I always seem to order myself "a little something" on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, My Birthday Eve, the first day it hits 70 degrees in Seattle, on Winter Solstice (I live in the Pacific Northwest...I'm OWED for these dark days!) You get the gist, right? I reward myself often, because I'll die some day and that's when my 'rewards points' expire!
A go-to present-to-self is, many times, fancy soap (I'm not a fan of bath gels). My favorite soap brand right now is Savon Oriza, from Paris-based perfumery Oriza L. Legrand.
My first Savon Oriza purchase remains my favorite (so far): Jasmin d'Espagne. This soap presents fierce, sweet jasmine (with a hint of indoles) mixing with fruit: citrus and a banana-like note. I was thrilled that the recently introduced Blackbird Y06-S perfume (I bought a big bottle) reminds me of this soap AND that Jasmin d'Espagne conjures the aroma of a bar of soap Robin Here at NST bought me way back in 2014 in Barcelona. Do Spaniards love the jasmine and banana combo? Or does the most popular jasmine in Spain have a robust banana scent?
Violette Comme Il Faut presents "puckered" violets: violets that are a bit dry (not too candied). There's also a realistic moment when I feel a human-size, fully loaded (with violet talc) powder puff is situated right beside me.
Verveine de Vénus smells GREEN, like newly unfurled "baby" leaves mixing with buoyant/pungent lemon. This soap is lively and happy-inducing in the shower. I wish there were a cologne that smelled just like this soap; I would go through a bottle in no time (stress being a constant). After bathing, the scent of verbena and lemon continues on skin, but now with a hint of fancy talcum powder.
What's "English" about the honey in Miel d'Angleterre? Perhaps it's because this honey is sturdy: raw, amber-colored, dusted with nose-tingling pollen and clouded with bits of chewy beeswax? This is one of my all-time favorite honey soaps, and I've tried honey soaps from around the globe.
Each Oriza soap comes in a beautifully decorated box with a mini-business postcard inside (I use them as scented bookmarks). Savon Oriza not only scents skin, but the bathroom environment, too (and the drawers where I store soaps before use); these soaps produce abundant creamy lather, and there's LOTS of perfume in the formulas.
Savon Oriza soaps are $13-15 for a 125 g bar; to see the entire mind-agitating collection of Oriza soaps (I've not been able to try them all...YET), look here.
I’ve been coveting these after first stumbling on the line in Belgium where I was gifted with 10 samples of their Eaux de Parfums. They look gorgeous, and I love their fragrances, so I’ll be sure to love these as well right?
Thanks for reviewing them! What is your favourite of their fragrances (apart from the jasmine soap)?
austenfan: honey!
Just noticing that the OLL Paris website has an attractive sample set. Must look into that!
Lovely! Glad to see these reviewed and that Jasmin sounds wonderful. Too bad my own is still in its pretty box, daintily displayed in a brushed silver pedestaled soap dish for the past year and a half. It always pains me somewhat to use pretty soaps and I love the Oriza aesthetic in general. (Though, now that I’m saying this, I can use the soap and just display the box. Problem solved! )
And thought of you when sampling the Goest perfume line-particularly Jackal. I thought “smells like something Kevin might like” cuz it’s dirty ????
Elisa: I’ll have to look for that one! (And you KNOW, in your heart, it’s more wasteful to not use a soap…they don’t improve with age…the scent that is!)
Hi Kevin-Seems long time since you got really excited about something. (I could be wrong. )Fun to read…
Yes, replying to myself. Went back and read your reviews of Chypre Mousse and Foin Coupe. I’m getting the picture. Will be trying.
Donnie, do give them a try; Oriza L. Legrand has a distinctive style. I need to try a candle next.
I would have thought that verveine might not do so well at 872 degrees Fahrenheit.
I can’t remember if you’ve tried Heeley Verveine. I don’t know if it smells like Venusian verveine, but it’s good.
Noz, I’m pining for Fragonard’s new verveine at the moment.
Fellow Seattle resident, pining for the first 70 degree day too…
Oh my, seeing all of the soaps on the OLL site is making me itch to buy one…or three, or four. However, seeing as I was just telling myself that I’m not allowed to buy more soap for a long time, I will hold at least until my birthday in April. The jasmine, verveine, and miel seem like they’ll be loves for me. AND they also have soaps of Reve d’Ossian and Villa Lympia, perfumes that I enjoy. That Heliotrope packing though.
And speaking of candles, Twisted Lily had a sale on Reve d’Ossian and one other. I didn’t make up my mind fast enough though, and they’re both sold out now.
Therabbitsflower, we have a long wait till 70 degrees! (I almost always miss sales, too)