Arôme 3 (1943)
by D'Orsay

This is so not a cool aquatic. It's got a sharp Vitalis-like opening, much like Etiquette Bleue (also by D'Orsay). Unlike Etiquette Bleue, it has a fruity kind of heart. Like Etiquette Bleue (and Penhaligon's English Fern, for comparison), it has a soapy, lavender drydown. It's easy to smell the lavender, even to my simpleton nose. It would smell nice on a guy, but it smells even nicer on me! English Fern has larger sillage, though. And as for longevity, after 12 hours it was pretty much gone without a trace.

Beautiful citrus and aromatic notes with a classical dry lavender sitting on a floral heart and an oustanding sweet base of amber and musk, this is a wonderful composition of careful accords.

For me, it is near to perfection. It sits quietly in the centre, musky but not brash, controlled but not compromised, civilised but with sexuality. To be such a masterful all-rounder is quite a risky endeavour, it would be easy to succeed at nothing . Arome 3 pulls it off.

A word more about the base - this musk is not a common synthetic which I recognise, it is of higher quality than that. It is blended with the fine amber to form something greater than the sum of the parts - recognisable notes in a transcendent accord.

A classy alternative for a fresh, clean spicy scent. Not as abrasive as many other, just nice. SImple, clean and smells a lot like castile soap which isn't a bad thing.

Arome 3 is a fantastic fragrance. It is a rich, wild amalgamation of lavender, sage, jasmin and something that smelled (to me) like licorice or anise. I was ecstatic about it and my sales guru-pal at Bergdorf's thinks I am his secret weapon in the sales wars this Christmas season. I am trying to sell the stuff to others! I love D'Orsay, and this is a new one on me, but I was totally wowed and must have it. Where Villoresi Wild Lavender is dry, rich and straight-forward, this is is a mixed warm/cool fragrance with greater complexity and a touch or romance. I can see how it would work for woman, and I often dislike unisex fragrances, but this is IMHO a predominantly masculine fragrance that is too great to pass up. The Count has done it again!

Joe

PS Now can someone tell me what "Pastoral" is in the elements mix?

A rich and subtle fragrance with class and elegance. After the sharp opening blast of essential oil-like lavender, Arome 3 settles down to a restrained cedar / lavender heart with florals and spices serving as a discreet background. The heart reveals that this is a genuine D’Orsay fragrance. The really spectacular part of the progression is the dry down: a rich and subtle wood / musk / amber / almost smoky accord that is classic, clean, close to the skin, and seems to last forever. Addictive and elegant.

I've been looking for something like this. Very clean and refreshing and not too complex. Nothing like what I've found in department stores. Much of what I've found there smells like watermellon to me.

I bought a few testers on line and now I will purchase a bottle.

Clean, fresh, uplifting and no seeds.

JAJF