Jardin du Nil (1988)
by Maître Parfumeur et Gantier

My favorite MPG fragrance! The whole composition (in particular the rose geranium in this 'unclean' surroundings does it) smells sort of vintage to me. I absolutely agree with my fellow reviewers about the 'dirty' vibe. It is a haunting, dark (in mood) and daring perfume that contradicts the 'cleanliness frenzy' today. Fantastic!
My review is for a vintage bottle (3 oz.), so I can't comment whether the current is still the same.

13rd October, 2011.

Usually, when we think about a rose scent, we think about something comfortable to wear, nice, clean and gently sensual. Well, if this is what you expect, stay carefully away from Jardin Du Nil. This composition has a dirty allure throughout, it's like spraying a perfume on the shirt you was wearing the day before, and maybe even two days before. A remarkable lived-in vibe on a massive rose / floral note laying on an ambery base. A daring fragrance, unique and absolutely compelling. If you like rose and are sick and tired of "pretty fragrances" you've to try this.

18th May, 2011. (Last Edited: 2nd November, 2011.)

What an interesting fragrance. MPG (Jean Laporte) never ceases to amaze me with his unique creations. To be sure, Jardin du Nil is not for everyone. As others have mentioned, this cologne opens in strange (perhaps unpleasant, to some) fashion. Overripe fruit and yes, I definitely smell the essence that some have described as "dirty socks" or perhaps a sweaty locker room. But that subsides and the drydown is a beautiful, brooding aura as suggested by Dutchy: dark roses, ripe fruit sitting on a vendor's cart in the hot Egyptian sun, mixed herbs. I like it and as with so many other MPG colognes, I can't think of any similar fragrance from any other house. There probably isn't much middle ground on this one: I suspect you'll either find it repulsive or you'll love it as I do, for its special niche in your wardrobe.

4th June, 2010.

I agree with Vibert's review.
"a dark, dirty, maybe even threatening floral scent"

So many 'Nile' inspired scents are all peachy floral and fresh, well, too anyone who has ever been in that region such a description ought to sound like bullocks.With heat and humidity through the roof, everything is near a constant state of decay. Jardin du Nil in my view approaches the smells i have smelt in that region pretty closely. It is brooding, indeed threatening, yet at the same time floral , airy and enticing. Its sweetness and rose notes bordering on decay without ever going crossing the line is truly wonderful.

Although it is not a scent i wear very often, (im not a floral guy) it is definitely one of the most interesting floral compositions. The balancing act between floral darkness and broodiness is fascinating and highly attractive.
It reminds me a bit of Villoresi's Musk, while more centered around roses than JDN it also sports a sort of musky post-coital broodiness. I find JDN the better of the two.
Very masculine, earthy and as with all other MPG's i find this a very "real" scent. not some picture book concoction of what the nile ought to look like.

14th March, 2010.

Peculiar. Jardin du Nil opens with aldehydic floral notes and an odd “stinky” accord that’s been described as “dirty socks” or “locker room.” I actually think the combination is a bit seductive, but I doubt many would agree. A very strong soapy note (detergent, even,) emerges as the fragrance develops, and this new component jars dramatically with the sustained dirty accent. I pick up a hard worked, post-coital body resting on freshly laundered sheets, while still bearing traces of last night’s floral perfume.

Though they don’t have too many actual notes in common, I class Jardin du Nil with Frederic Malle’s Une Fleur de Cassie as a dark, dirty, maybe even threatening floral scent. I can’t really decide whether I like it, but it sure is compelling. I don’t think I want to wear it much, but I keep coming back to it to figure it out. A thumbs up for daring and mystery. Maybe just a little too much mystery for me.

-2007

What nonsense: there's no such thing as too much mystery for me! I love my Jardin du Nil - the rest be damned! Mwahahahahah! (And the best part is that the peculiar "dirty socks" effect is still intact in the current formula.)

-2009

12nd December, 2009.

Dried, dirty roses with bug spray preservatives.

11th October, 2008.