Eau d'Iparie (2002)
by L'Occitane

NOTES: Notes: Red pepper, Rose, Patchouli, Ciste Labdanum, Myrrh, Incense, Vanilla, Moss.

I don’t care for the opening – it’s too sweet and aimlessly abstract for me. Its lack of substance is my fault because I am anosmatic to red pepper, and the red pepper is probably cutting through and balancing the opening accord, but I’m missing it entirely. Within five minutes, though, I feel neutral about the fragrance: Enough of the sweet has gone away but what is left – a subdued rose, a non-descriptly mild patchouli, and some miscellaneous mild spice – is not yet exciting.

Then, somewhere between the beginning of the dull middle and the return of my attention to the fragrance, the resinous notes of the base begin to form and Eau d’Iparie has become much more interesting. The labdanum, myrrh, and incense are the true message of this fragrance, and the message is spoken sotto voce. I have always loved the resinousness of labdamun, incense, and myrrh and I own several fragrances where these earthy notes contribute their much of their full power. Even though Eau d'Iparie is very sheer, I truly enjoy the drydown. It is mildly resinous... discreet. It whispers deep tones, a slight moss, and a balanced sweetness. Eau d’Iparis has turned into a softly resinous skin scent that I very much enjoy.