Tilleul (1955)
by D'Orsay

The opening is perfect: fresh and juicy like a ripe watermelon, shy and bold like a magenta cyclamen lurking in the forest. It lasts just a while, before the eponymous notes settle in, clean and fresh and windy. I would adore it, if it weren’t a tiny bit too clean... The drydown strengthens on musky, soapy, waxy notes, while the pungent herbaceous note lingers far too long for my tastes. In the end I feel this scent cold and distant from skin, unable to warm up and melt in it. Too bad, I am a great fan of Olivia Giacobetti and love deeply the natural scent of lime blossoms , but this one doesn’t suit me at all.

20th June, 2011. (Last Edited: 30th June, 2011.)

I’ve long been eager to try D’Orsay’s rarely available Tilleul. Since I love green floral scents in general, and the smell of June linden (tilleul) blossoms in particular, I expected to love Tilleul. It was with much suspense that I applied some of the sample that finally came my way, and I’m delighted to report that within minutes Tilleul established a convincing simulacrum of linden trees in bloom. Unfortunately, that’s also just about all it does.

It takes only a few wearings to convince me that smelling like linden blossoms is not as much fun as I’d expected. The unsupported linden feels cold, barren, and somehow incomplete on my nose. Every time I wear Tilleul I wait for something more substantial to emerge, but it never does. Instead the linden turns faintly chemical before drifting off into a sharp, soapy drydown. I’ve concluded, sadly, that I like linden better in a candle. (Diptyque makes an excellent one.)

25th May, 2010.

Too much watermelon at the opening touched with a bit of cyclamen. Love to eat watermelon, but don't necessarily want to smell like it. Luckily it settles fairly quickly and the linden comes forward with a bit of greenery too. It's only so so to me. Just a bit too fresh for my tastes. I'd prefer it if it had a warmer base, a bit more linden and less watermelon that lasted through the life of the fragrance.

22nd April, 2010.

A beautiful light sweet floral to be enjoyed by both men and women. Dries down into a floral wood. Good.

25th September, 2008.

I love linden blossoms. They are joyous, green and sweet, yet wild and grassy. This is a reilable imitation of linden blossom, a feat accomplished with a balance of green, mildy fruity, tangy and sweet notes, foremost of which I smell the rind of watermelon and some grassy florals. Really, it is hard to describe. I am impressed that this perfume originated in 1955, is still available, and yet so few Americans have been exposed to linden soliflore. I tried the EDT, but I would recommend a stronger concentration. For those who have trouble finding this brand, Diptyque also has a Tilleul which is similar.

6th May, 2008.

Love it and i'm a brunette! it's spring and summer-y. My husband loves it on me too. The dry down is not non existant just a hush of scent which I love for work. I do not attribute an age to this fragrance but a delicacy. I am a Musc Ravageur person (!) so Tilleul is a real 180 degrees in every way. It's non citrus-y, natrually earthiness is fresh and feminine. So, like wearing the color red, black or violet, it's all about mood and style.

13rd November, 2007.