Séville à l'Aube (2012)
by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I'm a fan of petitgrain. Here, it doesn't disappoint. It's sweetish, woody, with a light rosy accord. Orange blossom is honeyed. There is a waxiness here, as well. There's a kind of liqueur smell. Incense and benzoin resinoids are nearly sickly sweet as this fragrance progresses. Lavender weaves in and out, entangling itself like a vine, around the other notes. It touches the other notes changing how everything smells in a random way.

This is an interesting fragrance. Strangely, it reminds me of Dr. Pepper soda pop, as time goes on... The semi-cloying sweetness continues. I grow accustomed to it and truly embrace it. The lavender eventually fades away, then this perfume is all about resin and incense.

Still Life with Basket and Six Oranges by Vincent van Gogh 1888

The petitgrain- olive blossom opening is interesting to say the least: slightly citrus; almost resinous; and olivey but not blossomy. I like it – it’s almost green, a bit fresh, and extremely easy to live with. What makes the opening accord interesting for me, is the tinge of lavender that sneaks into the accord from the middle, which, somehow, makes everything seem reminiscent of the Mediterranean. And this opening accord lasts incredibly… petitgrain has that tendency.

When the petitgrain / olive blossom accord calms down, the orange blossom / lavender begins moving in and the result is a smoother, more floral, lower-key texture which still retains the edges of the petitgrain / olive core. I’m not sure how the competency of this heart accord is accomplished: I can’t separate out the beeswax / tobacco from the middle accord, but the heart is definitely a worthy successor to the opening IMO.

With the base, the incense moves in and out of the still-familiar accord that has been performing from the beginning... This base accord performs with a definite loss of strength from the heart. It is reticent… near skin scent, actually, and its slight aromatic eminations are quite beautiful… very nice but sadly, demure.

Séville à l'Aube is an accomplished fragrance. I admire its originality and its performance – especially through its opening and heart... and I’m not too put off by the demureness of its base.

Seville a L'Aube is a rich orange blossom fragrance by L'Artisan that shuns the usual subtlety of other L'Artisan fragrances, and opts for a more direct and robust constitution. It begins with a piercing, rich and bittersweet neroli and petitgrain accord, laced with lavender. This is soon joined by a honeyed beeswax note that provides a sweet counterbalance to the initial bitterness. This neroli-beeswax accord forms the centrepiece of the composition, which is joined by incensy-balsamic notes in the base where one gets hints of benzoin. I experience a persistent but close to skin sillage, and an average duration of six to seven hours. This also feels much more bodacious compared to other L'Artisan fragrances.

Seville a L'Aube is an interesting fragrance among orange blossom compositions. It's definitely not a fresh take, and is thus different from Nicolai's Cologne Sologne or Neroli by Czech & Speake. It's closer in structure to compositions like Fleurs d'Oranger (Lutens) or Neroli Outrenoir. It employs sufficient complexity, and is quite enjoyable - especially after the initial phase. I prefer the Lutens due to its contrasting and interesting dose of cumin with neroli, and the only reason I do not find Seville a L'Aube more compelling is because of personal taste - and also the fact that orange blossom is not among my favourite notes.

A definite recommendation for anyone looking for a substantial orange blossom fragrance.

3/5 (neutral)

Séville à l'Aube is sweet orange and incense with a nice tarry edge along with some honey. I like it but can sometimes find it a little cloying. It doesn't really make me think of Seville or even Spain, but it is one of the few perfumes that I think only works at night, and outside on a summer's night if possible. In this warm night-scented floral incense vibe, it has a midnight in an exotic garden feeling, but for me it isn't muscular enough to evoke Spain. But then again, there is a certain honeyed orangey tobacco tinged feeling to the drydown that may indeed be Seville.