Grain de Plaisir (1998)
by Maître Parfumeur et Gantier

Initially, this one bowled me over – citrusy top notes that took longer than usual to subside, with herbal undertones fleetingly introducing themselves before the emergence of the drydown.

And that’s where it all went wrong for me...

The herbal drydown is okay but, in comparison to the opening, disappointing and not as long-lasting as I was expecting.

This was one big anti-climax.

[Original submission date: 10 April 2008]

Maitre Pafumeur et Gantier Grain de Plaisir

Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier was formed in 1988 Jean Laporte, after his stint at L'Artisan. M. Laporte's vision for MPG was to create a line that hearkened back to Paris of the 17th century. These scents almost all have that sense of being from another time. Grain de Plaisir was one of the last scents M. Laporte designed before turning over the reins at MPG to Jean-Paul Millet Lage. Grain de Plaisir feels like a blast of freshness that one could belive being worn by a male courtier of the 17th century. The top of Grain de Plaisir is the most amazing citrus herbal mix. It is mostly lemon but I also detect some grapefruit along with a very green note which according to the note list is celery seed. This is the bite of lemon with a blend of green that is beautiful. The top of this lasts for an amazingly long time on me, which is unusual for citrus scents but this top is still in control on my skin two hours after application. Since the top is the best part of this scent, this duration is a good thing. The descent in to the heart begins with an almost minty pine accord which mixes with the remains of the citrus and celery quite nicely. The base is a sweet amber which is nice contrast to the tart beginning. Grain de Plaisir translates as a "moment of pleasure". For me this is much more than a moment of pleasure and the top notes of this are spectacular.

opens with a herbal blast covered with citrus which is just refreshing to say the least. soon this scent progresses into a dense powdery note..something like iris but its not..the herbal touch still hovering over this powdery note soon begins to pale and rests on a cool mint note. the basenotes is quite thin in comparison with the opening and then then the dense basenotes...neverthless, a winner. a unique green scent with very controlled herbal note and a mint flavored base note. a wonderful scent for spring/summer which would linger exuding really pleasant notes. are their better scents out there? yes, but not many with a nice mint note except for Green Valley

I tested this from an official carded sample. I kept staring at it trying to decipher the French; restraining myself from looking stuff up online about it. I wanted to go into this one without prejudice or forethought. I wanted to like this. The card had a familiar looking plant I swear was a celery stalk.

I looooove citrus scents. Lacoste (original) is such a lemony scent and I love it. Homme de Gres is a dry lemon/wood scent and I love it. Creed's Royal Water is an elegant citrusy scent and I like it.

Grain de Plaisir made me gag at the start. Pledge wood cleaner. BAM! Right there. Then it dried down into herbs. There's the celery! Oh please not I love the smell of celery but only in cooking; especially when I help my mother in the fall to make her amazing chicken noodle soup.

Pleasant scent, I'd never wear it which is the purpose of perfumes.

I can't add much, other than to say it is wonderful. The initial punch is strong, and if you are patient, you will be rewarded with a nice scent all day long.

Beautiful and uplifting opening. A 'moment of pleasure' hardly does justice. The drydown is a bit scratchy compared to the first half-hour, but the benchmark is very, very high here. Almost a masterpiece.

Kaern