A few weeks ago, I ambled down to Fumerie to see what's new. Tracy pulled a tester of Jovoy Remember Me from the shelf behind her and said, “Have you smelled this one?” I hadn’t. “I barely finish spraying it on a strip,” she told me, “And customers say, ‘I’ll take it’.”
What kind of fragrance reels someone in so quickly and surely? I had to try it. She sent me home with a sample.
Perfumer Cécile Zarokian developed Remember Me. Its notes include lemon, bergamot, cardamom, frangipani, ginger, black tea, milk, cedar, woods and vanilla. The story goes that she was looking for inspiration in Qatar and found it while drinking karak tea — a chai-like concoction with ginger and cardamom — while the scent of frangipani drifted through an open window. Remember Me is the result of that afternoon.
People unfamiliar with karak tea will likely sniff Remember Me and not necessarily think of beverages, but will notice the fragrance’s balance of spicy, milky sweetness and green frangipani, kicked off with a flash of soapy orange blossom. Despite the gourmand notes, it feels airy, not like your typical dense vanilla and patchouli pastry bomb. Neither is it particularly spicy and ambery.
Instead, Remember Me’s sweetness leans more toward beeswax and suede than cookies, and it feels softened and thickened with a touch of plush cashmeran. It lasts all day long on skin, too. I expected it to turn vanilla as it dried down, and it does lean a bit in that direction, but a tingle of frangipani, cedar and cardamom lingers for structure.
Remember Me’s overall feel is familiar — milk, tea, spice, vanilla — but unusual — frangipani, green notes and airy floral space balancing it. It’s like imagining drinking hot chai in jungle humidity or wrapping yourself in a cashmere throw on the balcony of a hotel in Tahiti. It’s familiar but unexpected.
Ultimately, I think that’s why Remember Me grabs so many people so quickly. They understand it like a kid understands snickerdoodles and milk after school, but it befuddles and intrigues them with an exotic floral counterpoint that, on its own, would be pretty but boring. Yet, somehow, it all works together, and it only takes a minute to figure that out.
In other words, Remember Me surprises, but it doesn’t challenge. It comforts and intrigues without getting overly intellectual. I feel like I already have a few examples of this kind of fragrance in my arsenal, but if you're looking for something easy, warm, and delicious for winter, yet not another sugarplum, Remember Me is worth sampling.
Jovoy Remember Me Eau de Parfum is $180 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum. For information on where to buy it, see Jovoy under Perfume Houses.
This sounds gorgeous! I think I tried Zarokian’s Indes Galantes for MDCI which was very lovely as well. Have you tried that one?
I’m sure I’ve tried Indes Galantes, but I don’t remember it at all! That’s more a reflection on my memory than on the fragrance….
It reminded me very strongly of Sacrebleu!
I adore Sacrebleu! You’re reminding me to dig out my bottle.
I’ve tried Remember Me and Les Indes Galantes, and I prefer Les Indes Galantes. Remember Me smelled good, but not like chai tea. I got fruitiness rather than spices for some reason. It was pleasant but not compelling.
It doesn’t smell like chai to me, either, which is fine with me. But it is sweet!
This sounds gorgeous, Angela! I need to find a tester of it.
It’s a fun one to try, if only to guess at why it resonates so quickly with some people.
A very late comment, I really wanted to say this, even if no-one reads it 🙂
Remember Me is on my FB list, but it’s not got much to do with how it smells – it’s the name. The connection is tenuous, but there is a rose called Remember Me.
After my brother died in 2001, I went for a lot of walks in the rose garden near where I live, and saw Remember Me. I always think of my brother when I visit the rose garden, which would probably amuse him, because I don’t think he ever set foot in it. I was there last week and Remember Me is coming into bloom.
So, the perfume is a must, and I was very pleased to find that I actually quite like it.
I read your post and I think it’s lovely. And esp perfect that you like the fragrance!
What a wonderful reason to wear a scent.
If I ever get to try this, I will think of your brother as I wear it. Would you tell me a bit about him?
Thank you Scentspirit. My brother was a quiet person, he didn’t like to draw attention to himself, but when he knew he didn’t have long (he had leukemia), he bought himself a Porsche convertible – he really stood out then in a small city!
The name “Remember Me” really does suit him, then!
I like that!
What a nice story! I hope it brings you lots of wonderful memories.
I’m in for a decant if someone wants to do a split….????
I would be in too, but I’m in Canada so that might not work for you.
I was thinking the same thing! I’d be interested…
Splits are such a brilliant way to try something new!
Cécile Zarokian is an excellent perfumer among her other creations include Private Label by Jovoy and Le Monarque V. Jovoy Remember Me would definitely be worth the gamble.
She worked on some of the Masque Milanos, too, I believe–and probably lots more that I don’t know!
The opening accord of this was irresistibly similar to the one in the Princess perfume of the new Kilian’s Sephora line, except where Remember Me has a base of wood, Princess has pure floaty vanilla tea, and the woods come out stronger as time passes.
Thanks for weighing in on this! I haven’t tried Princess yet.