Rêverie au Jardin (2007)
by Tauer

Nobody’s perfect, and I consider Rêverie au Jardin an honest misfire from the incomparably talented Andy Tauer. The problem is that the best of Rêverie – its unusually upbeat lavender and a solid frankincense note that together summon a cloister-like calm – are held hostage by a gang of rose absolute, tonka, and vanilla. The effect is overbearing and garish, with Rêverie smelling like a bubble bath concoction that is best avoided.

23rd August, 2011.

What an odd fragrance is it! An undeterminable blend of spicy lavender, misty galbanum, floral sophistication, balmy creams and woodsy notes. The spicy initial grassy approach is as soon as possible affected by a smooth floral insertion that is sweetish, a touch indolent and a bit caramellous. The note of lavender has no time enough to express its grassy-spicy volatility. The pungent sweetness becomes misty because of incense and galbanum and may be too resinous and dense because of the influence of ambrette and vanilla. In this phase the smell is too gummy and dense (may be galbanum and ambrette). The dry down brings redemption to the all whole concoction balancing the excess of sweet density with a stream of dry woods, earthiness and boise'. The outcome is an odd changing cocktail of grassy spiciness, sweetish and floral density and a final touch of woodsy and powdery stableness. In this stage the powdery mildness takes the place of the antecedent excess of dense resinous. sweetness. Lavender, citrusy-orangy galbanum, balsams and woods the protagonists of the odd mélange. The odd, almost sinister aura of decadence exuding from the juice reminds me some Etro's creation as Via Verri and others.

7th August, 2011.

Lavender? I can hardly smell it at all -just an unpleasant, synthetic, plastic top end followed by a mushroom cloud of icing sugar and tonka bean powder that catches the back of my throat.

13rd February, 2011.

Can't share much of the enthusiasm expressed in other reviews - although I would have loved to join in... since I am an ardent lover of lavender. This is a decent interpretation of lavender in midst of a field of greenery, but I had very high expectations - and Reverie au Jardin can't meet them. Maybe I'm anosmic to this scent? It's just soft, greenish and pale on my skin - nothing to write home about at all, unobtrusive.

31st December, 2010.

I think Andy Tauer had recently sampled Lutens Gris Clair before creating this. I actually find RaJ much more interesting and satisfying to wear. It's not just a lavender and vanilla mix -- there are slight nuances of smoke, moss, cedar and amber added, which temper the obvious sweetness. Lovely.

6th October, 2010.

If you like the idea of an unusual, almost unrecognisable lavender, then you may well love Rêverie - and apparently there are thousands of buyers in Russia who'll share your enthusiasm - but I can't get past a leery, melting plastic note that makes this Tauer very difficult for me to enjoy.

26th September, 2010. (Last Edited: 7th October, 2010.)