Rêverie au Jardin (2007)
by Tauer

A very interesting lavender scent -- actually, a 'rendition' of lavender rather than true to life scent. Pillowy, smoky and dry -- makes me think of lavender fields under a hot sun.

There are five main reasons why I wouldn’t buy a bottle of Rêverie au Jardin:

1) Too sweet
2) Poor sillage
3) Average longevity (which, by Tauer’s standards, is disappointing)
4) I already own Serge Lutens’ Gris Clair (a far more superior lavender scent)
5) Compared to L'Air du Desert Marocain, this is quite unremarkable

[Original submission date: 22 July 2008]

Caltha’s review describes quite clearly what I experienced with this fragrance: I get a thickness of some sweet bubblegumish synthetic held in some kind of chaotically opaque matrix. “Lavender” is dominant, and I often find lavender annoying but in this case it is neither annoying not attractive… it is alien, suspicious… almost mutant. That lavender note is close to being “right” but it just isn’t… and it gives the feeling that it will never be right because it is so determinedly just barely on the wrong side of bazaar and synthetic. I was expecting green, but what I get is this unclear, sweetish density whose dominant effect is rather odd. The sweetness of the fragrance is also indeterminate and amorphous: to my nose there are several things in the Rêverie au Jardin is just a bit off – but not the drydown. The drydown is a soft, elegant sandalwood / cedar wood / vetiver sweetened a little by a discreet amber; it stays close to the skin and has excellent lasting ability. (Edit of 16 March 2009 review.)

this is one of my favorite fragances , and according to aAdy the most complex and difficult to create and for many to wear. On me, it is a lush warm floral, as if I was suddenly transported into one of Monet's paintings of his gardens at Giverny. The one note that IS NOT prominent on me is lavender.Vetiver, tonker and amber are beautiful base notes. Severely under-rated fragrance, but personal chemistry is everything.

Smells like play-doh clay to me. Very sweet, with a pungent synthetic play-doh note piercing through the middle. Tikes.

I'm wary about vanilla on the best of days, and as it turns out this particular combination of vanilla and lavender is toxic to me, though I can see how it may be fascinating to others. The warmth and sweetness of the vanilla does not, to my nose, make for a pleasant contrast with sharp, herbal lavender. It make me think of lavender-flavored desserts (in a bad way) and, ugh, I found it suffocating.

Much love for Andy Tauer, but no thanks.