks, Kevin. I also like to find a fragrance smelling STRONG of linden. A lot of things have “linden” listed as a note, but they smell like something else 🙁
These sound fantastic. I feel a sample order or two coming on…
Have you tried Ann Gerard’s Ciel d’Opale? It doesn’t actually list linden as a note but smells like it to me, with a lot of other things going on including a sweetish vanilla/vetiver drydown.
Janice, I had no idea that one was linden-esque…I’ll give it a try.
I have to give it a sniff!
thanks for this review, Kevin. Tilleul pour la nuit sounds especially nice. For those preferring to shop closer to home, I can recommend a couple from DSH’s site (sampled both)–Ma Plus Belle Histoire d’Amour and French Linden Blossom. The Linden Blossom one also comes in array of body products, which I haven’t tried. Just bear in mind they’re naturals and I’m sure don’t come close to Linde Berlin in terms of sillage/lasting power.
Galbanumgal: thanks!
A couple of years ago I got a big bottle of the classic d’Orsay Tilleul on Ebay and it has a good linden fragrance. There’s a little beeswax there, too. If I put enough on, it lasts all day. I would love to find other perfumes with a prominent linden note that might be readily available in the US.
My new favorite baby is Pretty Machine from Kerosene–a very pretty bright honeyed linden. Happiness in a bottle.
Ohhhh, glad to hear this. Going on my purchase list right now!
Thegoddess: I’ll have to try that one…since I’m betting it packs a punch.
After I read your wonderful review, I put on some linden flower EDT by Pre de Provence. It’s pretty old, but it still smells good. I don’t know if they still make it (can’t find it on-line), but my 100 ml bottle is almost full. I think that there was linden tree on my college campus. Good memories.
Kindcrow: I haven’t seen that one in ages…but it was nice. Several of my favorite Pre de Provence scents (ROSEWOOD!) disappeared.
Kevin, I’m so glad you finally got to devote your talents and skin time to some scents that you love! Life is too short to spend several days in Eau Dreck Bois Noir Sport, no matter how much we appreciate your sacrificing yourself to save us from the same fate. I feel better knowing you’ve been relaxing with lovely linden blossoms!
Noz: ha! Thanks!
My favorite park in town has numerous lindens that are just *amazing* this time of year! And in the fall, as the leaves become yellow and the light is the most wonderful, dappled glow–beautiful! I guess I really should be on the lookout for a linden scent, too–LOVE it in real life!
MR: smelled a linden tree this weekend…glorious.
The gorgeous Honey Blossom from Mandy Aftel is linden base, I believe. And Annick Goutal used to have one called “Ciel” that smelled just exactly like that blue sky above your alle.
Alyssa..had forgotten all about Eau de Ciel…that’s a good one.
Kevin, you made both of these sound delightful… I’ll try to seek them out.
BreathesGelatin: hope you like them…or at least one.
Linden… the memory floods back of Christmas 2006 in South Island NZ, spent at a bach in Port Levy: it’s the sound and vibration of (literally) hundreds of thousands of bees in the blossom. Spine tingling, but I’ve never thought of the scent!
Cressetma: it IS something to hear a tree-ful of bees.
I’m grateful to read this conversation as I’m always on the lookout for lovely lovely linden, have just ordered a Bonds No 9 Eau de Noho sample. Even happier to find a reference to one of my favourite places in the world, Port Levy, where I spent a few idyllic days in the autumn before the earthquake watching my kids run free.
I have to seek these out…they sound wonderful.
Is there a difference between linden and linden blossom? I love Andy Tauer Zeta and linden blossom is listed as an ingredient. I have samples of the April Aromatics Unter der Linden; I haven’t tried it but have heard very good things about it.
Hajusuuri: I’m assuming “linden” and “linden blossom” are the same…the note is very distinctive.
I just received my package from Frau Tonis and Linde Berlin is AMAZING. My favorite linden fragrance I’ve tried so far. Until now D.S Durga’s Silent Grove was my favorite.
Just have to say their customer service is fantastic and I can see myself needing to sample their whole library in the coming months.
mayk: oh, good…glad it worked out!