So let’s say you’re looking for the lightest of light summer fragrances, just a little bit of something so you don’t have to go entirely scent-free on the hottest and most humid of days, but you’re tired of citrusy Eau de Colognes. You could do worse than to investigate the fragrance mists from French spa line Cinq Mondes. The first in the series was Eau Egyptienne, a sheerest-of-sheer (but long lasting) spicy floral incense by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti that’s been on my “buy” list for nearly forever. At one time, it seemed to be something of a cult favorite, but I don’t hear it mentioned very often these days. They followed Eau Egyptienne with a collection of five aromatherapy fragrances called Pluie d’Arômes — these were formulated more like traditional Eau de Toilettes (and they cost more than the Eau Egyptienne).
Now they’ve added Jardins de Carthage, developed by perfumer Marie Salamagne and inspired “by the perfumes of the legendary founder of Carthage, Queen Elissa…[who] surrounded her palace with lush gardens”. Like Eau Egyptienne, it’s meant to be sprayed lavishly…