French niche line Parfums MDCI has launched L'Elégant, a new woody spicy oriental fragrance for men in the art-inspired Painters and Perfumers collection.

Inspired by the elegantly striking Jacques-Louis David portrait of Pierre Sériziat, a wealthy 18th-century Frenchman (you might recognize his wife and daughter from the portrait that adorns MDCI's L'Aimée), L'Elégant is a complex and captivating masculine that blends spice, sweetness, and seductive potency into a compellingly timeless elixir. As would befit the immaculate garb of the noted man of leisure, L'Elégant clothes you in perfectly matched layers, opening with a bright tendril of clean incense smoke given luxurious depth with sweet saffron, fiery black pepper, and savory cardamom. The rich iris heart exudes graceful authority, dipped in smooth honey and dashed with nutmeg and cumin, all contrasted against a lively green burst of davana that nods to Mr. Sériziat's outdoor setting and the riding crop tucked under his arm. And in the potent yet understated drydown, a warm and sophisticated base of tonka, myrrh, and dark woods match gentlemanly grace with sensual power. 

L'Elégant was developed by perfumer Irene Farmachidi. Additional notes include cinnamon, sandalwood, musks, labdanum, cistus, oud and cashmeran.

Parfums MDCI L'Elégant is available now at Luckyscent, $250 for 75 ml Eau de Parfum.

(via luckyscent, additional information via jovoyparis, parfumsmdci.free.fr)

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