Mousseline Pêche is a recent collaboration between indie perfumer Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Co and Providence-based fashion designer Jonathan Joseph Peters. It's inspired by the fabric mousseline de soie (silk muslin) and its composition includes notes of yuzu, pink grapefruit, rosewood, peach accord, ylang ylang, rose otto, tonka, vetiver and spun sugar (natural maltol).
I'm not familiar with Peters's designs (I've never even seen Project Runway, on which he appeared in 2010), but I've tried several other fragrances from Providence Perfume Co over the past two years, and Mousseline Pêche is my new favorite. When we smell Mousseline Pêche, we're meant to imagine a sun-ripened peach, a dress of pale peach-colored mousseline and warm skin, and the fragrance really does make all this possible. It's warm and bright and gentle, and it's a worthy reminder that "fruity florals" can indeed be beautiful.
Mousseline Pêche is so smoothly blended that I can only guess what went into its velvety-soft "peach accord" — the yuzu essence must be combined with something more tender, like mimosa and perhaps some osmanthus flower. Then again, it's a treat just to relax into the evocation of a peach's fuzz and flesh. The ylang ylang note is sweetly rubbery, and the tonka and sugar notes emerge with the ylang ylang for a very light gourmand effect. Just when you think that the peach of Mousseline Pêche might be destined for some delicately crafted pastry, with a light buttery crust and a custard base and a dusting of spice (cinnamon?) and slivered almonds, the fragrance quiets down and settles into more basic themes of fruit and (very light) wood.
The only drawback to Mousseline Pêche is its lack of staying power on skin. It's an all-natural fragrance, of course, and it's blended primarily from fruit and flower essences (which are lightweight in nature), so its brevity is somewhat to be expected, but it really is fleeting. I can only smell it on my arm for two hours at the most. Like a summer day, it's lovely and temperate, but it has all too short a lease. Even so, I've been enjoying it even more than Eva Luna or Ginger Lily, my two previous favorites from Providence Perfume Co.
Providence Perfume Co Mousseline Pêche is available in 15 ml Eau de Toilette ($50). It is a limited edition. For purchasing information, see the listing for Providence Perfume Co under Perfume Houses.
I wouldn’t mind trying this one, though, it does seem rather sweet. But you did say a light gourmand, yes? Thanks for the review!
Hi, Omega — It’s sweeter than anything else that PPC has done so far, but it’s sheer enough that the sweetness never turns cloying. I’d call it a fruity-floral with a gourmand edge—there’s something subtle in it that smells like almonds and whipped cream!
Oooh, yummm:).
Adore fresh peaches & their scent, but I’ve never found a fragrance with peach that I like. Maybe since this is a natural, it would work better. May give it a whirl.
GG, I’m trying to think of another peach fragrance that I love, and I’m not coming up with anything—I’ve *liked* a few, like i Profumi di Firenze’s Pesca e Fiori and Santa Maria Novella’s Angels of Venice, but even those two fell a bit flat for me. This one is really nicely done. I just wish it lasted longer on me. I suppose I could just keep reapplying!
Peaches can be often too tart smelling for me in scents sometimes. I do like peach though. I think I remember Mitsouko being an alright peach, though, I don’t remember the peaches lasting long. I tried the modern edp. I still need to try Visa!
Well, it’s not complex and old-world in the way that Mitsouko is — and it’s definitely not a chypre fragrance — but in its own way, it’s lovely!
Sounds lovely!
It’s just a pretty, pretty fragrance (but not at all dumbed-down). It makes me feel happy!
Thanks for reviewing this one, I’ve been waiting to hear more about it! Definitely on my ‘To Try’ list.